Shackled City and adding something for a character

[Bruno Kristensen]

Hi,

The following may contain spoilers. Consider yourself warned.

I'm running the Shackled City campaign (updated for PF) for a group of fairly new players. One of them is playing a Witch (Deception Patron) who's expressed an interest in getting to use that side of her abilities a little more. She's taken the Disguise Hex as one of her two hexes.

They are currently 2nd level and about done with Jzadirune (3-4 rooms left). As is, there's not a lot of options for using deception/subterfuge. I guess she could disguise as a hobgoblin once they get to Malachite Hold, but except for that, what is there in the first (and second) chapter?

They have recently met the two half-elves (Fario and Fellian), being rescued after a hard fight against the grell. The two claimed to be looking for a disappeared friend of theirs, but have returned to Cauldron above. Any suggestions for the use of deception to figure out what the Striders are up to? Should the PCs even become more involved with the Striders at this point?

Any advice/suggestions are highly welcome.

[Macona]

Cauldron is supposed to be a hub for adventuring parties so they could pass themselves off as just another group of adventurers out to make money.

Although there shouldn't be too much need to deception once the players have proved to the Striders that they are capable & trustworthy.

[Bruno Kristensen]

I guess that's my point...she's got some abilities that will only rarely come in handy. I've told her it may not have been the best Patron/Hex for this very campaign, but she likes it and I want to accommodate her as well as possible.

Spoiler:

Obviously, when going to the Lucky Monkey, she could pass herself off as one of the bandits to lure some of them into a trap, but besides that, what is there?

[Cleanthes]

Ch. 3 could have lots of opportunities, especially if you use the Flood Festival events various people have worked up, especially the Demonskar Ball. But I agree that Chs. 1 and 2 don't have lots of opportunities for this sort of ability built into them, barring acting like a goblin or hobgoblin. One possibility would be to add in a running plot line with the Last Laugh. If you gave the party (via Skellerang or the Striders?) the long term mission of finding out who the Last Laugh includes and where they are centered, you could dole out small encounters over the course of the whole campaign that would give this player a chance to use her skills. But it would be more work for you, and you'd have to figure out plausible ways of limiting information so they only find out a little at a time.

[delvesdeep]

I'm not familar with the class or ability but am assuming she is looking for ways to use some sort of advanced disguise ability???

If so here are a few suggestions -

1.What about disguising herself as one of the Stormblades after having a firey first meeting with them?
2. Would she be interested in finding out more about the orphanage and the missing boy?
3. Discovering more about the Last Laugh could be extremely helpful (and equally risky) as she disguises herself as Jil?

Not a great deal you can reveal early on but plenty more as the campaign gain momentum.

[Roth]

There will of course be more opportunities down the road (Chapters 4 + 5 )

I would say have the player hang in there, you are sure to have THEM find a way to use their abilities in ways that will make you tear your DM hair out! :-)