Why do they go to the adventure? (3lv session)

[yuki_sc]

Hi!
How's going?
Thank you very very much for this messsage.
http://paizo.com/forums/dmtz4zy9?Sessions-without-any-Cleric
Thanks a lot! It help me a lot!

I decided to start our 3lv campaign (which includes 5 or 6 adventures) without Cleric (=Fighter,paradin,wizard and rogue) next week!

Since this is the our first pf session, I will make a very very simple scenario.

1) A villege was attacked by goblins.
2) Party was asked to decimate them immediately and get XXX gp.
3) They go to ruins and find some traps and simple puzzle.
4) Finally, Party will eradicate evil goblins and return to the villege.

That's all.

However, Fighter's character said "Why should I go to that ruin?", meaning that his motivation (to go there) is too weak, I think.

In this case, I have to add some events in order to motivate them.

To fix this problem, what should I do to improve my scenario?

Thanks for reading!!

[karkon]

Your scenario sounds fine.

You just need to work on adventure hooks to get the character's there.

In this case the party was asked to kill goblins in exchange for XXX gp. That should be his motivation really. Some effort should be expended on the player's part to create a reason for his character to go.

"Goblins? I hate goblins"

or

"Gold? I love gold."

or

"When I was young my uncle took me hunting in the woods. We were surprised by goblins and ran. A spear took down my uncle. His dying words 'run to the village and warn them' rang in my ears the whole way back. I got to the village just before the goblins. We lost a lot of good neighbors that day. Do I hate goblins? Yes. Now let's go kill every damn green sonofb+&&& we can find."

You could throw out that goblins killed his favorite uncle when he was a child or something but I really think the players have a responsibility here too.

[spalding]

Also make sure you have a horse for him to ride. Just in case he actually meant, "How do I get to the ruin."

[Twoswords]

It is likely that all villages within a certain area is "controlled" by a noble, a church, or some other ranking official. While the primary goal would be to get the money, a secondary goal would be to get the attention and gratitude of that Lord/Official. Having friends in high places is never a bad idea.

If that is not enough, a possibility could be that a merchant caravan stayed in the village that night. Some got out and wish to reclaim their goods, so they are willing to add on either some extra gold, or perhaps bring the deed to the attention of the powers-that-be in hopes of getting more missions, while also gaining the reputation as trustworthy and dependable.

[Lightbulb]

The next time they go to sleep have a goblin steal something from them and run off towards the ruins.

Maybe all the groups gold for example..?

Or have a raid of Goblins attack the village - either they run away or they fight them off.

*joke* If they won't fight them off maybe you should offer the characters a chance to change class to Commoner or Expert and they can become farmers or craftsmen. *joke*

[Helaman]

Have the goblins have something of significance to said fighter - like the deed to his family farm. Dad needs him to get it back before the taxation census next month.

All that said and done? Talk to the player - If this were a video game he'd not question this as the opening mission to get the game story running so ask for his indulgence in the first few sessions while also seeking his opinion on what he'd like to see included in the overall story or plot to make it interesting for him.

Also have a look at a published adventure or two offered by Paizo - I even believe there is a free one in PDF form that works well for level 1's... adding another monster or two to each encounter makes it suitable for level 3

[Secane]

yuki_sc wrote:

In this case, I have to add some events in order to motivate them.

To fix this problem, what should I do to improve my scenario?

Thanks for reading!!

1) Have a young child from the village be kidnapped by the goblins and taken to the Ruins.

2) The child's mother could beg the "heroes" that saved the village to help her get back her child.

3) The Paladin will have to agree to help, since not going so its kinda evil.

4) The rest of the party will have to follow along.

Remember that splitting the party is a bad ideal, so remind your party that if the fighter still don't want to go to the ruins.

[Kydeem de'Morcaine]

Secane wrote:

...Remember that splitting the party is a bad ideal...

bad idea not bad ideal

Sorry, pet peeve, I'll go away now.

[Iced2k]

Have the goblin rape him in his sleep. And the Goblin took a polaroid. The polaroid is in a chest in the ruins, and he has a week to pay 5000gp or the goblin will start showing it around town.

If that doesn't motivate him, I don't know what will.

[Realmwalker]

yuki_sc wrote:

Hi!

How's going?
Thank you very very much for this messsage.
http://paizo.com/forums/dmtz4zy9?Sessions-without-any-Cleric
Thanks a lot! It help me a lot!

I decided to start our 3lv campaign (which includes 5 or 6 adventures) without Cleric (=Fighter,paradin,wizard and rogue) next week!

Since this is the our first pf session, I will make a very very simple scenario.

1) A villege was attacked by goblins.
2) Party was asked to decimate them immediately and get XXX gp.
3) They go to ruins and find some traps and simple puzzle.
4) Finally, Party will eradicate evil goblins and return to the villege.

That's all.

However, Fighter's character said "Why should I go to that ruin?", meaning that his motivation (to go there) is too weak, I think.

In this case, I have to add some events in order to motivate them.

To fix this problem, what should I do to improve my scenario?

Thanks for reading!!

I would then exclude the fighter from the job and divide his share among those wanting to go. Then I would look at his alignment if it has a "good" in it I would start the process on giving him an alignment shift towards neutral.

If the Party does not go with out the fighter then have goblins attack the village. Then have the villagers ask again if they refuse the job, angry villagers start to refuse to help them with anything (No one will sell, tavern owners kick them out of the inn, town guards run them out of town. Local bards go to other outlying towns telling stories of a greedy adventuring group that let their village get over run by goblins. etc)

After pretty much getting driven out of town they run into goblin ambushes, until they decide to solve the problem just to be left alone.

[Vuvu]

Kydeem de'Morcaine wrote:

Secane wrote:

...Remember that splitting the party is a bad ideal...

True, but spitting the party is a good idea :)

[Asphesteros]

You can also ask the player for a suggestion. Just ask him what would motivate his character to go to the ruin. No law saying you have to read his mind. If he doesn't like the hooks you gave him (profit, exploration, justice, revenge), let him suggest one that fits his character concept better. If he doesn't know, then ask him questions about his character. If not thrill of adventure, justice, revenge or profit, what are his character's dreams and goals anyway? When you hit on something that sounds good, give him it back as a rumor or plot point, and add the resolution of it into the adventure somewhere.

[Helaman]

Ahhh - Sanity. Thy name is Asphesteros