I just ran my first time GMing and we got threw the initial goblin attack on Sandpoint. There were things that worked and things that didn't, but all-in-all I'm quite happy with how things went
One of our players was missing for the first game but we pressed on all the same.
We are now up to the point in which the party enjoys being "the heroes of Sandpoint," and enjoy the events with Shayliss and with Amiko and her dad.
I was hoping to mix the missing player in with Shalelus entrance into the story, including some combat with goblins. The way I see it either she could save him, or being a Robin Hood character, I think he should save a beaten Shalelu.
since I'm a new GM, can anyone possibly help me with creating an encounter for this? The character will be a level 2 Ranger taking the Archery path. I was also considering having the bugbear in this too, and have him slink away injured whilst underling goblins attack the player.
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If the character is also a ranger you can make him Shalelu's apprentice. She could ask the new PC to tag along with the group as her "eyes and ears". But the main thing you should concentrate on is getting the new character in with the main group asap. If you want a quick solo, Shalelu mentions that she rescued a farm family from goblins. You could play out that scenario with the player before the main game starts.
maybe tie in the farm from the Skinshaw Murders?
Yeah why not. It would make the Hambly's being reduced to ghouls even more dramatic if the PC's all ready have a connection to them.
that's what I was thinking, thanks for that you two, good advice.
Now I need to figure out what they are fighting in the actual encounter, I've never designed an encounter before and I have no idea where to even start
I was also thinking of breaking Shalelus leg, I figure it could be healed before she is needed for the Hook Mountain Massacre, I think it makes the fight less about her and more about the PC, although she could still provide ranged support
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I'd combine this idea with a conversation that's happened in another thread: use this opportunity to introduce both Shalelu and Bruthazmus. I like the concept that Shalelu's taken the PC in as an apprentice, and she's been showing them the ways of the wild. Her introduction has her returning to Sandpoint after saving some farmers from a goblin raid, so keep that bit. She and the PC have to split up to kill the goblins and save the farmers, so they have to split up. Shalelu will stay outside and keep the goblins off him while he enters the burning farmstead and gets the farmers to safety. Inside, he fights a goblin or two - not too many, mind you, since dice have a way of turning against a 1st level character rather quickly. Just enough to let him roll some dice and kill some goblins! He gets them out of the house, and he sees that during the chaos inside the house, several goblins have mobbed Shalelu, and she has been knocked to the ground, bloodied and weak. The goblins themselves are dead, but their leader, a heavily scarred bugbear wearing a necklace of elf ears stands over her, his flail raised to end her life. The PC has a shot to save her!
No matter the result of the roll, Bruthazmus notices the shot. He's also badly wounded (moreso if the shot hits), and decides that even if he kills the elf, this other ranger might just kill him. He decides to beat feet, and head back to Thistletop.
Now the rivalry between Bruthazmus and Shalelu is personalized for your PC. He'll want to see Bruthazmus dead as well!
I wont be making the PC Shalelus apprentice (doesn't work with the characters backstory) but I really like Misrois story, I think i can make something good with this
I'd combine this idea with a conversation that's happened in another thread: use this opportunity to introduce both Shalelu and Bruthazmus.
That was my idea! Cool it has found some kind minds for consideration in their games and is now bearing even more fruit.
I like your idea, too, Misroi!
Ruyan.
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Thanks, RuyanVe! I only wish I'd cottoned to this idea first. As important as Shalelu becomes in Book 3, she's sorely underused in this first section. I wish I'd had the foresight to do what I described above, as her introduction as written breaks the First Rule of Storytelling: "Show, don't tell." Players are only told that she's a goblin-killing machine, they don't see her actually do it. I don't actually have any rangers in my group, but I think I'd do something similar to what I said here, just increase the number of baddies so that a table of 4-6 PCs can experience the scene.
Misroi is spot on, I love idea. I used Shalelu to intro 2 characters later in the book, Our group kinda enjoys player death, so we lose people a lot. Both died in Thisletop.
My group actually recruited her for the assault on Thistletop so they got to see her in action. They also learned she's hopeless against the yowl of a Yeth Hound, but considering I allowed an impromptu Bardic Song to prevent half the group from bolting in the Temple, they are understanding. ;)