So one of the things I think I was most looking forward to in "The Mummy's Mask" was the competition with the other groups.
And to be honest, I think I still want more. I feel like the PCs are going to get a chance to know the Scorched Hand in one scene and then the next (and likely last) time they see them, it's a fight.
I'm tempted to add some other encounter where the two groups end up working together (a la in "The Mummy," where Brendan Fraser's group and the Americans actually fight together a couple times before things go bad).
I don't have the adventure in front of me at the moment, but my thought was perhaps have the Scorched Hand entering at the same time as the PCs head out for their second investigation. On the way, they're set upon by ... something (two or three earth elementals, perhaps?) ... freed by one of the other parties the PCs have met, maybe even setting up that third group as a red herring for a potential adversary.
At any rate, the PCs would get the chance to get to know the Scorched Hand a little better (perhaps they put on a dramatic show of spell-casting, so the PCs know what to have to look out for a bit when that final fight rolls around), which I think makes that climactic confrontation a little more dramatic and fulfilling.
I'm actually planning for each dungeon to be a separate day and at the end of each day they go to the Tooth and Hookah to unwind and brag about their encounters. This is mainly because its how I originally thought it was being done. It also allows the spellcasters to renew their spells and of coarse get a second meeting with some of the other groups. Scorched Hand is going to sneak in on the third day to go to the Temple and I might have the Crytpfinders try to sneak into the main party's room since I"m portraying Falto to be a bit of the dickish side.
I plan to take 3-4 of the groups and run the lottery so that my players hear some of the names and see the 'leader' go up and get the assignment.
One of these will be the scorched hand - but I won't make that call any different - just to get a few of the 'names' out there and let them see the competition - this will let the tavern encounter reinforce the roll call memory and the players will feel a bit more used to the names.
As to the rest - it will really be up to the players how much role playing they plan to do in the city - there is plenty of Wati in the adventure that's documented to let them spend quite a bit of time shopping or visiting the locals - if they do I plan to have members of the other groups at these encounters.
I figure giving them as much time (and as many days) as they need or want to get through the dungeons will let them take a break from nonstop map crawling (as they see fit) and provide opportunities to meet some of the other groups - as well as some of the key NPC's from the Scorched Hand - which in turn gives them the ability to get backstory from them and possibly make an ally/turn them so when the big fight comes it's a bit easier.
*but* I figure at that this will all depend on how my players go about things - if they just want to dungeon crawl then that's what they'll get - while I will add brushups into it I figure by letting them set the pace I can figure out how much work to put into the other groups.
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Running three-sided combats, especially one with that many NPCs, is pretty challenging, so I'm sort of glad they didn't include anything like that.
That said, if you feel up to it, I think it'd make for a great scene. You definitely chose the right time for it.
You could have it be some rogue Pharasmins, then add a scene later where the more naive Scorched Hand members stand up for the PCs, backing their story that the Pharasmins ambushed them the party rather than the other way around.
I'm actually planning for each dungeon to be a separate day and at the end of each day they go to the Tooth and Hookah to unwind and brag about their encounters.
Is that... not how it's supposed to work? I could swear that's how it's supposed to work.
If not, good idea! So good I assumed it was in the adventure all along :)
Cheers!
Landon
I'm actually planning for each dungeon to be a separate day and at the end of each day they go to the Tooth and Hookah to unwind and brag about their encounters.Is that... not how it's supposed to work? I could swear that's how it's supposed to work.
If not, good idea! So good I assumed it was in the adventure all along :)
Cheers!
Landon
It seemed like that to me too which is why I'm doing it. The Scorched Hand will bribe the guards and sneak in early on the third day to ensure they get to loot their sacred temple.
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In between where the adventure talks of the other groups being at the Tooth and Hookah, I was planning on adding like a giant chalk leaderboard at the tavern. "Biggest Gemstone", "Deadliest Trap", "Most Friends Dead", etc. All minor but interesting facets for the group to brag/lie/etc about or to be the best at.
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Since the first site the PCs explore says it would take around an hour of digging just to get the door open, I plan on having the Scorched Hand walk by having already finished their first site in less time than it takes for the PCs to even enter their site.
They will make some bragging comments and/or deriding comments about how lame the PCs are.
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In between where the adventure talks of the other groups being at the Tooth and Hookah, I was planning on adding like a giant chalk leaderboard at the tavern. "Biggest Gemstone", "Deadliest Trap", "Most Friends Dead", etc. All minor but interesting facets for the group to brag/lie/etc about or to be the best at.
That's a really fun idea. Maybe "strangest living animal" and "strangest mummified animal" for a bit of humor.
Cheers!
Landon
Since the first site the PCs explore says it would take around an hour of digging just to get the door open, I plan on having the Scorched Hand walk by having already finished their first site in less time than it takes for the PCs to even enter their site.
They will make some bragging comments and/or deriding comments about how lame the PCs are.
Damn. Where were you two weeks ago when I ran the first dungeon for my group! I would have loved to do this. I still introduced them to the Scorched Hand in the bar as "the party that finished first." And also since it took them four days game time to complete the first dungeon (they're all spellcasters do to some awesome miscommunication), no one can leave for their second site until all the teams return. So the sorched hand not only has a "holier than thou" look on the party, but they also are pissed about them taking so long.