
Cyg |

Greetings! I'm a new GM and am having a blast running this game with a group of 7 lately! This is my first forum post as I seek advice for the next scenario.
Long story short, the party is chasing after the villain and has reason to believe he's passed through an orc mountain-side compound. How can I make this scenario interesting without it just being a straight up brawl fest to get through?
Current ideas are that they have to sneak around a bit, they have to find keys throughout the compound, they have to convince one of the orcs to help them through, etc.
Does anyone have any ideas, or anything I should watch out for when planning this type of scenario? The primary goal is to get through the compound so they can keep chasing the villain.
Thank you in advance!

Saldiven |
If the party is willing to entertain this idea, don't make conversation with the Orcs an impossibility. Maybe the party can negotiate or bribe their way through without combat. If they're successful, give the party the same experience points as if they had defeated them in combat (but none of the treasure, obviously).
Alternatively, maybe the Orcs allow them through, but then follow to attack whoever survives the confrontation between the party and the villain on the concept that whoever wins will be weakened.
Maybe the Orc chieftain has a little mini-quest he'll propose to the party, and in exchange for its completion, the chieftain will actually assist in the pursuit of the villain by sending support troops or offering a secret shortcut to get in front of the fleeing villain.

Goddity |

Create several, or set up and then improvise the continuation of one big one. Have several options prepared and be ready for something unexpected to happen. If your players think of their own way through and you let them try it, it will be much more satisfying than coming up with a guaranteed success for them.

Morqadayn |
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An interesting, though somewhat obvious, twist would be to have several tribes with different views and agendas. One clan may assist the heroes, perhaps in the hopes that this gesture can open trade between the humans and this particular band of orcs. Another tribe might secretly worship an Old One and may feign friendship with the characters, etc. The various bands may barely tolerate one another or even outright violence may suddenly erupt all around the party as the conflicting beliefs reach a boiling point.

Cyg |

I like the "several tribes" idea! I'm getting a sense of treating the orc compound as more of an orc trade hub with multiple gangs begrudgingly being civil to one another while within the compound's borders. The party enters seeking guidance to find the villain while working with orcs that may slit their throats at a moment's notice.
Thank you all!