Howdy All,
I gave my party a time machine!
So, now I need to write out some fun one-shots that will go along with it. When they first attempt to use it, they'll have almost no control over it, so when they end up will be entirely up to chance. or so it will seem. The goals of these visits will either be searching for information or to gather new resources. I have several ideas of fun settings they can end up in:
World War Faerun: This will be a WWI setting, where the Great War has erupted throughout the lands. Of course, my Players will find themselves in the midst of a chaotic battle. Crawling through trenches, learning how to use advanced firearms and grenades, and attempting to bring back anything they can get their mitts onto.
Plague-ridden Past: The go back a few hundred years to when some manner of Black Plaque was overwhelming the area. They'll need to carefully traverse city streets, avoid being robbed, possibly keep themselves awake and starving for several days until the machine kicks back in and sends them home.
Starfinder: Maybe Spelljammer would be a better title, either way though the world will be very advanced and entering space will be part of a normal day.
Time of the Dragons: What happens when they appear in an early bronze age and communities are ruled by great dragon lords? Will their hubris overrule their senses, or will they humble themselves before these great terrors?
Demon-lands: A portal has opened the countryside to a host of demons (or devils) that spill forth constantly. Survival will be a challenge here, as any show of strength will be taken to be a challenge.
Those are my initial ideas. What sorta things can you folks suggest that i could incorporate into this mess? Any ideas are appreciated, thanks in advance!
-Jhaosmire
PS I also might have them go to a literal WWII setting, at which point Hitler will 100% steal their time-machine and go back in time to conquer the past. That will be more than a one-shot though.
Is time strictly linear in your setting?
You could do alternate timelines, where some historical event established in your setting went a different way, perhaps with dramatic consequences.
Doesn't have to be linear by any means. I do intend for there to be consequences for messing with the past, so if they, say, visit the Time of Troubles (I play in the Forgotten Realms) and assassinate a god or save Waukeen, that'll have lasting consequences
Have you played Chrono Trigger? Do you have an Atlantis and Stone Age one-shots made?