Custom Encounter - The Pillar Puzzle

Custom Encounter - The Pillar Puzzle

This is a puzzle/trap combination used as a nefarious and devious way to keep a door locked from intruders, requiring some association and literary skills to pass. I have yet to use this, as my current group is taking a short break at the moment for the holidays, but I can’t wait to see how they handle it. My advise is to use this puzzle in a haunted or undead-themed dungeon complex, one that is definitely not hospitable for the PCs. Although, a variation on this can be used to keep a secret entrance hidden (one without a deadly blade trap, unless the door really needs to be kept secret ... and is cleaned regularly) for a flamboyant or secretive Noble or organisation. This, as usual for my group, uses the Pathfinder (3.5) rule system and mechanics.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P6F8rtEK3aIyo_PL6goeHNLvH7J2Xbng27MLBnMlhjc/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy.

Pixie x

15/08/15

Character Design - The Shogun

This is an interesting character that I am using for my current campaign in Pathfinder, I use it mainly to patrol the city at night, encouraging intelligent timing and planning whilst putting up a deadly fight if they fall sour of his attitude (whilst also providing some worthwhile equipment). This is useful because it can act as a carefree and relaxed boss character who can be used at key times while both characterising my city and its lore.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aeaeTIvJ6GU8Leri9vR2KCrWLIvuVkbYNexsMTaaM3w/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy.

Pixie x

15/07/15

Resources - Backstory Generator

After watching a YouTube video by Noah Antwiler (aka: Counter Monkey https://www.youtube.com/user/countermonkeybard/featured) I had to chase up one of the resources he mentioned, a random backstory generator for classic Tabletop RPGs called Central Casting: Heroes of Legend. 

After some browsing I found a PDF version of the book and began rolling up some random characters and what made them tick. Put briefly, this book is incredible. The amount of detail that it delves into and the quality of its variety means that every character is uniquely intriguing in who they are and how they came to be.

One issue is that the book does use some mechanical benefits for certain good rolls, such as magical gifts and starting wealth, even extra skills and proficiencies. If you are going to use this as a player make sure to address your DM before throwing your character in their face. 

Also, the book does make references to specific mechanics that may not exist in your system, like ranks and skills. However, if you are knowledgeable enough in your system you may be able to easily find a way to transfer the numbers without many issues.

All in all, be prepared to put in about an hour’s time into a backstory that will truly give your character that boot up the arse needed to start doing something epic and fantastical, so they in return can give you a boot up the arse to play something epic and fantastical in return.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-oQgX8_bvSLdlFsTDhDdUxfWTg/view

Enjoy

Pixie x

15/9/15

The Town that Cried Murder

This is a Pathfinder One-Shot campaign that I designed and ran for my gaming group.

It is a 2nd level adventure for 3 to 4 players and can be completed in one 4 hour session. It uses statistics and information from the Pathfinder Bestiary, Bestiary 2 and the Gamemastery Guide.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Y24o77QeC3EOA-9nt13O-J7IBaXx0NhS8vPYuPZg74/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy

Pixie x

12/7/15

Settlement Design - Nepulas, The Crooked City

The city of Nepulas is a main hub-town I am using in my current Pathfinder campaign. It works well as a rather fluid and untraditional city as its geography isolates it from any pre-existing cities and settlements, it being suspended 80 ft above the sea on the edge of a cliff, having to winch any visiting ships up to the Hanging Docks with a huge crane. This also allows for the city to itself act as a dangerous environment, as the PCs could find themselves falling off of the edge at any time, if they aren't wary. The city’s isolation acts as a way to justify the criminal and corrupt behaviour that transcends daily life on the streets and in the halls, as there is no standard, default authority such as a King or Overlord, more alike a series of unjust, selfish horrors of society, stamping on each others heads and hands to grab as much real estate as possible in the gang-warfare equivalent of a coup. I am currently using this as a hook to encourage interaction from the PCs, as I am introducing the concept of a possible agreement between the city’s current authority and an influential figurehead of a grander Empire, to adopt the city into their grasps. Meaning that the city will no longer be a safe-haven for the PC’s less than hospitable behaviour. The city isolation will act as the PCs best ally, rather than their greatest opposition.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HvMYKl3n4CFPmRgbl4ntqNawULN-uUvv9kqpMABKS5s/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy.

Pixie x

17/08/15

Custom Encounter - Fish Riddle

This is a puzzle encounter that I have used twice on two different parties in two different systems (4E and 3.5) and has worked well both times. It is also a good idea to continue the palm-print activation concept throughout the dungeon complex so PCs understand the threat and can work around it and the DM can make sinister changes to mess with the PCs.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S_AwEnnF_Iv1DLFb_xY7za2MvSd-Y5SAar0Mlqc3u9Q/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy.

Pixie x

20/07/15