ArcaneEngineer
2012-02-01, 08:25 AM
Traditionally, when the DM wants to introduce a sport that PCs can get involved in and excel at and through which they can gain fame and money, it is along the lines of "There is an arena, do you guys want to become gladiators?".
I find that unsatisfactory. Arena combat is just combat:
-It's something that PCs are doing constantly anyways
-Everyone who is good at combat is good at arena combat (either "the champion" is the highest level combatant in the settlement or better ones just aren't interested)
-Besides, every experienced player has played through numerous arena fights at one point or another
I'd like to have something a bit more complex. Something in which the players can use their combat skills but that would also involve a lot of tactics and that players would see as an alternative to just fighting.
Currently, I'm considering something along the lines of American Football (or Blood Bowl) with each player also directing an NPC or two... Lack of combat capabilities means your team is prone fast while other team scores touchdowns but if you spend too little time concentrating on the ball and too much concentration on combat... again means that the other team scores the touchdowns.
That said, I'm not certain that DND 3.5 (Or Pathfinder, in my case) mechanics are well-suited for something like american football. Even ignoring the massive problems that spellcasters cause in any sport like that... The more precisely I try to simulate games in my head, the less likely it seems that everything would go smoothly.
Has anyone ran any alternatives for the arena or at least interesting variations to it? Do any supplements describe good system for any interesting sport?
I find that unsatisfactory. Arena combat is just combat:
-It's something that PCs are doing constantly anyways
-Everyone who is good at combat is good at arena combat (either "the champion" is the highest level combatant in the settlement or better ones just aren't interested)
-Besides, every experienced player has played through numerous arena fights at one point or another
I'd like to have something a bit more complex. Something in which the players can use their combat skills but that would also involve a lot of tactics and that players would see as an alternative to just fighting.
Currently, I'm considering something along the lines of American Football (or Blood Bowl) with each player also directing an NPC or two... Lack of combat capabilities means your team is prone fast while other team scores touchdowns but if you spend too little time concentrating on the ball and too much concentration on combat... again means that the other team scores the touchdowns.
That said, I'm not certain that DND 3.5 (Or Pathfinder, in my case) mechanics are well-suited for something like american football. Even ignoring the massive problems that spellcasters cause in any sport like that... The more precisely I try to simulate games in my head, the less likely it seems that everything would go smoothly.
Has anyone ran any alternatives for the arena or at least interesting variations to it? Do any supplements describe good system for any interesting sport?