Sindeloke
2022-02-28, 03:31 PM
I am, as one does, trying to use D&D for something it isn't for, by, well, first of all, by making a mystery campaign to begin with, but currently, by sending my guys to a big yearly shindig in order to gather their next round of clues from other attendees. Their main goal is to talk to the current head of the police department, to try to find out why the police aren't investigating the problem, and potentially learn any info the police have that the party doesn't.
So, uh, what the heck does that look like?
I was thinking a little about trying to do a skill-challenge type thing, but the problem with that is that my party is a pile of utter noobs. 3/6 of them still don't really have a grasp on "move, action, bonus action (if applicable)," and 2/6 are so terminally shy that I have to directly address them to ever get them to do anything. There's so much hand-holding. So. Much. I mostly don't mind, but it means that no one is going to bust out with "are there any cops at the gambling table? I pretend I want to flirt with the Chief, and use my card game proficiency to ask for tips on how to talk to her whenever I win a hand." In fact I doubt anyone will even think to go "I eavesdrop on the Chief's conversations and use Insight to figure out what not to say" without some minor prompting. I cannot rely on them to think of creative ways to approach the goal.
Which is symptomatic of the bigger issue that none of them know what they can do, just as a general rule, but part of my hope with sending them to the party in the first place is to try to teach them that they can try to do literally anything. But in the meantime, I guess I'm just asking for suggestions on how to guide them through this in any way that's even slightly more fun and communal than "have the face make a Persuasion check and call it a night"?
For reference,
fighter, noble, invited as a guest, will do fine with only minor nudging
bard, professional entertainer, here as the entertainment, will probably also do fine
rogue, prepubescent ward of fighter, here as the fighter's +1, a CS kenderlike character who will think of plenty of things to do but 50/50 whether they'll be disruptive and counterproductive
sorceror, swamp witch hermit, part of the bard's act, needs maximum handholding
ranger, wandering do-gooder, part of the bard's act, needs some handholding
rogue, thieves' guild professional, sneaking in and will pose as the help, needs some handholding
NPC target, chief of police, noble client of another noble house, elitist and ambitious, feels stifled by her patron micromanaging her job for political reasons, a very talkative and approachable drunk but has been instructed by her own head of house to stop making a drunken fool of herself at parties, other useful personality traits TBD
So, uh, what the heck does that look like?
I was thinking a little about trying to do a skill-challenge type thing, but the problem with that is that my party is a pile of utter noobs. 3/6 of them still don't really have a grasp on "move, action, bonus action (if applicable)," and 2/6 are so terminally shy that I have to directly address them to ever get them to do anything. There's so much hand-holding. So. Much. I mostly don't mind, but it means that no one is going to bust out with "are there any cops at the gambling table? I pretend I want to flirt with the Chief, and use my card game proficiency to ask for tips on how to talk to her whenever I win a hand." In fact I doubt anyone will even think to go "I eavesdrop on the Chief's conversations and use Insight to figure out what not to say" without some minor prompting. I cannot rely on them to think of creative ways to approach the goal.
Which is symptomatic of the bigger issue that none of them know what they can do, just as a general rule, but part of my hope with sending them to the party in the first place is to try to teach them that they can try to do literally anything. But in the meantime, I guess I'm just asking for suggestions on how to guide them through this in any way that's even slightly more fun and communal than "have the face make a Persuasion check and call it a night"?
For reference,
fighter, noble, invited as a guest, will do fine with only minor nudging
bard, professional entertainer, here as the entertainment, will probably also do fine
rogue, prepubescent ward of fighter, here as the fighter's +1, a CS kenderlike character who will think of plenty of things to do but 50/50 whether they'll be disruptive and counterproductive
sorceror, swamp witch hermit, part of the bard's act, needs maximum handholding
ranger, wandering do-gooder, part of the bard's act, needs some handholding
rogue, thieves' guild professional, sneaking in and will pose as the help, needs some handholding
NPC target, chief of police, noble client of another noble house, elitist and ambitious, feels stifled by her patron micromanaging her job for political reasons, a very talkative and approachable drunk but has been instructed by her own head of house to stop making a drunken fool of herself at parties, other useful personality traits TBD