DragonBaneDM
2023-06-28, 08:22 PM
Hi there!
I'm doing a tournament arc, and I think I've got most of the work and planning figured out in a way that will take away the downsides of a tournament adventure while pumping up the positive sides of getting to show lots of characters at once and the mystique by having everyone wear masks and use stage names.
I'm running rounds simultaneously as one big combat. That way we avoid the pitfall of wait time changing from one person's turn to one person's combat by cloning the same map four times. Ludicrously wealthy city nobles change up the ring during short rests between rounds, I'm even starting to work on a mini dungeon that players can partake in between rounds and/or after they're eliminated.
About the only thing I haven't done is make sure each fight isn't just going to turn into "I take my usual turn that I almost always do with nothing stopping me." I want to base the fights around gimmicks, testing the character's strengths in new ways, heavy with roleplay opportunity, and way more interesting than "I do the attacky I casta the spelly I winna-the-match!"
Before I take on any strongly themed adventure, I always want to ask the Playground for advice. Specifically:
Have you ran or partaken in a 1 on 1 fight successfully based around some kind of gimmick, test, or mechanic that was fun for the player to figure out and overcome?
Since my players are level 11 with good stats and items, and prep time, my plan is to start at CR 7, then go to 8, finish on 9, and then unleash them at each other to see what's left in the tank.
Anything you've done in a tournament arc before that you think I should try and repeat for maximum fun? Advice for 1 on 1 styled stuff is especially helpful!
If you'd like to critique, take a look at some of my ideas. Nothing is set in stone! Statblocks are easy to reflavor/poach, I'm more interested in "This is the move the opponent will try to make if it's not stopped in some way."
Rounds
Player Character:
Sea Elf Swashbuckler/Battlemaster
Tiefling Tomelock/Redemption Paladin
Shifter PhantomRogue
Half Elf DraconicSorcerer
Round 1: Basic lion pillars for a mostly open battlefield (https://www.czepeku.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.encounterkit.com%2 Fmap%2Fpreview%2Fad1f1c2f74f87400a2218a51bc7b44ff. webp&w=1920&q=75)
Minotaur charging in a straight line, fool him into charging at the pillars.
Party's cook, alternates between a far away blade of knives and nearby fire aura
Deciding between a beastmaster and a druid with entangling plants (lock down mobility)
Three NPC kobolds in a trenchcoat who scatter upon initiative.
Round 2: Flooded with floating debris (https://www.czepeku.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.encounterkit.com%2 Fmap%2Fpreview%2F947c0d3d438b92606864b9dd5de8852c. webp&w=1920&q=75)
Trickster god avatar who wants to fight underwater and test the fighter.
NPC monk friend who has a plague spirit inside of him, rotting driftwood before leaping away.
Ghost crimelord possessing a young boy, leaving only to invisibly attack. The Rogue loves kids.
A dragonborn barbarian who specializes in Mage Slaying and resisting spells.
Round 3: Rocky terrain, also the audience shoots you with crossbows. (https://www.czepeku.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.encounterkit.com%2 Fmap%2Fpreview%2Fd4cf98c2483c42e65c94c87c012b8be9. webp&w=3840&q=75)
Pirate Queen/Love Interest who changes up her tactics based on dice-rolling (https://wow.zamimg.com/uploads/screenshots/normal/550199-roll-the-bones.jpg).
Samurai Mentor, encourages the Pallylock to switch between spells and attacks
Archer Mentor who's traced the rogue's equipment so he doesn't have to find her.
Recurring warforged warlock villain: aberration enchantments, gold, and greed
Round 4: Light the ring on fire (https://www.czepeku.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.encounterkit.com%2 Fmap%2Fpreview%2F7c6928d5194847849785d6f93bfbca65. webp&w=1920&q=75)
Probably the Padlock
Probably the Battlebuckler
Probably the Sorcerer
Probably the Phantom Rogue
Round 5: King of the Hill grants damage roll bonuses (https://www.czepeku.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.encounterkit.com%2 Fmap%2Fpreview%2F5187ec0d81f4c254a66936f4b197194b. webp&w=3840&q=75)
Whoever's Left!
Whoever's Left!
Whoever's Left!
Whoever's Left!
Thanks y'all. This forum is still where I come when I want a collective hivemind of people who run and partake in long-form campaigns and crunch 5E down into their own personal system. Every successful adventure I've run has had a start from the advice/ideas folks on here have shared, and I'm glad these forums are still around!
I'm doing a tournament arc, and I think I've got most of the work and planning figured out in a way that will take away the downsides of a tournament adventure while pumping up the positive sides of getting to show lots of characters at once and the mystique by having everyone wear masks and use stage names.
I'm running rounds simultaneously as one big combat. That way we avoid the pitfall of wait time changing from one person's turn to one person's combat by cloning the same map four times. Ludicrously wealthy city nobles change up the ring during short rests between rounds, I'm even starting to work on a mini dungeon that players can partake in between rounds and/or after they're eliminated.
About the only thing I haven't done is make sure each fight isn't just going to turn into "I take my usual turn that I almost always do with nothing stopping me." I want to base the fights around gimmicks, testing the character's strengths in new ways, heavy with roleplay opportunity, and way more interesting than "I do the attacky I casta the spelly I winna-the-match!"
Before I take on any strongly themed adventure, I always want to ask the Playground for advice. Specifically:
Have you ran or partaken in a 1 on 1 fight successfully based around some kind of gimmick, test, or mechanic that was fun for the player to figure out and overcome?
Since my players are level 11 with good stats and items, and prep time, my plan is to start at CR 7, then go to 8, finish on 9, and then unleash them at each other to see what's left in the tank.
Anything you've done in a tournament arc before that you think I should try and repeat for maximum fun? Advice for 1 on 1 styled stuff is especially helpful!
If you'd like to critique, take a look at some of my ideas. Nothing is set in stone! Statblocks are easy to reflavor/poach, I'm more interested in "This is the move the opponent will try to make if it's not stopped in some way."
Rounds
Player Character:
Sea Elf Swashbuckler/Battlemaster
Tiefling Tomelock/Redemption Paladin
Shifter PhantomRogue
Half Elf DraconicSorcerer
Round 1: Basic lion pillars for a mostly open battlefield (https://www.czepeku.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.encounterkit.com%2 Fmap%2Fpreview%2Fad1f1c2f74f87400a2218a51bc7b44ff. webp&w=1920&q=75)
Minotaur charging in a straight line, fool him into charging at the pillars.
Party's cook, alternates between a far away blade of knives and nearby fire aura
Deciding between a beastmaster and a druid with entangling plants (lock down mobility)
Three NPC kobolds in a trenchcoat who scatter upon initiative.
Round 2: Flooded with floating debris (https://www.czepeku.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.encounterkit.com%2 Fmap%2Fpreview%2F947c0d3d438b92606864b9dd5de8852c. webp&w=1920&q=75)
Trickster god avatar who wants to fight underwater and test the fighter.
NPC monk friend who has a plague spirit inside of him, rotting driftwood before leaping away.
Ghost crimelord possessing a young boy, leaving only to invisibly attack. The Rogue loves kids.
A dragonborn barbarian who specializes in Mage Slaying and resisting spells.
Round 3: Rocky terrain, also the audience shoots you with crossbows. (https://www.czepeku.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.encounterkit.com%2 Fmap%2Fpreview%2Fd4cf98c2483c42e65c94c87c012b8be9. webp&w=3840&q=75)
Pirate Queen/Love Interest who changes up her tactics based on dice-rolling (https://wow.zamimg.com/uploads/screenshots/normal/550199-roll-the-bones.jpg).
Samurai Mentor, encourages the Pallylock to switch between spells and attacks
Archer Mentor who's traced the rogue's equipment so he doesn't have to find her.
Recurring warforged warlock villain: aberration enchantments, gold, and greed
Round 4: Light the ring on fire (https://www.czepeku.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.encounterkit.com%2 Fmap%2Fpreview%2F7c6928d5194847849785d6f93bfbca65. webp&w=1920&q=75)
Probably the Padlock
Probably the Battlebuckler
Probably the Sorcerer
Probably the Phantom Rogue
Round 5: King of the Hill grants damage roll bonuses (https://www.czepeku.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.encounterkit.com%2 Fmap%2Fpreview%2F5187ec0d81f4c254a66936f4b197194b. webp&w=3840&q=75)
Whoever's Left!
Whoever's Left!
Whoever's Left!
Whoever's Left!
Thanks y'all. This forum is still where I come when I want a collective hivemind of people who run and partake in long-form campaigns and crunch 5E down into their own personal system. Every successful adventure I've run has had a start from the advice/ideas folks on here have shared, and I'm glad these forums are still around!