Catullus64
2024-03-10, 10:42 AM
I would like to pick some brains for a sequence I need to run this Tuesday, involving navigating a boat through treacherous waters.
The three player characters and two NPCs, having stolen a longship from some Vikings, are undertaking a voyage under close time constraints to the mysterious isles of Orkney. They've been told of a water passage in the Hebrides through which a mystical current runs, which would allow them to traverse several hundred miles in just a few hours.
What I've established:
The strait has a swift-moving current, and many twists and bends.
The water is surprisingly warm for the climate (a fictionalized twist on the gulf stream).
Plants and animals found nowhere else in Europe grow along the coast here.
Illusory visions in the water and voices on the air are a common experience for sailors in the strait.
The characters:
Two NPC warriors, both strong and agile but neither experienced seamen.
PC Warrior and Cleric, both of whom have undertaken minor sea voyages before but are not sailors. The Cleric can walk on water.
PC Selkie, able to turn at will into a seal and communicate with marine life.
The tone of the game leans towards mythic fantasy, so one or two heroic figures rowing an entire longship is not out of the possibility.
Possibly relevant system information:
My homebrew system is a dice pool game, with pools of d6 and successes counted on rolls of 5 or 6.
There are ten ability scores: Attack, Defense, Strength, Speed, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Perception, Willpower, Charisma
The normal combat initiative system is thus: all players and player-allied NPCs roll Speed test, contested by the highest-Speed enemy. Those who beat this test act before the enemies in whatever order they choose, those who fail act after the enemy in whatever order they choose.
Characters can take two action on their turn, and cannot take the same action twice except for Move/Escape.
My current plan is to use the combat initiative system for this skill challenge, but I'm open to alternate suggestions. How would you make a memorable encounter based on these constraints?
The three player characters and two NPCs, having stolen a longship from some Vikings, are undertaking a voyage under close time constraints to the mysterious isles of Orkney. They've been told of a water passage in the Hebrides through which a mystical current runs, which would allow them to traverse several hundred miles in just a few hours.
What I've established:
The strait has a swift-moving current, and many twists and bends.
The water is surprisingly warm for the climate (a fictionalized twist on the gulf stream).
Plants and animals found nowhere else in Europe grow along the coast here.
Illusory visions in the water and voices on the air are a common experience for sailors in the strait.
The characters:
Two NPC warriors, both strong and agile but neither experienced seamen.
PC Warrior and Cleric, both of whom have undertaken minor sea voyages before but are not sailors. The Cleric can walk on water.
PC Selkie, able to turn at will into a seal and communicate with marine life.
The tone of the game leans towards mythic fantasy, so one or two heroic figures rowing an entire longship is not out of the possibility.
Possibly relevant system information:
My homebrew system is a dice pool game, with pools of d6 and successes counted on rolls of 5 or 6.
There are ten ability scores: Attack, Defense, Strength, Speed, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Perception, Willpower, Charisma
The normal combat initiative system is thus: all players and player-allied NPCs roll Speed test, contested by the highest-Speed enemy. Those who beat this test act before the enemies in whatever order they choose, those who fail act after the enemy in whatever order they choose.
Characters can take two action on their turn, and cannot take the same action twice except for Move/Escape.
My current plan is to use the combat initiative system for this skill challenge, but I'm open to alternate suggestions. How would you make a memorable encounter based on these constraints?