Carnival games and other petty distractions

[Rixx]

I always thought it would be kind of neat to have an adventuring party go to a festival or something similar - it provides a nice, fun roleplay-oriented distraction, and also lets them show off their skills in a nonviolent way. (Alternately, it also allows them to get bested by commoners - being adept at combat doesn't necessarily make one the best at novelty games)

I can already think of some of the more obvious ones and how they'd be described by the rules (archery competitions, throw-the-ball-at-bottle-game, weirdly dressed people offering to guess your age and weight, etc.) - what are some fun attractions you'd like to see if you were to go to or run your players through a festival?

[Toliudar]

I did a "day at the faire" session, and as long as there's at least some chance for everybody to "win", it can be a lot of fun. Some possibilities:

Dual wielders and monks suddenly become very, very good at the fantasy equivalent of Whack a Mole - possibly featuring real moles.

Telepaths/Mindbenders turning the tables on fortune tellers by telling them THEIR fortunes.

Burly barbarians hitting the "test your strength" game so hard that it breaks the bell.

Clerics being given an opportunity to take a turn in a pan-theistic revival tent.

It's the kind of thing that lasts exactly as long as it's making the players laugh, and then the mass of flying monkeys/army of evil clowns/stampede of enraged elephants shows up.

[Eldariel]

In a festival my party ran across, I offered them a Magicians' Tournament (á la Complete Arcane, under appropriate wards) and Warrior Tournament (without equipment in a ring; think MMA) so no characters felt left out.

Some kinds of cardgames or casino-type events could be interesting (say, dice or blackjack or such), and everything can be spiced up with real magic (provided the organizers have magicians in their ranks, or the means to hire some). Many kinds of games testing your dexterity (say, you have a block of wood with a nail on it and try to hammer it in with the wrong end of a hammer in as few hits as possible - it's actually quite hard).

Some kind of maze of illusions could be awesome with real illusions muddling the mixture - think mirrorhouse with real images instead of just mirrors. And of course you need a drinking competition so the dwarves can feel validated as they hold their booze (or roll a 1 on some Fort-save and get laughed at by everyone).

[Odentin]

Wow. I'm looking through threads and suddenly I see Alex as an avatar...

I once had a 3rd party sourcebook that was entirely about faires and festivals and things one could do at such events. I can't remember what it was called, but I'd love to find it again, if anyone happens to know of which sourcebook I speak (or a similar one...).

[Deepblue706]

Don't forget the Churro vendors.

[Iku Rex]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uawUQjlcPuc#t=2m21s
(Remo and Chiun at the amusement park.)

[Telonius]

I always thought it would be kind of neat to have an adventuring party go to a festival or something similar - it provides a nice, fun roleplay-oriented distraction, and also lets them show off their skills in a nonviolent way. (Alternately, it also allows them to get bested by commoners - being adept at combat doesn't necessarily make one the best at novelty games)

I can already think of some of the more obvious ones and how they'd be described by the rules (archery competitions, throw-the-ball-at-bottle-game, weirdly dressed people offering to guess your age and weight, etc.) - what are some fun attractions you'd like to see if you were to go to or run your players through a festival?

Shackled City actually has a few of these at various points.