Complications: A group of superstitious miners secretly came to kill centaurs, who they thought were evil (could be solved with diplomacy). They need to move quickly, or the green dragon that lives in the wood will eat the miners (could be solved with VIOLENCE! Or, y’ know, just running and screaming.). The eves are not very happy about this venture, and were never taught that violence is not the answer (could be solved with diplomacy).
I like how you're thinking in terms of groups and motivations. I think that's the best ( read easiest ) way to plot out an adventure flow, either improvised or pre-scripted.
A couple of thoughts & question that come to mind, however:
Why is the Party establishing a mine? Are they hired to do so? Are they questing for a rare gemstone for some other adventure need? I think they need a solid motive here. I'd tune that motive to the Party. E.g. The Duke of L'rae needs a darkstone from the Endless Caverns to reverse a curse which is slowing turning his daughter into a hideous monster ( good Party ) - or, same reason, but he's willing to pay the Party a boatload of money to get it ( Evil/Greedy Party).
Complications/opposition should be related to the Party's main goal. There's nothing here really to compel the Party to keep the miners from being eaten. I've DM'd Parties which wouldn't care less; "they were dumb enough to come into the Star Mounts, that's on them." The miner situation really sound like a side-quest. As such, I'd keep them, but the main opposition seems to be the Dragon, and possibly the Elves. Perhaps the Elves don't truck with people mining in their mountains, annoying the Dragon and causing her to wreak vengeance on the Elves, so they have a motive to keep people from annoying the Dragon ( unless they can prove they're capable of taking out the Dragon? ). So opposition is twofold - first, the remnants of the Eaerlannistill in the Star Mounts - and, if they can convince the Eaerlanni that the Dragon's wrath will not fall on them - then getting the darkstone from the Dragon's lair. Maybe you could work in the miner thread, as a task that the Eaerlanni set the Party to remove the miners without awakening the Dragon as proof that they have the finesse to be able to filch the darkstone from the Dragon's lair undetected.
I wouldn't think of the final showdown as a "boss fight" - that seems to imply they must kill the Dragon, or you expect them to do so. What if they just Rogue in and steal what they need? What if they make a bargain with the Dragon? They absolutely need to overcome the Dragon ( assuming the Dragon is opposing them doing what they want to do ), but that doesn't have to be killing it ( although, admittedly, being able to say you killed a Dragon is serious Adventurer bragging rights! ).
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also, they are just kinda trying to blaze a trail to the mountains and get the mine off the ground. The boss fight could be somebody already in the mountains (i.e. an apex predator)
If money is the motivation, then the miners are dead. No one is paying the Party to rescue the miners. The Party goes "uh huh, that's nice - so sad for them", goes off, sets up their mine to get their loot. Your entire adventure arc falls flat. The complication is nothing of the sort - it just gets ignored.
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Location: the high forest in the forgotten realms
Main goal: establish a mine in the star mountains
Complications: A group of superstitious miners secretly came to kill centaurs, who they thought were evil (could be solved with diplomacy). They need to move quickly, or the green dragon that lives in the wood will eat the miners (could be solved with VIOLENCE! Or, y’ know, just running and screaming.). The eves are not very happy about this venture, and were never taught that violence is not the answer (could be solved with diplomacy).
Boss fight: Big ol’ frickin’ DRAGON!
What dost thou thinkth?
I did NOT eat those hikers.
I like how you're thinking in terms of groups and motivations. I think that's the best ( read easiest ) way to plot out an adventure flow, either improvised or pre-scripted.
A couple of thoughts & question that come to mind, however:
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
motivation 4 party: MONEY!
also, they are just kinda trying to blaze a trail to the mountains and get the mine off the ground. The boss fight could be somebody already in the mountains (i.e. an apex predator)
I did NOT eat those hikers.
I think you're missing my point.
If money is the motivation, then the miners are dead. No one is paying the Party to rescue the miners. The Party goes "uh huh, that's nice - so sad for them", goes off, sets up their mine to get their loot. Your entire adventure arc falls flat. The complication is nothing of the sort - it just gets ignored.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
it's more of a side quest really, just to test the waters of their moral caliber
I did NOT eat those hikers.