I believe Chimera Caravan deserves multiple endings. These endings could play out in very different ways based upon what the players do. Here are some of the many possible endings that can occur.
1. the goblins are taken out too slowly, and the goblins are able to alert the caravan leader of the PC threat.
2. Goblins are taken out too quickly and the goblins release the chimera to lose weight.
3. The PCs take out the chimera handlers first, and the chimera breaks free on its own terms.
4. The players fail to hear the chimera’s roars, rush forward to attack, and are in a surprised state when the chimera rocks the carriage
I will create a full post of the encounter when the battle occurs.
It's good to have an idea of different possible endings, this really helps when the encounter starts to shift and morph as it is dealt with. I always try to stay three steps ahead of my players, anticipating what they may do, figuring out different outcomes of certain actions, and trying to figure out how my players may derail the whole thing (because that's what players do). Imagine if the players decide to strike a bargain with the goblins and purchase the chimera for themselves!
I'll give you a bit of a warning though; don't over think it. It's good to have the ideas, but don't put any weight into possible outcomes. Let it flow naturally, simply have an idea of a few possible endings. Sometimes it's easy to go "Yea! I think the encounter would be awesome if it ended this way!" and then the encounter becomes skewed to match that desire. That's something that should be avoided, it's one end state out of an almost infinite list of possibilities. As the fight goes on you'll begin to see what endings are going to be more probable, and you can adjust tactics and strategies to suit the situation. You're impartial, let the players take the steering wheel and just keep in mind the various endings and see if you guessed right.
The stuff that happens during the scene will be very malleable and it will change often. Keep in mind your players' abilities, this way when the players use them you can have the creatures react/act accordingly. There are very few times you'll be able to predict the exact nature of an encounter and how it'll be resolved, don't try. Instead figure out how the creatures you're handling will choose to act/react. Are the goblins uncharacteristically brave, fighting with a fervor that is unexpected? Are the goblins fickle, once the combat starts to turn south they scramble like roaches in the light? Do the goblins use hit and run, or guerrilla tactics while fighting? These are the questions that you'll worry about, let the players figure out how to handle your creatures rather than you.
I look forward to hearing how this plays out, it sounds like a fun little encounter!
I believe Chimera Caravan deserves multiple endings. These endings could play out in very different ways based upon what the players do. Here are some of the many possible endings that can occur.
1. the goblins are taken out too slowly, and the goblins are able to alert the caravan leader of the PC threat.
2. Goblins are taken out too quickly and the goblins release the chimera to lose weight.
3. The PCs take out the chimera handlers first, and the chimera breaks free on its own terms.
4. The players fail to hear the chimera’s roars, rush forward to attack, and are in a surprised state when the chimera rocks the carriage
I will create a full post of the encounter when the battle occurs.
It's good to have an idea of different possible endings, this really helps when the encounter starts to shift and morph as it is dealt with. I always try to stay three steps ahead of my players, anticipating what they may do, figuring out different outcomes of certain actions, and trying to figure out how my players may derail the whole thing (because that's what players do). Imagine if the players decide to strike a bargain with the goblins and purchase the chimera for themselves!
I'll give you a bit of a warning though; don't over think it. It's good to have the ideas, but don't put any weight into possible outcomes. Let it flow naturally, simply have an idea of a few possible endings. Sometimes it's easy to go "Yea! I think the encounter would be awesome if it ended this way!" and then the encounter becomes skewed to match that desire. That's something that should be avoided, it's one end state out of an almost infinite list of possibilities. As the fight goes on you'll begin to see what endings are going to be more probable, and you can adjust tactics and strategies to suit the situation. You're impartial, let the players take the steering wheel and just keep in mind the various endings and see if you guessed right.
The stuff that happens during the scene will be very malleable and it will change often. Keep in mind your players' abilities, this way when the players use them you can have the creatures react/act accordingly. There are very few times you'll be able to predict the exact nature of an encounter and how it'll be resolved, don't try. Instead figure out how the creatures you're handling will choose to act/react. Are the goblins uncharacteristically brave, fighting with a fervor that is unexpected? Are the goblins fickle, once the combat starts to turn south they scramble like roaches in the light? Do the goblins use hit and run, or guerrilla tactics while fighting? These are the questions that you'll worry about, let the players figure out how to handle your creatures rather than you.
I look forward to hearing how this plays out, it sounds like a fun little encounter!