So my second session is tomorrow, and up to 3 more people are coming then last time. I doubt all 3 will come, but I’m still wanting to be prepared, especially since it was a sort of last minute scheduling. We’re in Part 2, the 2 characters I had last session are about to leave the cave with Sildar and head back to Phandalin. I have a plan for how to introduce the rogue(assuming someone plays the rogue), I just don’t know how to introduce the folk hero fighter and wizard. Any tips?
Is your group that has played together a lot before? if so, you may choose to make the intro quicker.
Some other options are:
Perhaps Sildar, or people in Phandolin know some of the new chars
The new chars could meet the group just outside of the cave, as they followed the goblin trail as well
Depending on backgrounds, the wizard might be in the area and interested in what's going on at Old Owl Well, Thundertree or Conbyberry
The folk hero could have heard of "goblins in the woods" and know a piece of history of cragmaw castle, and have been working their way there, scouting.
It's really up to you as to how involved you want an initial encounter with new party members to be. How much time of the session do you want that to take, and how many of the players know each other already.
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"An' things ha' come to a pretty pass, ye ken, if people are going to leave stuff like that aroound where innocent people could accidentally smash the door doon and lever the bars aside and take the big chain off'f the cupboard and pick the lock and drink it!"
Assuming the current characters have to go back to the ox and wagon they stashed, how about they find the new characters checking out the scene of the ambush and have just found the hidden wagon.
Or you can just have them in town perhaps having a small brawl with some redbrands as the other players arrive.
They could be responding to the townmaster's request for help with Orcs or they could be escorting a wagon shipment from Triboar for the Lionshield Coster.
Assuming the current characters have to go back to the ox and wagon they stashed, how about they find the new characters checking out the scene of the ambush and have just found the hidden wagon.
Or you can just have them in town perhaps having a small brawl with some redbrands as the other players arrive.
Assuming the current characters have to go back to the ox and wagon they stashed, how about they find the new characters checking out the scene of the ambush and have just found the hidden wagon.
Or you can just have them in town perhaps having a small brawl with some redbrands as the other players arrive.
Both excellent suggestions.
If you’re using the PreGens, I know the rogue has reason to fight with the Redbrands. Maybe the rogue got cornered by more than they can handle and the fighter stepped in to assist. So you narrate the scene setup as “You arrive back in Phandalin and as you’re passing the Shrine of Luck, it looks like someone’s luck has run out. A human and a halfling are surrounded by thugs just in the open square in front of it. (Would you two like to describe your characters as they would see them?) You can hear the leader of the Thugs says “We thought you was supposed to be dead!”
At that point, the rogue can respond directly to the leader and is officially a PC, or the party can step in and negotiate. Or just throw the first punch.
1) There the B team hired by Rockseeker who arrived early (to gather intelligence) and were investigating Rockseeker's disappearance when they happened upon the goblin trail.
2) They were hired by the emporium with the missing goods to investigate the goblin threat in the area.
3) They're also looking for the lost mines (this is a kind of a western, so introducing new characters who are just treasure hunters is super easy.)
4) They are just travellers who saw the wrecked cart and decided to investigate.
5) They were sent by the Lord's Alliance -- a different "branch" from Sildar-- to investigate the disappearance of Iarno "Glass Staff".
Really, just grab any story point from any of the quests in the module and use it as a hook to bring them into the area.
Thanks a bunch everyone, I’m going to use one of these next week, because our session got cancelled because of a basketball practice(these nerds, skipping out on dnd for a sport).
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So my second session is tomorrow, and up to 3 more people are coming then last time. I doubt all 3 will come, but I’m still wanting to be prepared, especially since it was a sort of last minute scheduling. We’re in Part 2, the 2 characters I had last session are about to leave the cave with Sildar and head back to Phandalin. I have a plan for how to introduce the rogue(assuming someone plays the rogue), I just don’t know how to introduce the folk hero fighter and wizard. Any tips?
Easiest way is to just say, they’re here now. Then get to playing. No need to make a big deal of it, just get right to the game.
Is your group that has played together a lot before? if so, you may choose to make the intro quicker.
Some other options are:
It's really up to you as to how involved you want an initial encounter with new party members to be. How much time of the session do you want that to take, and how many of the players know each other already.
"An' things ha' come to a pretty pass, ye ken, if people are going to leave stuff like that aroound where innocent people could accidentally smash the door doon and lever the bars aside and take the big chain off'f the cupboard and pick the lock and drink it!"
Assuming the current characters have to go back to the ox and wagon they stashed, how about they find the new characters checking out the scene of the ambush and have just found the hidden wagon.
Or you can just have them in town perhaps having a small brawl with some redbrands as the other players arrive.
They could be responding to the townmaster's request for help with Orcs or they could be escorting a wagon shipment from Triboar for the Lionshield Coster.
Both excellent suggestions.
If you’re using the PreGens, I know the rogue has reason to fight with the Redbrands. Maybe the rogue got cornered by more than they can handle and the fighter stepped in to assist. So you narrate the scene setup as “You arrive back in Phandalin and as you’re passing the Shrine of Luck, it looks like someone’s luck has run out. A human and a halfling are surrounded by thugs just in the open square in front of it. (Would you two like to describe your characters as they would see them?) You can hear the leader of the Thugs says “We thought you was supposed to be dead!”
At that point, the rogue can respond directly to the leader and is officially a PC, or the party can step in and negotiate. Or just throw the first punch.
1) There the B team hired by Rockseeker who arrived early (to gather intelligence) and were investigating Rockseeker's disappearance when they happened upon the goblin trail.
2) They were hired by the emporium with the missing goods to investigate the goblin threat in the area.
3) They're also looking for the lost mines (this is a kind of a western, so introducing new characters who are just treasure hunters is super easy.)
4) They are just travellers who saw the wrecked cart and decided to investigate.
5) They were sent by the Lord's Alliance -- a different "branch" from Sildar-- to investigate the disappearance of Iarno "Glass Staff".
Really, just grab any story point from any of the quests in the module and use it as a hook to bring them into the area.
Thanks a bunch everyone, I’m going to use one of these next week, because our session got cancelled because of a basketball practice(these nerds, skipping out on dnd for a sport).