I have a long term campaign with a very extensive and complex central plot - but my players have moved into a slower stage of it where they have time to explore the multiverse and see smaller features.
They're about to arrive at a Giant city in a cloud out in space (spelljammer setting, loosely). The city is a sort of central location for all Giant types, with each having a ward that represents them. They each have a planet of their own nearby, but the fire and hill giant planets have been overrun with mind flayers, while the others have brokered an uneasy surrender.
I'd like to give a few side quests that don't directly relate to the main plot, but I'm bad at self-contained antics. Especially for a large party of level 17s. Anyone got any ideas?
You may want to try The Sky-Blind Spire from the one-page dungeon folks. It has fire giants in it and is a cute, if weird little adventure that can be plopped into your setting well enough.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
I have a few ideas that could be more role-play, than combat, since your players are high level. Here's a few I've tinkered with before:
Little girl lost her cat. The party tries and helps her. When they finally find the feline, it is stuck in a "Treant". Similar scenario... noble's daughter is missing her pet cat. Party hired to find it. When they do, they realize it is a Displacer Beast. They now need to tame and return this beast to her, unharmed. An inn is being haunted. Items are flying off shelves and moving by themselves. The party investigates... at the root. A malicious spellcaster telekinesis using a Crystal Ball A local musician plays a song every night to keep an angry beast at bay. The musician goes missing. If the townsfolk cannot find a replacement to play the soothing toon by nightfall, the entire town will be in danger. The players must infiltrate an illegal dice casino run by a Goblin Mob. They will need to find a set of "magical dice" to defeat the goblin kingpin at its own game A local fisherman is unable to catch fish from a nearby lake. A good portion of town depends on the fish he provides. The adventurers need to help him find the right kind of bait that they are biting on.
I have about six Quest/Subquest videos on my YouTube channel if you would like to take a look at these ideas in context along with several other ideas.
Animals/pets have been reported missing in increasing numbers over the past month. After some investigation, the players discover that a (previously thought to be cool) scientist/alchemist/whatever has been experimenting on animals. Possibly trying to enhance beasts for use in battle, or some other malicious purpose.
The scientist might have been transforming animals into monsters, or grafting metal onto the animal to make them stronger, or maybe using them in a sacrifice, or who knows what else.
I personally have never found it to be amiss to just toss a planar invasion on the side. Since you already mentioned Illithid being present then perhaps the way that they got to these planets was left open and some mischievous demons found it and alerted their overlord. It doesn't have to be anything extreme unless you want it to be so but my players always enjoy going up against demons, devils and the like from time to time.
At the apex of a mountain pass, high in the Strielwall Peaks, stands a ruined fortress. Once a Seree garrison, it is now occupied by a peaceful band of giants and the assortment of people devoted to them. Inside, the giants work to perfect a ritual of tea making, a task they see as essential to the well-being of the lowlanders. Also, they abduct people.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
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I have a long term campaign with a very extensive and complex central plot - but my players have moved into a slower stage of it where they have time to explore the multiverse and see smaller features.
They're about to arrive at a Giant city in a cloud out in space (spelljammer setting, loosely). The city is a sort of central location for all Giant types, with each having a ward that represents them. They each have a planet of their own nearby, but the fire and hill giant planets have been overrun with mind flayers, while the others have brokered an uneasy surrender.
I'd like to give a few side quests that don't directly relate to the main plot, but I'm bad at self-contained antics. Especially for a large party of level 17s. Anyone got any ideas?
You may want to try The Sky-Blind Spire from the one-page dungeon folks. It has fire giants in it and is a cute, if weird little adventure that can be plopped into your setting well enough.
Thanks! This is lovely and has inspired some extra stuff around it to fit it in.
I'm sure the theoretical reward of a Wish at the end would be a very fun incentive for your players to try and map out the tower.
I have a few ideas that could be more role-play, than combat, since your players are high level. Here's a few I've tinkered with before:
Little girl lost her cat. The party tries and helps her. When they finally find the feline, it is stuck in a "Treant".
Similar scenario... noble's daughter is missing her pet cat. Party hired to find it. When they do, they realize it is a Displacer Beast. They now need to tame and return this beast to her, unharmed.
An inn is being haunted. Items are flying off shelves and moving by themselves. The party investigates... at the root. A malicious spellcaster telekinesis using a Crystal Ball
A local musician plays a song every night to keep an angry beast at bay. The musician goes missing. If the townsfolk cannot find a replacement to play the soothing toon by nightfall, the entire town will be in danger.
The players must infiltrate an illegal dice casino run by a Goblin Mob. They will need to find a set of "magical dice" to defeat the goblin kingpin at its own game
A local fisherman is unable to catch fish from a nearby lake. A good portion of town depends on the fish he provides. The adventurers need to help him find the right kind of bait that they are biting on.
I have about six Quest/Subquest videos on my YouTube channel if you would like to take a look at these ideas in context along with several other ideas.
D&D Subquest Ideas - Wally DM
Hope this helps!
I have a YouTube channel with 5th Edition D&D Puzzles, Character Creations, DM Tips and Quests ideas. Check it out!
Wally DM on YouTube
Animals/pets have been reported missing in increasing numbers over the past month. After some investigation, the players discover that a (previously thought to be cool) scientist/alchemist/whatever has been experimenting on animals. Possibly trying to enhance beasts for use in battle, or some other malicious purpose.
The scientist might have been transforming animals into monsters, or grafting metal onto the animal to make them stronger, or maybe using them in a sacrifice, or who knows what else.
I personally have never found it to be amiss to just toss a planar invasion on the side. Since you already mentioned Illithid being present then perhaps the way that they got to these planets was left open and some mischievous demons found it and alerted their overlord. It doesn't have to be anything extreme unless you want it to be so but my players always enjoy going up against demons, devils and the like from time to time.
Found another Giant-themed adventure that you might like.