Hi there. I have a group of players getting ready to deal with an aboleth, but do not know it. I would like suggestions on how to communicate with players at the table that they failed a save and are being influenced to agree with the aboleth and its plans rather than confront it. (without digital means).
Using the aboleth's "enslave" feature, the party members would have agency still but are forced to help. I was thinking of giving everyone cards saying they are or aren't inflicted but, that would make everyone suspicious...
They are going to be suspicious no matter what. If you want it to be a total surprise that they are fighting a mind-controlling aboleth you need to have the aboleth controlling NPCs that are pretending to help the party rather than the party itself.
Hi there. I have a group of players getting ready to deal with an aboleth, but do not know it. I would like suggestions on how to communicate with players at the table that they failed a save and are being influenced to agree with the aboleth and its plans rather than confront it. (without digital means).
Using the aboleth's "enslave" feature, the party members would have agency still but are forced to help. I was thinking of giving everyone cards saying they are or aren't inflicted but, that would make everyone suspicious...
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Welcome to the game within the game, and a weak link that can be meta-gamed. If you are playing in person, the simplest way is to indeed take players of the affected PC's aside, and tell them what has happened to their PC's. The good players will go along with it, and run their PC's as they should. The bad players, well, you are likely going to have to step in and say "no, your PC does not do action X, but action Y instead."
Interesting scenario! In addition to what Agilemind said I would add that if their are any semi-evil characters in your group, or warlocks with an evil patron, contact them before the campaign starts and see if they would potentially like to aid the villian. If they say no then nothing is revealed. If yes then let them know that their character is now mind controled but they don't know it. That way there shouldn't be any confusion unless they metagame.
Good Luck!
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- Igglywiv the Wizard
I played every class, now playing every sub-class.
You would not believe how much ADHD helps with creating campaigns!
Hi there. I have a group of players getting ready to deal with an aboleth, but do not know it. I would like suggestions on how to communicate with players at the table that they failed a save and are being influenced to agree with the aboleth and its plans rather than confront it. (without digital means).
Using the aboleth's "enslave" feature, the party members would have agency still but are forced to help. I was thinking of giving everyone cards saying they are or aren't inflicted but, that would make everyone suspicious...
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Welcome to the game within the game, and a weak link that can be meta-gamed. If you are playing in person, the simplest way is to indeed take players of the affected PC's aside, and tell them what has happened to their PC's. The good players will go along with it, and run their PC's as they should. The bad players, well, you are likely going to have to step in and say "no, your PC does not do action X, but action Y instead."
If you really want to hide "who is affected" from players, You could also pull aside players who are not affected, and use that time to ask about their character arc and progression
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Hi there. I have a group of players getting ready to deal with an aboleth, but do not know it. I would like suggestions on how to communicate with players at the table that they failed a save and are being influenced to agree with the aboleth and its plans rather than confront it. (without digital means).
Using the aboleth's "enslave" feature, the party members would have agency still but are forced to help. I was thinking of giving everyone cards saying they are or aren't inflicted but, that would make everyone suspicious...
Any ideas?
Thanks!
They are going to be suspicious no matter what. If you want it to be a total surprise that they are fighting a mind-controlling aboleth you need to have the aboleth controlling NPCs that are pretending to help the party rather than the party itself.
Welcome to the game within the game, and a weak link that can be meta-gamed. If you are playing in person, the simplest way is to indeed take players of the affected PC's aside, and tell them what has happened to their PC's. The good players will go along with it, and run their PC's as they should. The bad players, well, you are likely going to have to step in and say "no, your PC does not do action X, but action Y instead."
Interesting scenario! In addition to what Agilemind said I would add that if their are any semi-evil characters in your group, or warlocks with an evil patron, contact them before the campaign starts and see if they would potentially like to aid the villian. If they say no then nothing is revealed. If yes then let them know that their character is now mind controled but they don't know it. That way there shouldn't be any confusion unless they metagame.
Good Luck!
- Igglywiv the Wizard
I played every class, now playing every sub-class.
You would not believe how much ADHD helps with creating campaigns!
Happy Pride Month!
If you really want to hide "who is affected" from players, You could also pull aside players who are not affected, and use that time to ask about their character arc and progression