#Opinions on a Cave / Mine section encounter

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

oak sonnet
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In my campaign (I haven't started it yet) I'm working on a homebrew first section progression (I know that over planning is not good as a dm) from what I've been told. But I want my players to begin the campaign in a colosseum and during the fight with an owlbear a Bulette bursts through the ground and tackels the owlbear most def killing it and landing behind the players and in front of them is a large hole. I want the players to flee into the hole (bit worried they will try to fight it)

if they decided to head into the hole it would lead to a cave that leads into a abandoned mineshaft littered with the skeletal remains of Kuo-Toa. (this has ties to a lore stuff I have worked on)

What do you recommend for encounter ideas down in the cave or mine? I've looked at a few sources but found nothing yet that feels right.

The party is starting at lvl 3

vague jewel
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Honestly, right off the bat it seems unlikely that the players would go through the hole in the first place. They're not supposed to fight the bulette, but the underground is the bulette's domain.

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That would be like trying to escape from a shark by diving into the water.

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Aside from that, knowing what is the history of the mine would help determine some of the encounters.
You can look online in places like Kobold Fight Club to find low-CR monsters that live underground. Giant insects, burrowing animals, ropers, undead. However the more specific you can be with the history, the easier it will be to make some special encounters.

oak sonnet
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How can I change the colosseum encounter?

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How would you recommend I change it?

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Would it be better if instead of adding the bulette because as you said it would be unlikely for players to go in the tunnel. I make the ground collapse or is the idea of an underground escape pointless and I should possibly change direction.

vague jewel
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Why does it have to be in a colosseum in the first place?
You could have the players learn of some reason to go into the mine and then just start them off at its entrance.

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You could have the ground collapse, but then something has to prevent them from trying to climb back out.

oak sonnet
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(I kinda didn't want to bore people with the reasoning) The colosseum is because the players get arrested and the colosseum event is a means of criminal control and entertainment for those who live in the city, how it works is they send the participants up to fight creatures in groups. I know the my players enjoy fights and I thought it could be a fun idea and a way for a bit of lore about the city being corrupt. I probably explained this not great

vague jewel
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You explained it fine but it does seem like a particularly convoluted setup.

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However that does make a simple collapse of the arena a better idea.
During the fight, the floor collapses and the players fall in. They could go out, but then that puts them straight into prison again.

oak sonnet
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Yeah

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How would you make the setup easier to follow?

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another factor i've been struggling with is that my players want to be pirates or at least be criminals? How would you do bounties?

vague jewel
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No actually it makes more sense now that I actually have all the pieces.

vague jewel
oak sonnet
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Okay, make sense 🙂

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I originally wanted the bulette to be a physically deterrent from going back up and because they didn't have any other options they would flee down the hole but I guess I could just use the owlbear as the deterrent and also the possibly they will be captured again?

vague jewel
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Exactly.

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And you can use this to reduce any heat on them.
"Well, those criminals fell down that hole. They're probably dead. Not our problem now."

oak sonnet
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Yeah that sounds good 🙂

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After they fall down the hole into the caves I want it to lead into the abandoned mineshaft that I will hint about the Kua Toa's treatment by the city, I was thinking of having their remains, some broken or rusted pick axes and so on would it makes sense if since it's been long abandoned it has been reclaimed by for example maybe some wolf spiders? or cave dwelling creatures and that is what creates the encounter?

vague jewel
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That makes sense to me.

oak sonnet
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Okay, thanks 🙂

river birch
# oak sonnet How can I change the colosseum encounter?

If the colisseum is necessary, have another fighter whom the PCs admire or respect shout something either heroic or maybe “escape” if they are slaves/prisoners, and then HE jumps into the pit. So they have a lead to follow. Or maybe as they watch the bulette trah the owlbear, the ground collapses under them.