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#dnd5e - Let me talk to you about non-combat conflict.
Problems that don't get resolved from murdering someone.
Combat can be part of it or part of the solution, but here's a quick run-down of my 10 session types. Works best serialized, but can influence whole plots too.
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Problems that don't get resolved from murdering someone.
Combat can be part of it or part of the solution, but here's a quick run-down of my 10 session types. Works best serialized, but can influence whole plots too.
1/12
1. Survival Against Danger.
A quickly devolving situation puts the party in fight or flight.
The volcano is about to explode, they have only minutes to find out why or escape.
An assassin has framed the party for the prince's murder, the guards are coming from all directions.
A quickly devolving situation puts the party in fight or flight.
The volcano is about to explode, they have only minutes to find out why or escape.
An assassin has framed the party for the prince's murder, the guards are coming from all directions.
2. Unknown Magical Upheaval.
Some magical effect has changed the rules wildly, the party must stop it.
The town of Gold Hills, where the party is staying, has its gravity inverted. The young sorcerer responsible is unaffected but can't control it.
Some magical effect has changed the rules wildly, the party must stop it.
The town of Gold Hills, where the party is staying, has its gravity inverted. The young sorcerer responsible is unaffected but can't control it.
3. Understanding A Different Viewpoint.
A group does something amoral due to tradition or fostered belief.
An Eladrin envoy have come to Whisperwood to collect young elves and firbolg to bring back to the Feywild. Their Archfey leader believes it best for the forest.
A group does something amoral due to tradition or fostered belief.
An Eladrin envoy have come to Whisperwood to collect young elves and firbolg to bring back to the Feywild. Their Archfey leader believes it best for the forest.
4. Personal Stories or Relationship Development
A story central to 1 or 2 characters evolves in an unexpected way.
The fighter's old war buddy tracks down the party and hires them to clear out an old castle. The castle has paintings of the fighter's parents in the bedroom.
A story central to 1 or 2 characters evolves in an unexpected way.
The fighter's old war buddy tracks down the party and hires them to clear out an old castle. The castle has paintings of the fighter's parents in the bedroom.
5. Completely Insane Situations.
The party has to contend with a strange situation that breaks verisimilitude.
Two stark-naked wizards duel across a river from one another as stone golems beat the hell out of each other on the only bridge crossing for miles. "HE TOOK MY GOATS!"
The party has to contend with a strange situation that breaks verisimilitude.
Two stark-naked wizards duel across a river from one another as stone golems beat the hell out of each other on the only bridge crossing for miles. "HE TOOK MY GOATS!"
6. Politics or Group Relations
The party is stuck between doing the lawful thing and the right thing, and must choose a side.
The magistrate has put a 500 gold piece bounty on the head of a teenage girl for stealing a bolt of silk - the funeral shroud of the magistrate's husband
The party is stuck between doing the lawful thing and the right thing, and must choose a side.
The magistrate has put a 500 gold piece bounty on the head of a teenage girl for stealing a bolt of silk - the funeral shroud of the magistrate's husband
7. Guest Characters Herald Problems
When a friend comes to roll dice and introduce a whole new set of issues.
Jamie visits for christmas and his character Elazius is on the run from a kill-squad of hobgoblin Iron Shadows - seeking an ancient, powerful relic is in his possession.
When a friend comes to roll dice and introduce a whole new set of issues.
Jamie visits for christmas and his character Elazius is on the run from a kill-squad of hobgoblin Iron Shadows - seeking an ancient, powerful relic is in his possession.
8. Slice of Life
The party gets time to breathe.
The party goes shopping for new equipment, bumps into a new friend, does research on the main plot, has a nice meal, and hires 3 new guards to watch their ever-expanding menagerie of pets and work animals. The rogue sulks.
The party gets time to breathe.
The party goes shopping for new equipment, bumps into a new friend, does research on the main plot, has a nice meal, and hires 3 new guards to watch their ever-expanding menagerie of pets and work animals. The rogue sulks.
9. Kidnappings, Looming Threat, or Unavoidable Concern.
The party has to find an answer to delay a current problem.
The party's cleric is kidnapped by a vampire countess. Her demands? The nearby town was stricken blind and blame her - prove she is innocent, the cleric will live.
The party has to find an answer to delay a current problem.
The party's cleric is kidnapped by a vampire countess. Her demands? The nearby town was stricken blind and blame her - prove she is innocent, the cleric will live.
10. Ethics and/or Morality
The party made a decision previously that comes back to haunt or reward them in a bittersweet exchange.
The party have slaughtered hundreds of goblins that have attacked them for months before learning mercenaries have been kidnapping them for profit.
The party made a decision previously that comes back to haunt or reward them in a bittersweet exchange.
The party have slaughtered hundreds of goblins that have attacked them for months before learning mercenaries have been kidnapping them for profit.
Now combat is, obviously, central to D&D - 3/4 of the book is written to arbitrate just that. Murderous spells, equipment, encounters, etc - but each of the above have the benefit of WORDS potentially working or being a far neater solution to the problem.
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Find them all in one place with extra insight/examples on my website: https://dropthedie.com/beyond-murder-non-combat-conflict-encounters
#dnd5e #dnd
#dnd5e #dnd
