of Dice and Dragons

Not every role-playing encounter needs to be serious and using a drunk can give you that change of pace. Be sure to make it a memorable experience though, slur your words when you speak, get up and stagger around the table and make large arm motions when you talk. This a great opportunity to ‘ham it up’ in front of your group and may just be what’s needed to break the string of serious sessions.

So, what can you do with a drunk?

- Have him stagger into the group spilling the contents of that big bag of gold coins they’re bringing back from the local dungeon.
- Have her stumble over to the party while at their local “watering hole” and ask for money.

Or you can use them to affect the group a bit more directly:

- The drunk could be a Mercenary between jobs and blowing off a bit of steam and pay decides to pick a fight with one of the party members.
- You can borrow a scene right out of the movies, “Corbin, sure I know a Corbin. He’s sitting right over there.”

Got an idea for the drunk? I’d love to hear about it.

May your dice roll well.

Be sure to check out these additional encounter ideas

Wars are fought, nations rise and fall, fortunes are won and lost and through it all stands the individual that protects the land and people on behalf of the government - the soldier.

Before introducing this individual to your role-playing group spend a few minutes to think about his appearance (armor, weaponry, unit insignia and so on) and whether he is a career man or simply serving the minimum tour required.

In addtion to thinking about those things you should also think about how the public in general views the military, are the supportive, afraid or indifferent? Do they consider it an honor to serve or is it required of the state or maybe both?

So how can you use this in your campaign?

- The soldier is a recruiter and approaches the party about enlisting. Of course if they don’t enlist a press gang (encounter idea #10) may show up in the area.
- The soldier is retired and is telling tales of campaigns from long ago. This is a good way to pass along historical information to the party.
- The soldier is newly enlisted and is showing off his shiny new uniform trying to impress those around him.

Remember that the soldier does not have to be a male figher type either - mix it up with female soldiers, non-warrior types such as mages, rogues, mechanics or medical individuals.

May your dice roll well.

Be sure to check out these additional encounter ideas

Have you noticed that in almost every role-playing game the spectre of death is always close at hand but the individual who handles the arrangements for the body and funeral is never mentioned?

I’m sure you’ve seen the stereotyped undertaker, if you haven’t, rent almost any old western and you’ll see him. More often than not a tall and lanky individual who is wearing a dark suit (often a tuxedo) and always has a tape measure and seems to hang around where the action is. Imagine the look on your players’ faces when you mention that their character is being asked to raise their arms and then realize that they are measure for a coffin.

You can use this individual for a number of role-playing situations:
- As mentioned above the undertaker shows up and takes their measurements, then the local bully shows up and picks a fight.
- The characters are investigating a murder and want details about the body - who better to ask?
- After returning from the local dungeon the characters are what to get more information about body preservation - since they just dealt with what appeared to be the walking dead.

Remember you don’t have to follow the stereotype, maybe in your world undertakers are always gnomes, female or wear hooded cloaks so that no one knows their true identity.

May your dice roll well.

Be sure to check out these additional encounter ideas