Role Playing Games - A Sample Session … …

The following is an example of an RPG in progress . For this example we are going to use Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. The players are David with his Elf Ranger called Ryel , Helen with a human Paladin (holy warrior) called Arien , Jason with a human druid called Thorn and the Dungeon Master is Ade.		Following an attack on them the players are preparing to enter a cave network which should lead them down to an ancient dwarven road running under a mountain range that has been apparently abandoned by the dwarves for 400 years . The aim is to find a quick route through the mountains so Ryel can pass on a letter given to him by his commanding officer…. Ade (DM) : The passage is narrow , so you can only walk one abreast . Its constructed out of stone and heads steeply downwards . The smell is one of stale air . The walls are dry but an ominous dripping noise echoes from below - right what order are you going in ? Ryel : Um , I will go first as I can see in the dark (an elf ability) Thorn : I`ll back him up , but I will need to use my lantern to see Arien : I can use that to see as well , leaving my sword arm free just in case . As I`m going I will constantly look over my shoulder just in case . DM : Okay , off you set . The passage evens out a bit after 150 meters or so . Ry make a roll on a D20 Ryel : (Rolls)Its…..a 17 . What happened ? DM : Nothing, okay Thorn you`re next… Thorn : (Rolls)…..A 10 . DM : Okay Thorn you see an inscription on the wall , Ryel must have missed it due to his using infravision (the elf ability to see in the dark) Ryel : I don`t know about this , so I`m just carrying on. Thorn : What does it say ? can I read it ? DM : (Looking at his notes on the players)..Um no . Arien : I`m just behind him . Thorn : Arien , look at this can you understand it ? DM : Yes she does . (Passes note to her) Arien : (Reading) Its in Dwarvish Thorn , it says to take care not to set the trap off when approaching the guard room….Oh hell , (Shouting) Ryel ! Stop ! Theres A trap .. Ryel : What? DM : Ryel , make a saving throw against Spells. Ryel : (Looks on Character Sheet) Ok I need a 15 or higher on a D20 - (rolls) Yes a 19 ! DM : Ok . as you hear the shout from Arien the hairs stick up on your arm - you can feel an electrical pulse in the air . Another step & you would have triggered a magical trap. Ryel : Thanks guys - not a moment too soon there ! (Others move along to where Ryel is) Ryel : Right , how do we set the trap off without getting caught ourselves ? Thorn : Lets move back a fair bit then throw something along the passage . Arien : Sounds good . I`ll look for something to throw. DM : Ok , Arien you find a sizable boulder you can use . Arien : Right - stand clear everyone . Ade do I need to roll a dice for this ? DM : Not really , the situation isn`t one that really needs it . For the storys sake we`ll say you do it - oh, how far back along the passage are you all ? Thorn : I hate it when you ask questions like that - About 20-30 ft , that alright with everyone ? Arien/Ryel : Fine by us . DM : The boulder heads down the passage & then hits the spot where you felt the magical energies Ryel . There`s a huge electrical display of coursing energy . Can you all make a saving throw versus Paralyzation please . Arien : I knew we should have stood further back… (All the players roll a 20 sided dice.) Arien : A 17 . Success ! Ryel : A perfect 20 . I made it Thorn : Only a 4 - I failed the check. DM : Right , Arien & Ryel you shield your eyes just in time .Thorn - you were just a bit too slow and you have been temporarily blinded . The noise the discharge makes is reverberating up & down the passage .What are you going to do .people ? Thorn : Damn ! I can`t see a thing ! That noise will give us away to any wandering monsters… Ryel : Hang on Thorn , This trap has been around for hundreds of years without going off…. Thorn : Yes. That means if anything was around it would have already been activated . Give me a hand and lead the way until this blindness goes.. (The group continues onwards without event for about 10 minutes then….) DM : Right Thorn your sight is beginning to return . Can you all except Thorn roll a D6 . Thorn : Uh , don`t like the sound of this . Ryel : Just a 1 Arien : I got a 4 DM : Okay . (passes Ryel a scribbled note stating he has spotted the outline of a concealed door in the lefthand wall) Ryel : Hang on . There`s something here… Thorn : What have you got ? Ryel : Some sort of secret door in this wall . Look you can just make the outline of it out .(To DM :) Can I work out how to open it ? DM : (Rolls a dice) Yes .There`s a catch on wall that seems to do it . Ryel : Right , click it open . Others : No stop ! It might be trapped ! DM : Too late . The door opens a crack . You can see a flickering light from the other side . Arien : Extinguish my lantern . DM : Right . Thorn : I won`t move .Just stand still & listen - have we been heard ? Ryel : Ever so quietly & carefully draw my sword from its scabbard . DM : You can do that . You all smell the stench of burnt meat covering over a faintly musky smell wafting through the gap as well as hearing something - or someone shuffling around . Thorn : Peep through the crack - can I see anything ? DM : You are looking into a largish chamber . In the centre is a bonfire suspended over which is a 4 foot long charred piece of meat on a spit . With its back to you , crouching in front of the fire is a humanoid creature with a mop of black hair and long spindle-like limbs . Its skin is a mottled grey colour and it appears to be unclothed . You would estimate it to be about 7 to 7 1/2 feet tall when stood upright . It is gurgling away to itself & seems to be oblivious to you . The walls are shrouded in flickering shadow from the fire , but you can make out a possible exit 30ft away on the right . The smell is getting overpowering . Thorn : Duck back & tell the others quietly what I`ve seen . Unless we say otherwise we are now talking in a low whisper . All agreed ? (Others nod) Arien : I`m a Paladin & can detect evil . I feel the power of Sune , my goddes flow through me … DM :The sensation of evil hits you like a wave . There is something very,very bad close by. Arien : Whats the betting its our friend next door. Do we know what it is ? DM : ( Looking at notes) No ,its nothing any of you have seen before. Ryel : Lets creep in and try & make our way to the exit without a confrontation ok? Others : Sounds good. Ryel : I carefully push the door open & try to step inside whilest hugging the shadows . Thorn : I`m next Arien : I`ll follow Thorn DM : (Rolls some dice & looks on a chart) Right you are all in & it hasn`t seen you - or is ignoring you . Ryel : Slowly creep round to the exit Thorn & Arien : We follow him . DM : Right the floor is a bit uneven roll your Dexterity or less on a D20 . Ryel : A 6 - no problem Thorn : 12 , just made it Arien : Oh no - a 20 ! Does that count as a critical failure ? DM : Yes - Your foot goes out from under you . The creature turns and looks at you . You can`t see its eyes - where they should be are dark deep pits & its nose is long & protruding . As it moves you make out its dinner appears to be roast goblin . It drops into a crouch . Arien : I draw my sword & move to attack Ryel : Okay , I`m going to activate my magic sword "Mercy" DM : As you intone the word "Mercy" your sword emanates a cool blue hue ,with small flames jumping over the blade Thorn : I Think I know what this is . Prepare my spear & cover Arien`s flank . DM : Right - Combat rounds . Roll a group initiative . Arien : I`ll do it . Oh no just a 2 ! DM : (Rolls) I got a 2 as well . The party may go first . Arien : Leap forward stabbing at it -I got a 17 DM : A Hit - Roll damage . Arien : 10 points DM : Excellent you cleanly sever its left arm from its body just above the elbow . The creature howls in rage . Thorn : Stab at it giving a warcry "Yahhahhahh" ,rolling a 10 DM : Sorry the creature uses its good arm to parry the blow . Ryel : Move in striking at its legs "You`re mine dirtbreath!" . Oh I only rolled a 1. Ooops ! DM : A critical fumble . (Thinks about what could go wrong in a situation like this) Right you move in , lash out at it with your sword , then slip on some rotting entrails on the floor . You roll into the flames taking (rolls dice) 4 damage . Now it's the creatures turn - it can attack with both arms & a bite …. Arien : Only one arm - I cut the other off. DM : (Smiling ) So you did Arien - So it comes as a complete surprise to you when the arm lying on the floor leaps for your throat…..using your surprised armor class … (Rolls dice)….A hit for 5 damage - its trying to strangle you Arien : Aaargh - Get it off ! Get it off ! Thorn : It's a Troll . . . . Oh crap ! DM : To your right you see another of the creatures enter the chamber , licking its purply grey lips with a black tongue… At this point we shall leave our heroic adventurers to their fate - As a point they were successful in overcoming the creatures and their characters lived to complete other adventures…..Just. For an example of A SF game see later to see how they do with that….
copyright © Preston Games 2000   copyright © Willy Banjo 2000   copyright © LED Internet 2000