Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #10 – “Fish Bowl”
Did someone say fish bowl? Better not mess with The Xanathar’s goldfish. Cover to Xanathar’s Guide to Everything from Wizards of the Coast. [Art by Jason Rainville]
Introduction
Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #9 – Bandersnatched
[caption id="attachment_14716" align="alignright" width="219"] Night hag as seen in the fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. [Art courtesy of Wizards of the Coast][/caption] Introduction In a previous encounter within Series 1 (Auntie Knows Best) there was mention of a Hag Eye. This device was being employed...
Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #8 – Road Crew
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Societies all over the world have their own way of doing things. Regardless where you are from, I bet you’d be surprised how cultures on the other side of the world did some of the most common things. The way we make a meal, prepare a home, treat the loss of a loved one, or manufacture materials or products might be done in a completely different way in a far-flung culture. This objective truth should also apply to the realms within fantasy. Volo’s Guide to Monsters goes into some of these cultural aspects, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #7 – Feeding Time
Many entries in both the Monster Manual and Volo’s Guide to Monsters indicate one or more monsters have some sort of relationship with each other. What I’d like to present here is one between a Monster Manual entry (Bullywug) and Volo’s (Froghemoth).
Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #6 – Lonely Boat
A Mimic doesn’t have to appear like the traditional treasure chest.
Out of the Box hasn’t featured an aquatic encounter in a long time, so I think we’re overdue. I’m not sure how many followers and players will remember this simple rule of physics, but the material of an item (its density) is less important than its shape and volume (based on displacement). If an object is the right shape as to spread out its volume to account for its density, so long as it’s water resistant or water proof, it should float. That’s why boats made of steel float.
Therefore, if we take a creature out of its element (Mimic) and put it in a place where it’s adapted to fit something (a boat and not a chest), we have a creature in a place we’d never expect to find it. This is less of a classic re-skin and more of an adaptation, which occurs in nature all of the time.
Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #5 – Spider Mine
Inspiration for encounters can come from a number of sources. Common ones are books, movies and other literary or performance arts. This latest one comes from one you might not expect – an old game. Minesweeper. In this case, the field isn’t a logic exercise to reveal where a mine or other explosive device might be. Instead, we will use a natural creature – a spider.
Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #4: Calliope
I have personally looked through a Monster Manual and told myself that a particular monster could not be used to its potential without me being accused of being a “dick Dungeon Master.” One of those creatures is a Harpy. They may have a low intelligence, but they’re smart enough to use the Luring Song to cause grievous harm to a target and then fly away if things get too tough. If Harpies were ever paired with something to take advantage of a target incapacitated by the Harpies’ song, then things could get pretty rough in a very short while. This will lead to bad player-DM relations in a very short span of time, especially if the source of that Charm effect keeps leaving and flying away at range. Harpies need to fly away because they have a very soft AC and are not that formidable in combat. They rely on numbers and evasion.
Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #3: Ascension
It is a widely known fact that life comes in many shapes, forms and varieties. The lifeforms in fantasy add to this melange. However, we tend to see those fantasy creatures as certain “accepted” forms. The mythologies of the world, too, add to this list of accepted forms. Nearly all ancient races had some form of a giant, dragon, vampire and ghost. Some of those forms have made it into Dungeons & Dragons nomenclature. Modern movies, comics, and other fiction have certainly gone to some length to further break the back of this limitation, but there are still many more steps to walk on that journey.
What I would like to do here is take something from mythology and the D&D universe and further alter it, to expand its range and variety within the game. Not only that, but I would like to add an element back from earlier fantasy that seems to only exist in the realms of horror now. There was a time when Fey were feared as they might abduct children and place changelings in their place. Elves were notorious for that. Redcaps were more common (now introduced in Volo’s) and were murderous little cretins. Sprites, Pixies and Brownies (no, not made of chocolate) were dangerous little tricksters. The Feywild was a dangerous place where time is fluid and unpredictable, as were its residents. Their motivations were (and still are) alien to mortals.
Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #2: Black Circle
To expand on an opinion expressed by others more famous than myself (an easy achievement to accomplish), much of what we assume in D&D comes from a generic fantasy world. We tend to also assume the appearance and behavior of certain cultures and races. What I’d like to do in this encounter is bring an event which may have already occurred in this generic setting and describe it in a more primitive setting.
Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #1: Stick in the Mud
Magic items as encounters has become an accepted option within this series. However, there’s one particular dynamic that has yet to be really explored fully – sentient items. Sentient items allow for a completely new approach to magic items as it not only allows the introduction of some cool magical effects, but essentially allows for the introduction of an unusual NPC into the group. Moreover, this NPC will enter into a special relationship with its owner/wielder. This relationship is somewhat symbiotic, as the sentient item will have its own motivations, personality, and “mental attributes.” When its motivations are subverted, a contest of personalities may occur whereby both the item and the possessor vie for control of the wielder. The winner of this contest then decides how the wielder acts for a time. This sort of relationship can open up a whole series of role-playing opportunities. However, if a potential player may take offense at such loss of control over their character concept, I would advise avoiding this sort of encounter.
Out of the Box D&D Encounters turns a year old
Free Out of the Box D&D Encounters adventure "Out of The Box" is now over a year old. It's hard to believe that it's been that long. From ship-to-ship Cockatrice invasions, to Mimic and Otyugh BFFs, Flying Goblins, Bullywug cavalry, Medusa bounty hunters, and young Dragons...
“All That Glitters” – Out of the Box D&D Encounters #50
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I’ve already explored the concept of monsters or treasure as encounters, but not usually as monsters covered in treasure. It’s one thing to face a foe and rifle their pockets and pouches after defeating them … it’s another thing entirely when the monster you face is plated in treasure that you risk damaging should you defeat this monster through conventional means.
For this encounter we will use the infamous Stone Golem, but not in the usual format. Stone Golems are essentially magically animated stone statues, which means that any statue should suffice. Additionally, by plating this Stone Golem in gold, we both disguise its true nature and turn a monster into a lure to guarantee the encounter. By changing the form of the statue from a humanoid shape into something less obvious (yet totally believable as a statue) like a horse, we have complimentary elements to disguise the encounter. This enhances the lure.
“One Crow, Two Crow, Three Crow, Scarecrow” – Out of the Box D&D Encounters #49
A continuing challenge, especially for starting DMs, is how to take the mundane and make it special. Fortunately, there are a wide array of D&D monsters that fit the bill. Each has their specialty. Mimics can stand in as mundane items. Piercers look like stalagtites, as do Darkmantles. Grey Oozes can resemble wet stone or pools of water. After a time, though, players will come to expect this. Then it’s time to bring out classic themes from horror and surprise player characters when they least expect it. In a dungeon setting, they might well be ready for something. When travelling from “this town or village” to “that town or village” in patrolled or protected lands, the player characters will let their guard down. Farmlands are perfect for this setting, as they are cultivated lands typically already under the auspice of a local sheriff, regent, baron or other leader. They should be safe.
That’s when you can spring the surprise.
“Smells Fishy” – Out of the Box D&D Encounters #48
I once found a free adventure online that delved into a concept that D&D has often covered, but essentially in reverse. We have seen Underdark versions of several surface races. Duergar, Derro, Drow, Svirfneblin, etc., have all been a part of D&D for decades, and the public has accepted them as part of the D&D canon. It’s often the case whereby we will take any number of surface races and apply this non-specific “Underdark template” to these races. However, this online adventure did one thing that, at least to my experience, has never been done before – it turned that concept around in 180 degrees. It had surface, swamp dwelling Kuo-Toa. Perhaps this is due to a particular and very popular MMORPG that shall remain unnamed in this article.
“Shadow of Your Former Self” – Out of The Box D&D Encounters #47
Ask any Dungeon Master what the most dangerous thing in a Dungeons & Dragons game is, and I’ll bet the majority will come back to you with “the players.” Players can range in power and abilities more than any monster and will always find the cracks in any system and crawl through. Players will think outside the box more often than not and will work around problems you might think they need to face head on. I can remember playing “Zelda: The Ocarina of Time” forever ago, and the most frustrating encounter was fighting a shadow mirror image of yourself.
