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Not every encounter requires a lot of set up or preparation. Some encounters just need the players to show up and be willing to have a good time. “Shell Game” is one such encounter. It uses the resources on the table as the encounter starts, and uses those limited resources to maximum effect to create an oddball moment that might come up in later conversations. And really, isn’t that what it’s all about?

Environment: Dungeon, but anywhere you wish to set up the conditions.

Suggested level: any.

The characters will enter upon a room or cavern that present the players with a series of challenging puzzles. There should be a Strength challenge, a Dexterity challenge, and an Intelligence/Wisdom challenge. This series of puzzles are essential to proceeding to the next room.

  Example:

  The players enter a chamber that is perhaps 30’ in diameter, but soars upward like a cylinder with a ceiling at least 100’ above them. Looking way up, faintly lit by bio-luminescent fungi, is the outline of the exit way above. No rope, ladder, steps, or handholds exist to reach this upper exit.

  Presented before the players will be a series of odd geometric shapes carved from a variety of substances like wood, stone, and crystal. Each item has a unique shape, and are scattered randomly around the room.

  A successful Intelligence (Investigation) (DC 15) check will determine that some pieces might fit into each other. You might even allow the party to know that they can be stacked in such a manner with the result of that roll, or ask for another. It will take a successful Strength (Athletics) (DC 15) test to lift these heavy objects so that they stack one on top of another. A successful Wisdom (Perception) roll will reveal

where the first piece will lock into the floor to allow the pieces to be stacked like a climbable surface up to the upper exit. When one particular piece (identified by Investigation like above) is lifted to shoulder height (achieved by the Strength/Athletics above), it will glow slightly then hover upwards slowly to just beside where it could fit on the piece below. A successful Strength (Athletics) (DC 12) check will allow the odd shapes to be climbed upon like a ladder, and a successful Dexterity (DC 15) check will bring the piece in line and lock it into place.

  Here’s where it gets tricky.

  Every time anyone grasps a shape, Wild Magic will flash. Pick two characters at random. Each makes a Wisdom DC 15 saving throw. If both fail, have them swap character sheets. The effect is as if the spirit of one character swapped bodies with another character. The personality and such that the player of that character portrays does not transfer – just the physical body. So you might have a sage wizard’s traits, ideals, bonds and flaws  and such inside the body of the barbarian, and the primal barbarian in the body of the tiny wizard. To make it simple, have the skill sets, racial abilities and the like stay with the host body.

Otherwise this could get too complicated. This will continue to occur every time a piece is touched. A particular character may end up being swapped multiple times.

  This will make every player try to figure out a puzzle perhaps outside of how they normally would, but with the personality they are accustomed to playing.

  Once they have assembled a dozen pieces, they can exit the room above. When they complete the challenge and exit the room, all swapped personalities revert to normal.

Monsters: none, save those in the room. 😉

Treasure: None but hilarious memories

Complications: The only complications that may arise are the secrets written on a character sheets that another player may not know. In such a case, use a sticky note or other method over such secrets to protect the original players privacy. Otherwise, short of falling from a great height, there should be no issue.

Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!