I am planning a set piece that involves some NPCs deceiving my players. The short version is that my players will meet some simple farmers trying to bring their crops to market, only to find that they’re actually smugglers in a Hatfields and McCoy’s type feud, which the party then gets messily swept up into. I generally don’t trick my players; I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it but I imagine some tables would take to it more than others. Do you trick your players? Are there some tricks you find acceptable and others that are unacceptable? For me, I have no qualm getting my players swept up into the seedy underworld of drug or artifacts smuggling, but I don’t think I would run a plotline on human trafficking. That I think would be difficult in an unpleasant way for everyone involved.

  • teft@piefed.socialEnglish
    4·
    11 days ago

    Make it a rescue mission.

    From a candy factory.

    Manned with rock gnomes with green hair.

      • teft@piefed.socialEnglish
        5·
        11 days ago

        Blatantly call it rock candy. Make them roll perception to see if they notice the actual ground up rock.

        • queerlilhayseed@piefed.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
          3·
          11 days ago

          I imagine whether or not you can taste the rock depends on how well the candy is made. Cheaper rock is coarser and contains more regular rock grit, the more expensive stuff is milled finer and is almost pure magic crystal.

          I imagine it would be kind of a touristy thing, like there might be street vendors selling rock candy in a town market, and some fancier confectioners that all claim to have the finest rock candy in the whole region.

          The final insult to the rocks is the the candy is mostly sold to travelers because most people agree that it’s not that good. kinda like licorice, or salt water taffy. Some people love it, and it’s a kind-of interesting feeling to have the crystals dissolve in your mouth, but most people would just as soon pass after they’ve had it once.