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Campaign Trial Ideas; Help with unique ideas?
Topic Started: Mar 8 2016, 12:43 AM (746 Views)
remaximus
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Pokémon Trainer
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My friend and I are running a campaign in which PCs are competitors in a region-wide tournament in which teams compete for the prize of some of Jirachi's wishes. The idea is that they have free reign in the region sandbox style, and have 150 days to complete the trials situated around the map to prove they are worthy of receiving a wish. Problem is, we're having trouble coming up with some interesting and unique stuff.

We want these trials to be entertaining and challenging enough to prove the PC's worth as trainers and exceptional people, and somehow a simple gym challenge doesn't really bring that to the table. We have a few of these trials lined up already but would really appreciate a few ideas being thrown our way. Anyone mind sharing some cool concepts?
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SandsofAzorin
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You could have an escape-room style trail in which you split up the PC's and give them some Pokemon that they wouldn't have bothered otherwise, just for the trial. (Luvdisc, Rattata)

The goal of this is to get the PC's to escape their rooms, and to help the others that would have been stuck. This trial is to show that they are smart enough to get out of unfortunate situations with less than ideal conditions.

For added challenge, make the pokemon's loyalty 0 (For those with trained command) or 1(Untrained/Pathetic) or throw in a simple pokemon battle while they're looking for items to help them escape.
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Goliathus
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Trials give me the vibe of challenges more than gyms, like the 12 Labours of Hercules, so maybe non-gym challenges would fit the theme more. In any case you are looking for gym ideas, my recent thread "Non-Element Gym Idea" has plenty of them and also tips on building interesting challenges, definitely worth a read.

As for my personal idea, maybe run some mini-game like team-based capture the flag akin to Pokemon Conquest. Or Wilderness survival challenge where the trainer is given only a few supplies and have to spend X days in the wild. If they are combat trainers, maybe give them no Pokemon for the duration of the trial but some Pokeballs so they have to fight and capture Pokemon just to assist them in said trial, like a flying Pokemon to be able to access the higher ground over a cliff, a Pokemon with lighting for cave exploration and so on. Maybe some sort of Pokemon racing mini-game or jousting battle(where the opposite trainers are all Riders for extra difficulty).

Maybe a few days as a police officer, fire fighters, ranger, doctor or other difficult and heroic jobs, put the trainers into some tough situation and see if they are able to make the right decision and utilize their Pokemon well - and perhaps creatively - in dire situation.
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The Sneaky Prinny
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A number of trials could be a simple medal/rock/object in a particularly dangerous and significant location. Like, a giant thunderstone from a Zapdos' nest, a twig from the tree that only grows at the summit of mount significance, or the pearl of a great clampearl that lies at the bottom of a trench. This leaves the question of how to clear this trial up to the player, making it a trial of intellect on top of whatever else. Make sure to devise reasons why just using Fly to get to the top of the mountain won't work. (Too high? Dangerous winds? A Flock of Wingulls that sing you to sleep with funky tunes?)



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ShadowSoul
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Following up on Prinny's idea, you can weave roleplay and mechanical elements to make the journey harder and more interesting. Perhaps you fail to climb some part of the mountain- maybe you could construct a bridge/ladder out of deadwood or use the Threaded capability/rope to assist. Maybe a player with high Occult Edu tries something less conventional. Or the high Charm or Command player convinces some passing trainers to work together to overcome the obstacle. Set proper DC's for any attempt made (even if your high Acrobatics player is only rank 4, a DC20 or higher may still be appropriate!) so that it feels challenging. If your players fail at something, they can always try something else or try to make it easier by clever use of their tools, Pokemon, or the environment.
You can also have a guardian at a location as a "gym leader" of sorts and final obstacle with the end in sight. Just don't be too terrible with these (Hyper Voice on top of a small mountaintop with steep cliffs is not exactly a recipe for fun :P )
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