How to run Freedom with a flying PC? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

How to run Freedom with a flying PC?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
May 31, 2004 10:41:41 I was just curious as to suggestions on how to run the Freedom module with a few problems that I saw arising in my perusal of the flipbook.

I have an aarakocra rain cleric in the group. How do I stop him from flying out of the slave pen? Would he go insane from being kept on the ground for so long? How would I limit his spellcasting?

Keep in mind I don't want to do things like put "psionic dampeners" on PC's or anything outside of what it says the templars do to the PC's in the adventure. I don't wanna railroad the PC's either, even though I know this adventure is kinda guilty of doing that A LOT.

An idea I had was to give the templars bows and arrows, or nets, but this seems like something the PC's would see as railroading right away. After all, where are the other aarakocra slaves?

And what's the value of an aarakocra slave anyways? What could he possibly be good at while working on the ziggurat? Maybe fetching water for the slaves up top quickly? Or delivering messages, possibly providing healing for sick slaves?

Any suggestions are welcome guys!
#2
jon_oracle_of_athas
May 31, 2004 10:54:51
How do I stop him from flying out of the slave pen?

Use manacles and a rope. Have a half-giant control the rope, or tie it to a really heavy boulder.
#3
zombiegleemax
May 31, 2004 10:58:56 Manacles, ah yes, that would work I think. However the rope may not be necessary as I doubt he could fly with his wing hands manacled up with his ankles. Plus anybody could just cut the rope unless it was giant hair or something equally tough.

He's a new player though so it shouldn't be TOO hard to discourage him from flying away. I was also toying with the prospect of using a couple well thought out templar or psion spells/powers. Kinda like suggestions or something, suggesting he not go airborne.
#4
Kamelion
May 31, 2004 11:18:40 Clip his wing feathers so that he can't fly. We do it to pet birds all the time. I did this to an aarakocran psion when I ran Freedom last year. You can allow him to regrow them over the next few weeks or months or allow them to be regrown with magical healing. Or kill him in the final scene and avoid the healing issue altogether .
#5
zombiegleemax
May 31, 2004 11:20:19 That's just evil Kamelion

I like it!
#6
zombiegleemax
May 31, 2004 13:36:58 Remember, there's always Hold Person...

I can imagine the templars watching the aarakocra fly into the air to escape, biding their time as he quickly gains altitude, then releasing the spell, and watch as the bird crashes into the ground.

"so thats why the aarakocra never fly away..."
#7
glacialis
May 31, 2004 14:28:31 Bows and arrows/x-bows and bolts? =)
#8
zombiegleemax
May 31, 2004 16:19:09 I think I'm gonna stick with the manacles idea as it seems to be harder to get out of. But if he does manage to get loose and tries to fly away, then I'll be busting out the crossbows, bows, and spells on his butt.

Now, onto the other questions? Would this aarakocra go insane you think? Being stuck on the ground as he would be, and then would he really be a worthwhile slave? Or would they just fry his carcass up for Buffalo wings?
#9
korvar
May 31, 2004 18:42:07 Maybe they'll give him some rope, so to speak. Use him to fly things up to the top of the ziggarut. Enough flight to keep him sane, and enough use to make him worth the effort...

Ultimately, if he's no use, they might just let him go. He may not even be worth killing...

...however, they'd really want him to attend the Games. So if he did get let loose, he might be given a Post Hypnotic Suggestion, or whatever the equivalent is these days.
#10
zombiegleemax
Jun 01, 2004 1:39:05 I usually use the clipped wing idea. It doesn't inflict health damage, so cure spells designed to mend wounds won't work (though higher level regenerate limb style magics would).

As for the birdboy going bonkers, go for it. Have the PC make sanity style checks (which, if your not using them in your DS campaign, you should be) every day in confinement (and throw the same thing at those rabid little halflings as well). You can find tons of sanity rules in both published form as well as on the web. Use whatever version has the most appropriate level of detail and depth for your needs.

Is this fair? Heck no. Sucks to be a bird in a cage.
#11
zombiegleemax
Jun 01, 2004 10:43:28 Thanks guys! Great suggestions. I now have enough to actually work this adventure with very little modification, and I think the sanity rules in Unearthed Arcana should suit us just fine in the gaming days to come

mwahahahaha
#12
nytcrawlr
Jun 01, 2004 18:39:28
Originally posted by Kamelion
Clip his wing feathers so that he can't fly. We do it to pet birds all the time. I did this to an aarakocran psion when I ran Freedom last year. You can allow him to regrow them over the next few weeks or months or allow them to be regrown with magical healing. Or kill him in the final scene and avoid the healing issue altogether .

God your evil.

I knew I liked you for some reason. ;)

/me takes notes
#13
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Jun 01, 2004 19:02:30
Originally posted by Kamelion
Clip his wing feathers so that he can't fly. We do it to pet birds all the time. I did this to an aarakocran psion when I ran Freedom last year. You can allow him to regrow them over the next few weeks or months or allow them to be regrown with magical healing. Or kill him in the final scene and avoid the healing issue altogether .

That, actually would have been my solution, if I had a game with an Aaracokra. It what makes the most sense when dealing with a flying slave.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax May 31, 2004 10:41:41	I was just curious as to suggestions on how to run the Freedom module with a few problems that I saw arising in my perusal of the flipbook. I have an aarakocra rain cleric in the group. How do I stop him from flying out of the slave pen? Would he go insane from being kept on the ground for so long? How would I limit his spellcasting? Keep in mind I don't want to do things like put "psionic dampeners" on PC's or anything outside of what it says the templars do to the PC's in the adventure. I don't wanna railroad the PC's either, even though I know this adventure is kinda guilty of doing that A LOT. An idea I had was to give the templars bows and arrows, or nets, but this seems like something the PC's would see as railroading right away. After all, where are the other aarakocra slaves? And what's the value of an aarakocra slave anyways? What could he possibly be good at while working on the ziggurat? Maybe fetching water for the slaves up top quickly? Or delivering messages, possibly providing healing for sick slaves? Any suggestions are welcome guys!
#2 jon_oracle_of_athas May 31, 2004 10:54:51	How do I stop him from flying out of the slave pen? Use manacles and a rope. Have a half-giant control the rope, or tie it to a really heavy boulder.
#3 zombiegleemax May 31, 2004 10:58:56	Manacles, ah yes, that would work I think. However the rope may not be necessary as I doubt he could fly with his wing hands manacled up with his ankles. Plus anybody could just cut the rope unless it was giant hair or something equally tough. He's a new player though so it shouldn't be TOO hard to discourage him from flying away. I was also toying with the prospect of using a couple well thought out templar or psion spells/powers. Kinda like suggestions or something, suggesting he not go airborne.
#4 Kamelion May 31, 2004 11:18:40	Clip his wing feathers so that he can't fly. We do it to pet birds all the time. I did this to an aarakocran psion when I ran Freedom last year. You can allow him to regrow them over the next few weeks or months or allow them to be regrown with magical healing. Or kill him in the final scene and avoid the healing issue altogether .
#5 zombiegleemax May 31, 2004 11:20:19	That's just evil Kamelion I like it!
#6 zombiegleemax May 31, 2004 13:36:58	Remember, there's always Hold Person... I can imagine the templars watching the aarakocra fly into the air to escape, biding their time as he quickly gains altitude, then releasing the spell, and watch as the bird crashes into the ground. "so thats why the aarakocra never fly away..."
#7 glacialis May 31, 2004 14:28:31	Bows and arrows/x-bows and bolts? =)
#8 zombiegleemax May 31, 2004 16:19:09	I think I'm gonna stick with the manacles idea as it seems to be harder to get out of. But if he does manage to get loose and tries to fly away, then I'll be busting out the crossbows, bows, and spells on his butt. Now, onto the other questions? Would this aarakocra go insane you think? Being stuck on the ground as he would be, and then would he really be a worthwhile slave? Or would they just fry his carcass up for Buffalo wings?
#9 korvar May 31, 2004 18:42:07	Maybe they'll give him some rope, so to speak. Use him to fly things up to the top of the ziggarut. Enough flight to keep him sane, and enough use to make him worth the effort... Ultimately, if he's no use, they might just let him go. He may not even be worth killing... ...however, they'd really want him to attend the Games. So if he did get let loose, he might be given a Post Hypnotic Suggestion, or whatever the equivalent is these days.
#10 zombiegleemax Jun 01, 2004 1:39:05	I usually use the clipped wing idea. It doesn't inflict health damage, so cure spells designed to mend wounds won't work (though higher level regenerate limb style magics would). As for the birdboy going bonkers, go for it. Have the PC make sanity style checks (which, if your not using them in your DS campaign, you should be) every day in confinement (and throw the same thing at those rabid little halflings as well). You can find tons of sanity rules in both published form as well as on the web. Use whatever version has the most appropriate level of detail and depth for your needs. Is this fair? Heck no. Sucks to be a bird in a cage.
#11 zombiegleemax Jun 01, 2004 10:43:28	Thanks guys! Great suggestions. I now have enough to actually work this adventure with very little modification, and I think the sanity rules in Unearthed Arcana should suit us just fine in the gaming days to come mwahahahaha
#12 nytcrawlr Jun 01, 2004 18:39:28	Originally posted by Kamelion Clip his wing feathers so that he can't fly. We do it to pet birds all the time. I did this to an aarakocran psion when I ran Freedom last year. You can allow him to regrow them over the next few weeks or months or allow them to be regrown with magical healing. Or kill him in the final scene and avoid the healing issue altogether . God your evil. I knew I liked you for some reason. ;) /me takes notes
#13 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Jun 01, 2004 19:02:30	Originally posted by Kamelion Clip his wing feathers so that he can't fly. We do it to pet birds all the time. I did this to an aarakocran psion when I ran Freedom last year. You can allow him to regrow them over the next few weeks or months or allow them to be regrown with magical healing. Or kill him in the final scene and avoid the healing issue altogether . That, actually would have been my solution, if I had a game with an Aaracokra. It what makes the most sense when dealing with a flying slave.