SKILL CHALLENGE: Castle Siege

[Iconik]

We're on session 18 of our campaign and I thought it'd be a good idea to let the players play a different character every so often. So, I came up with the idea of letting them roll other characters/classes for a mini-campaign that takes place the same night the adventurers met up. I thought this was a neat idea because it gives the world a more "real" feel. Plus it will allow the players to try something new every once in awhile. I figured we'd do these mini campaigns with the new characters once per month.

Basically, I had them all roll military type characters. They will be fighting in the famed Iron Hands Squad of the Mercenary Army Brimstone. Brimstone has been at war with the Ishir Empire now for years, but one of the most decisive battles of the war was interupted when demons from another realm started pouring out of a portal and laying waste to whatever lay in their path. That's basically how the adventure started out. I'd thought it'd be neat to allow the players to play a small squad in Brimstone the night of the attacks.

Sorry. Thought I'd give ya'll some background. Here's my problem. I need a nice castle siege skill challenge. I KNOW one of you have seen one online. A link would be great. They won't be sieging a castle per say. It's more of an outpost town...that they have to defend from hordes of demonic minions.

Any help?

 

[El Coro]

Are the players meant to actually lose this attack, eventually? As part of the Iron Hands, I mean, in the original story.

What level are the players?

Will they be defending a siege with military parapets, towers, gates, etc.? Or trying to repel an attack on the ground throughout the outpost's streets?

 

[Camelot]

I think a good way to do this would be to split up the whole scenario into smaller segments.

PHASE 1: PREPARATIONS

4 successes before 3 failures

PRIMARY SKILLS

Arcana (Moderate DC)
You tell your knowledge of demons to as many people as you can so that everyone is prepared for the inevitable fight. For each success you gain with this skill during this phase, you and your allies gain a +1 bonus to skill checks during the next phase.

Athletics (Moderate DC)
You load the catapults, fortify the walls, and carry food and supplies where they need to be. For each success you gain with this skill during this phase, you and your allies gain a +1 bonus to skill checks during the next phase.

Diplomacy (Moderate DC)
You calm the citizens of the town, boost morale, and convince others to hurry along with the preparations. For each success you gain with this skill during this phase, you and your allies gain a +1 bonus to skill checks during the next phase.

Thievery (Moderate DC)
You tighten the crossbows, string the bows, and set traps along the city's borders. For each success you gain with this skill during this phase, you and your allies gain a +1 bonus to skill checks during the next phase.

SECONDARY SKILLS

Endurance (Hard DC)
You push yourself to perform your task faster. If you succeed, you can make an Athletics or Thievery check that counts if it succeeds but doesn't count if it fails. Each character can only make one Endurance check for this purpose during this phase.

Insight (Hard DC)
You understand how to talk to the citizens and militia of the city without having your words go in one ear and out the other. If you succeed, you can make an Arcana or Diplomacy check that counts if it succeeds but doesn't count if it fails. Each character can only make one Insight check for this purpose during this phase.

This is just as an example, but from there you could have phase 2 being the first wave of demons, the next phase being a break in the battle during which the PCs have to heal the wounded and reinforce the city, and maybe a phase during which the PCs have to sneak around the demon horde to attack from behind or have to convince the city's leader to initiate a particularly dangerous tactic that just might work.

If they fail, it leads into a combat encounter. If you plan for the town to fall to the demons, include a phase of running away.

 

[Iconik]

Awesome stuff, Camelot. Really appreciate the work you put into this, posting it, and giving out XP for being from Peoria. Haha. Are you from Peoria as well?

 

[Iconik]

Are the players meant to actually lose this attack, eventually? As part of the Iron Hands, I mean, in the original story.

What level are the players?

Will they be defending a siege with military parapets, towers, gates, etc.? Or trying to repel an attack on the ground throughout the outpost's streets?

They aren't supposed to lose it, no. It's basically a short breather from the main campaign, and to give them an opportunity to play a new character every once in awhile. I'm thinking once a month we revisit these characters and see what they're up to. Create an additional storyline involving the same overall theme...just from a different perspective.

The players have just hit level 4.

They will be defending the attack alongside 60 other people. The makeshift defending force will be made up of Iron Hand's squad, members of the opposing army that they've been fighting for 10 years (have to put their differences aside to survive!), a group of 8 soldiers from an island called Strike that just so happened to be in the tavern when the attack happened (the party WILL have to go through a small skill challenge to try and convince these 8 soldiers of the Blades of Summer to fight with them) and general citizenry.

I (Iron Hand's) will task my men to build impromptu fortifications either all around the outpost town or in key areas. The outpost town is completely wall-less.

 

[Camelot]

Awesome stuff, Camelot. Really appreciate the work you put into this, posting it, and giving out XP for being from Peoria. Haha. Are you from Peoria as well?

Thanks! No, not from there myself, but I played Chip in the musical On the Town, and he mentioned a couple times that he was from Peoria in the midwest. In the play (written many decades ago, mind you), it was supposed to be one of those towns that nobody's ever heard of. I was pleasantly surprised to see that someone on EN World is from there!

But I digress. Happy gaming!

 

[Iconik]

Peoria is a known town. We used to have TONS of brewerys and was known for that. There's also the old saying "If it plays in Peoria". The people of Peoria are known as good test subjects for (back in the day) plays and musicals. If we liked it...then everyone else probably will too. Peoria is also the place where a lot of test products show up before any one else gets them. A new product will be made and before it's mass released...Peoria will get to test it out.

Anyway. I've written out the siege skill challenge. It's about 3 pages typed. I think it's going to be epic. Fails on moderate checks result in a quick minion battle. That's my favorite part. I think they're going to have a lot of fun.

 

[Roger]

I'm thinking once a month we revisit these characters and see what they're up to.

That sounds about right. The Viking siege of Paris lasted close to a whole year and the siege of Acre was closer to two years.



Cheers,
Roger

 

[Camelot]

If you don't mind, I kidnapped your idea and made it into a full skill challenge, which you can see here. I used zombies instead of demons, because it's more standard, but you can easily substitute in demons.

How did your version work out?

 

[moxcamel]

If you don't mind, I kidnapped your idea and made it into a full skill challenge, which you can see here. I used zombies instead of demons, because it's more standard, but you can easily substitute in demons.

Oh this is great! Too bad I don't have any sieges coming up in the immediate future, but that's going in the pile-o-idears for down the road. Thank you!