Dragons are truly awesome creatures. Too awesome in a lot of ways, really. Because of their power, their magnificence and their near-immortal lifespans, a GM might hesitate to include one in a campaign as anything other than an end boss. Here are 30 non-traditional ways to bring these wonderful beasts into your own campaign.
Due to the nature of tabletop RPGs, a campaign will often start with a random group of strangers. Here are some ways to get them adventuring together, without resorting to the old Tavern trope.
"A demonic plant? Don't be daft, go research something useful to society."
"But-but the p-plant! It's evil! It must be destroyed!"
"Now the flowers bloom all year round thanks to the most holy Spirit of Urban flora. It just takes a little blood."
It was just any other day, another testament to the mundane dreary lives of the living. No one was prepared for their coming, how could they be? They entered the bodies of the living, transforming them into blood thirsty monsters, all in an instant.
Codex
Quest - #2 WinnerWhat happens when the PCs run into a girl that they failed to rescue once a second time?
A large object appears in the sky, moves in a strange fashion and vanishes after abducting a lone PC. The PC is later returned unharmed, but has several traits changed on his character sheet, no memory of the event and continually has strange dreams about goblins in space wearing lab coats and holding glowing wands.
-30 Disasters by Scrasamax
QuestI’m inviting anyone who has a short plot , set in some sort of wilderness, to post it here.
A foreigner is being chased through the streets of the town by a mob with murder in their hearts.
The adventurers are approached in some public yet semi-private place by a lean dwarf, wearing a colorful cape with black feathers rim wrapped tightly around him. What will come of this?
A foreign ship drifts into the harbor.
"Hey there, you look like a sturdy fellow! Interested in a treasure map? Only a few gold coins and this map to an ancient ruins secret room can be yours!"
A Basic Dungeon Crawl that starts with a map.
A random description pulls the players into the dangerous, scheming web of politics…
QuestSo, off again we go to slay the evil dragon… but what happens when said evil dragon is asking for a big favour with its dying breath… well, you decide…
“While traveling you stumble upon…um…you stumble upon…”
A ship, drifting through the mists, with not a soul visible on her deck. Haunted? Yes, but not the way that you might expect…
Within the Ruddye Draggon, the landlord has more than fresh ale brewing. Can this landmark tavern be saved?
What would you do if you were offered the chance to be a monster?
Everyone can think of a favorite song or two (or three) which can easily be translated into a fantasy rpg concept, be it an item, plot, location, or what have you. Just take the lyrics of your favorite real-life ditty, and go from there!
This is a scroll for every rumor or tale you might here from a friend or in a bar.
An old and respected fortune teller is dying of disease and seeks out the help of andventurers to secure the heir to the fortune teller's power.