Confusion Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 I am requesting some ideas.. that will most likely not get used, but I think it's amusing nonetheless. Ok, here is the deal. We are playing in a fantasy pirate game. We have acquired a small stash of gems and platinum (highly valuable, and portable) and have hidden it away with a relatively simple trap protecting it (simple to build, we are not carpenters.) So, me and another player got to thinking.. wouldn't it be funny if we built a massive deathtrap lair for the next genre of heroes to find.. or something. Anyway this would be sometime because we are not amassing great wealth simply to have it, we are going to spend it on big things.. like ships and cannons and bribes and other wonderful things. But the big problem we are having is why would two pirates build a massive lair? We as players find the thought amusing but cannot really come up with a good character motivation to do so. Ok, so maybe it's only amusing to me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John T Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Starting a rumor that their vast treasure trove is hidden in said deathtrap... thus sending everyone who might be so inclined on a (lethal) wild goose chase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Obvious Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. http://boards.nbc.com/nbc/index.php?showtopic=648415 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/issues/2004/december/people.php Maybe not a deathtrap, but it's not a big step from here to make one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Anomaly Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Build a massive deathtrap lair, using the money you have as "seed money." Start the rumor there's massive treasure/wealth at the heart of the deathtrap lair. Watch treasure-hunters come from far and wide. Recover what money, weapons, and equipment they have on them from their corpses after they're killed by the deathtrap. Use that to start actually accumulating a big treasure pile in the heart of the thing. Wash, rinse, repeat... Think of the expense of building the big deathtrap lair like an investment for a guaranteed continuous future income. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CourtFool Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Two words for you, greed and paranoia. Why wouldn't you build a massive, complex labyrinth of death to protect your precious…er…I mean ill gotten gains? This is the first time the concept of a dungeon crawl actually makes sense to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markdoc Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Build a massive deathtrap lair' date=' using the money you have as "seed money." Start the rumor there's massive treasure/wealth at the heart of the deathtrap lair. Watch treasure-hunters come from far and wide. Recover what money, weapons, and equipment they have on them from their corpses after they're killed by the deathtrap. Use that to start actually accumulating a big treasure pile in the heart of the thing. Wash, rinse, repeat...[/quote'] I had a lich in my game who did exactly this - even to the extent of sending minions out to hide "ancient" (and usually slightly misleading) maps in places where adventurers could find them, and to buy captured creatures to replace those slain. At one point the players actually went on an expedition to capture a monster for pay, for a merchant who was working for this guy, who was working for this guy who was working for a minion The lich wasn't interested in gold and gems ("What? I'm gonna buy myself some new rotting robes? Get real.") so what wasn't used by minions to buy stuff, he used for seed treasure. What he was interested in, was magic items which he could carefully render down to extract some of the mana (ie: character points) to power the devices he was actually interested in building. The whole deal actually worked because if you went there and were really careful you could get out again with fabulous loot. It's just that most people who went in, didn't. cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markdoc Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Two words for you' date=' greed and paranoia. Why wouldn't you build a massive, complex labyrinth of death to protect your precious…er…I mean ill gotten gains? This is the first time the concept of a dungeon crawl actually makes sense to me.[/quote'] And, interestingly, when we played in a long-running game where our characters got rich and powerful, my character (Fonographix the bard) built all of these trapped and monster-filled tunnels under his castle to store the valuable stuff he couldn't take with him when adventuring, and then protected the lot (as best he could) against scrying, teleporting in, etc cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Mackinder Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. I referee 7th Sea, so always enjoy this sort of thing. Trouble is that it would certainly take a LONG time to set up. Instead of actually digging out an underground lair, why fool other would-be treasure-hunters into doing the job for you? Basically, plant evidence (faked maps, rumours, "clues" at the actual site, etc.) purporting to be of a fabulous treasure trove. Sit back and watch as the treasure-hunters start arriving and commence digging. Plant the odd item or two in the excavations, just to give them some encouragement. If you play your cards right (and given sufficient time) you could get maybe an entire dungeon complex dug this way. Hmmm. Maybe the treasure trove could include the 'Head of Vecna'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confusion Posted May 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Sorry, I've been away a bit. Anyway, while interesting ideas regarding construction, just little in the way of motivation. hmm.. I realize this is just public brainstorming, but maybe I didn't get my point across. We are not motivated by greed, we are not gathering wealth for the sake of wealth. Justin (the other character) is gathering funds in order rescue family members and probably to kill his Hunted. Sugar (my character) is preparing to wage war against the 'Church', He actually wants to assassinate the pope, since he blames the pope for the suffering of his people. So, as characters we have little motivation to build a lair (at least at this point, but if I find a secret cave/harbor... ) However, we as players find the thought amusing, and really I'm still kind of stumped to find that motivation. It doesn't help that my roomate/the other player has been out of town for two weeks, so we have not played in a while. And Dr. Who, while good does little to get into the Pirate mindset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clonus Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Guys with long term plans are exactly the kind of guys who would build a trapped hidey-hole for the loot they are saving up to hire their mercenary army or whatever. Of course that applies less to an individual big haul than a series of lesser, and less conveniently portable hauls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confusion Posted May 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Well, that is the thing.. we do have a trapped hidey hole.. something like 3 feet by 3 feet.. basically large enough to hold (and open) a large chest. We have bought a fair amount of property, since there is a plan, I'm just not sure what it is. (Fun disadvantage: Outsider Mentality "You people are crazy!") I mean, I already have the Inn... I just need the motivation to build the empty hogshead on the end with the secret door, etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supreme Serpent Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Sorry, I've been away a bit. Anyway, while interesting ideas regarding construction, just little in the way of motivation. hmm.. I realize this is just public brainstorming, but maybe I didn't get my point across. We are not motivated by greed, we are not gathering wealth for the sake of wealth. Justin (the other character) is gathering funds in order rescue family members and probably to kill his Hunted. Sugar (my character) is preparing to wage war against the 'Church', He actually wants to assassinate the pope, since he blames the pope for the suffering of his people. It's a big test. These long term goals are dangerous, and not necessarily suited to your primary talents - namely, pirating. So you set up a nasty thing filled with all kinds of death dealing to test strength, persistence, ingenuity, etc. The ones who make it through are just the sorts you would want to hire to rescue your family/kill a powerful and well-protected figure. They're very capable and willing to undertake great risks for the promise of great reward. Reward them for making it through the "dungeon" and offer them the job(s) for the promise of even greater rewards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Anomaly Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. In both cases, it sounds like there's some revenge involved for the characters. And it wouldn't surprise me at all if the people they're out to get might not try to get them first. So the place becomes a deathtrap to do away with the agents and bounty hunters and what-have-you sent after them by the people they (the PCs) are out to get. Make it LOOK like a citadel/hideout/base. Let rumor tell that it's a citadel/hideout/base. And let it draw those in the pay of your targets. The more you eliminate that way, the fewer of them you have to face later on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confusion Posted May 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Make it LOOK like a citadel/hideout/base. Let rumor tell that it's a citadel/hideout/base. And let it draw those in the pay of your targets. The more you eliminate that way, the fewer of them you have to face later on... This is a fantastic suggestion.. I do like.. especially since last time we got a reputation, 8- Famous Pirates. We build a large house/citadel of some sort.. and 'leak' the information about a secret way in.. maybe even start rumours of some folks sneaking in and making off with a great haul. huahahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Monster Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Long-term plans often require documentation - incriminating letters, records of misdeeds, "get out of jail free" cards (hey, if it's good enough for Dumas...), blueprints of target strongholds, family trees, etc. A secure place to store these would be invaluable. Part of the plans might also include theft (or legitimate recovery) of rare and/or precious items (such as church relics, family heirlooms, and the like). More storage, more security. Depending on your preferences, a place to put captives (for ransom, interrogation, or other purposes) could be essential. Granted, for most of these kinds of situations, a more ad-hoc site would be less incriminating, but occasionally there's that one special person... Just having a place to hide out, especially as long-term revenge plans come toward fruition; it could be very nice to have a heavy "home court" advantage. In addition to merely hiding out, a place where allies and followers can be brought to work for you - armorers, healers, and other specialists. If your plans include a cadre of specially trained assassins (pirates and ninjas together!!!), you need a place for them to hone their skills (and they'll guard your stuff while they're there). Dressed up properly - either with real gilt and expensive hardwoods, or with chintz and brass (if convincing) - a lair can be used to impress others into supporting your cause, or at least not getting in your way. If you don't plan to live or work there, you can set it up to be a haunted castle, with rumors and stories and such. It only takes a couple mysterious events to get the rumors rolling. You could even disguise your own trips there as brave attampts to confront the ghosts, then come running with more stories of ghosts and other horrors. (And it could even be a lure for zealous church-sponsored exorcist wannabees...but watch out for "those meddling kids!") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drhoz Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Re: Pirates : An amusing question. Building a dungeon would keep all those surveyors, hod-carriers, plasterers, John Cleese architects, and maintenence kobolds employed. It's your civic duty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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