Trick or Treat

Well i finally have the time to sit down and work on a blog. And since its October why not talk a bit about Halloween. Halloween is always a fun time. Some groups like to run a special Halloween inspired game session.

Our group will either run some call of cthulu, vampire, or sometimes chill. However i think I've got a special delve in store for them that I'll share next week.

The key to a good one night theme game such as Halloween is the rewards. Players are playing for the fun, but why not have rewards that carry over to other games your running.

For any DM this is a tough one, the last thing you want to do is reward the players in your hard working campaign from events of a one shot night game. But I think this is where the trick or treat tokens come into play quite nicely.

First to make your trick or treat tokens you can simply print them off on paper and fold them in a bag. The key is each time a player gets to pick one its at random and they don't know. Another great use for dollar store foam sheets is to make these tokens as well.

I recommend listing weather or not its a trick or treat, followed by the effect.

When your determining what kind of in game effects your going to have you also want to keep in mind how many will you give to the players over the period of the adventure. If you give them one after every kill, then you get into the argument of who got the kill, strikes of course will get more than other characters. Might as well go with an easy system such as letting each player chose form the trick or treat bag one at a time after each encounter.

If your worried about players making their own or copies at home, simply sign the back of each token. Each token isn't going to be larger than 4inches wide, and 2 inches tall at most.

Tricks

Trick tokens affect the game as it is, its rolls or everything going on. In a way it lets the player play a trick on the DM. Here are a sample of 5 tricks you can use.

• Trick: Teleport your movement
• Trick: Remove a standard monster from combat
• Trick: Immediately gain an action point
• Trick: Re-roll the roll you just made, add +2
• Trick: Swap places with a monster of your choosing (no save)
• Trick: Target monster now grants combat advantage

Remember that this tricks are limited to how long your one night game is, the players will use them to increase their own fun in the campaign. Make sure your only creating Tricks you are prepared to live with.

Treat

Treat tokens are in essence treasure, they increase the wealth of the player in some fashion. It gives the player something they did not have before. As with tricks be sure to only use ones your comfortable with. Here are a few examples

• Treat: Cast a ritual without spending the material component cost
• Treat: Exchange a recently found magic item, with one that is +1 level higher (ie find a level 4 item, change it with a level 5 item)
• Treat: Regain a healing surge
• Treat: Gain a free 'retrain'
• Treat: Regain the use of a encounter power or daily power (you decide when creating it)

Keep in mind these tokens are limited, your only going to do this once at Halloween, and players might use them all up at once, or spread them out. Be prepared for both, both will be enjoyable. The idea behind the trick or treat tokens is to exchange xp or gold in a one shot game night.

I have a few more posts coming up this month about Halloween, including special magic items, to my ultra deadly delve challenge for 5th level players.

Until next time keep those dice on the table.