I’m currently running a quirky game of Dungeon Crawl Classics, and my players are about to set off on a journey to the moon in a flying van they’ve found at the top of a mountain. This van is actually enchanted, and I want to make their trip interesting beyond just a simple travel narrative. So far, I have a few encounter ideas like space pirates, a space bar on an asteroid, navigating through debris, and dealing with space customs. However, I’m looking for creative ways to incorporate these events into the journey instead of just dropping each encounter on them. Also, I’m wondering if I should stick with the Wizard Van concept or come up with something else entirely. I want this session to be fun, but I’m feeling a bit stuck. Thanks for any advice or ideas!
3 Answers
Have you thought about twisting the environment? The Wizard Van could turn the journey into a road trip where the ‘space’ isn’t actual space—it could be anything from a magical forest to a highway of clouds! This way, the encounters can be anything you dream up—like meeting magical creatures or challenges that fit with whatever theme you choose!
That sounds like an awesome setup! If you’re looking at 1 or 2 sessions, that gives you enough time to flesh things out. You could start the journey in a slow-roll manner, painting the van’s interior and the excitement of takeoff. Then, introduce the space pirates as they approach, making it tense by having them communicate over a radio first—do the party want to negotiate or prepare for a fight? This way, you create an engaging scene rather than just jumping into combat. Maybe the party can even outsmart the pirates instead of outright fighting them!
If you want some humor, you could include an encounter where ‘space police’ pull them over for a broken tail light. They could go through a ridiculous search scene for illicit substances where things get hilariously over the top. It’d definitely lighten the mood!
That sounds hilarious! I’m definitely adding that into the mix!
I love that idea of making it tense with negotiations! Thanks for the suggestion!