Campaign archetypes/tropes for one-shots? (lemmy.world)

submitted 6 days ago by naught101@lemmy.world to c/rpg@ttrpg.network

12 comments fedilink hide all child comments

What campaign archetypes (e.g. defeat the dungeon boss, rescue the princess, heist) exist that can work in a really short campaign, ideally a one-shot?

Interested in stuff that can be used for any system, but suggestions for cool game-specific campaigns that can be generalised are also welcome.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] Dunstabzugshaubitze@feddit.org 7 points 5 days ago

        pcs were kidnapped/tricked into a dangerous place to be sacrificed/experimented on/turned into pie, they have four hours to escape before Elvis McEvil is finished preparing whatever.
a long lost ruin/dungeon/secret lab has been discovered, because a metorite impact/a flood/an earthquake and Elvis McEvil is allready  looting the place to obtain the blade of world ending/dna samples of a killer virus/an army of mutated chihuahuas
townspeople keep disapearing, they are kidnapped by a cult/mad scientists/crazy bakers and are used by Elvis McEvil to further his evil plans.
Every full moon an evil sorcerer/a cartel boss/a giant squirrel demands people to be sacrificed/lots of money/hazel nuts otherwise a portal to hell will be opened/the townhall will be bombed/the giant squirrel gets sad. the demands can not be met and tonight is full moon.
there is cool shit in a secret hidden labyrinth underneath the cathedral.
the evil under the cathedral/the university/the cemetery is about to escape, because whoever imprisoned it can't complete the necessary ritual/keep a highly advanced sentintent computer system running/did not have enough hazel nuts to keep a giant squirrel happy which is now rampaging through the graveyard.the pcs must enable the keeper to do his job, do the job themselves.


      

this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2025

17 points (100.0% liked)

rpg

4141 readers

2 users here now

This community is for meaningful discussions of tabletop/pen & paper RPGs

Rules (wip):

Do not distribute pirate content
Do not incite arguments/flamewars/gatekeeping.
Do not submit video game content unless the game is based on a tabletop RPG property and is newsworthy.
Image and video links MUST be TTRPG related and should be shared as self posts/text with context or discussion unless they fall under our specific case rules.
Do not submit posts looking for players, groups or games.
Do not advertise for livestreams
Limit Self-promotions. Active members may promote their own content once per week. Crowdfunding posts are limited to one announcement and one reminder across all users.
Comment respectfully. Refrain from personal attacks and discriminatory (racist, homophobic, transphobic, etc.) comments. Comments deemed abusive may be removed by moderators.
No Zak S content.
Off-Topic: Book trade, Boardgames, wargames, video games are generally off-topic.

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

Avogadro@ttrpg.network

sirblastalot@ttrpg.network

TripHammer@ttrpg.network

Primarch@ttrpg.network

BrentTaylor@ttrpg.network