One standard preconception modern gamers often have about any fantasy world we game in is this — the common person is just as sophisticated as we are.
Before you laugh, allow me to explain. It wasn’t too long ago in our history we collectively believed Earth was the center of the universe. We believed medicine was witchcraft. We believed tomatoes were evil. We believed washing was bad for us. We believed royalty were godlike beings.
Visiting anything outside an hour’s walk was too far. News came by strangers, rumor, superstition or what your local leader told you.
We’ve come a long way in our understanding of science, politics, geography, communication and travel. Planes, cars, modern roads, medicines and the internet have connected the world in a way our ancestors in the Middle Ages could never have dreamed.
This advancement creates a sophistication even the most ignorant among us have over our ancient counterparts. Building an encounter around this ancient ignorance and lack of sophistication means you can create a rumor in a local town, village, hamlet or crossroads that could spread fear and superstition as quickly as a virus. Something we would, with our modern understanding, quickly dismiss as something else would have been accepted as fact back in the day.
This gives devious villains or monsters a method of terrorizing a populace and may well be a great spark to start your campaign.
Presented below is one such circumstance whereby a clever and devious sort uses simple timing and puppetry to paralyze a populace.
Encounter Type: Combat and social
Map: Ravine map
Lighting: None (flat battle map.)
System: D&D 5E
Length: One shot
Installation Type: Addon
License: Roll20 End User License Agreement
(Personal Use Only, Do Not Distribute)