Get This Show On The Road!

 

ROLL YOUR INTERN

 

LET'S PLAY

To begin, the Interns start out with their C.A.R. at a rest stop. They can specify which items they have or what they purchase before starting. Then, they load into the vehicle and the Mentor (over the phone, via the C.A.R., etc) remotely briefs them. Use the DIRECTIVES table to determine the mission.

 

PUZZLES

In addition to the details of the operation, their Mentor will also tell them to look in the glove compartment to find a special puzzle book for them to work through as a team-building exercise. To prove that the Interns are bonding, their Mentor will check in ever so often for an answer to one or more of the puzzles. The original Puzzles For The Road book that comes with this one-shot has 31 separate puzzles and one ending puzzle. Depending upon time restraints, the Mentor can ask for the answers to a cluster of puzzles. However you choose to split this up, each puzzle (or puzzle cluster) will take place between designated action encounters.   If puzzle-solving is not desired, for each puzzle point, roll a level set for each puzzle. This can be the same number every time, or different each time. Then, have a member of the party roll for a certain skill. Rotate chosen Interns and skills to keep things interesting.   Examples: INTELLIGENCE. Intern already “knows” the answer to the puzzle in-game. CHARISMA Intern convinces their C.A.R. or another NPC to tell them the answer. STRENGTH Intern wins a challenge with muscle to earn the answer out of another. WISDOM Intern is smart enough to “solve” the puzzle in-game. DEXTERITY Intern manages to sneak a peek at the answer key without being caught.   If the answer is correct, the mentor will reward the Interns with something that helps them. This could be money digitally sent over to purchase snacks at the next rest stop, or a message informing them of some special prize already hidden within their vehicle. The prize could be for the group to share, or, the Interns may need to decide who gets it. If the answer is incorrect, reference the CHAOS METER.

 

ACTION ENCOUNTERS

Between puzzles, there will be designated action encounters. Depending on the directive, this could be to sightsee, take photos, submit information, or follow the random requests of a picky guest.   At each designated action encounter, the Interns must tell how they approach the situation, rolling for the skill that best fits. If the task involves being discreet at a live drop, the Intern must roll for DEXTERITY. If they need to transmit signals, the Intern must roll for INTELLIGENCE. If the mission is simply to travel from one point to the next, you can throw in reasons for stopping such as restroom breaks or snack fills. If they fail, things can go awry. Fights can ensue, accidents can happen, and more.

 

LOSING HITPOINTS

If, at any time, an Intern runs out of all 20 hitpoints, it is permissible to allow death. BUT, keep in mind that, since this is supposed to be a training mission for the Interns, it is perfectly okay to make them run out of energy, confine them to the C.A.R., tie them up, kidnap them, or provide another excuse as to why they are unable to be as active as the other agents. If all Interns lose their entire health meter, they fail the mission. To prevent this, remember that NPCs such as their C.A.R. can assist at any time. However, if your players enjoy higher stakes, you don’t have to nullify consequences. It is important to establish the nature of the game before playing, or monitor the players’ reactions to make sure the experience is enjoyable for all.

 

ENDINGS

At the end, of the mission, the final puzzle is revealed. In the original Puzzles For The Road book that comes with this one-shot, the final challenge is to spot the differences between the front and back cover, and answer the question posed on the first page. If the party would like to circumvent the answer, create a level set for this puzzle by rolling one d20 for each member of the party. Then, all the remaining Interns must roll to exceed that set. If they are successful, they receive one last prize to assist them before facing their final obstacle determined by referencing the SUPER CHAOS METER. If they fail, roll the SUPER CHAOS METER twice!   At the end of the road trip, the Mentor will evaluate the Interns and dole out random awards. You can also choose if you would like this to all really be a test or if some or all elements were real.

 

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

The original Puzzles For The Road book was created for EnigMarch. To find more similar puzzles, check EnigMarch.com or search social media for #EnigMarch. Doing so will uncover a treasure trove of content to use.   Randomize NPCs by rolling dice to shuffle their names, traits, and roles.   Cut the amount of puzzles and pit stops down to save on time.   Have C.A.R.S. provide hints or even hindrances to keep things exciting.   If a CHAOS METER or a SUPER CHAOS METER event doesn’t make sense for the story so far, don’t be afraid to roll again or even make something up on your own. All creative freedoms are given to you.   Things can go wrong with Androids that are similar to human problems. Using the restroom or becoming car sick can translate to malfunctioning, needing to recharge, screw coming loose, oil leakage, etc. Have fun with it and don’t worry about being super-accurate to the world.   At the end, the awards do not at all have to be formal. They can be for any random thing; solving the most puzzles, fixing the most problems, fighting the most enemies, eating most food, telling most jokes, etc. You can even turn it in the other direction; least battle damage, least enthusiastic, least successful attempts etc.   If you have any other questions or comments, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at WordiGirl.com