This is by far the simplest type of quest to make and run. It is combat wall to wall. The goal is simply kill the bad guys collect your money. It requires very little or no storyline. The intro to the quest can be anything you desire. Good intros include throwing the party into an arena, having a mysterious portal appear let the party jump in themselves, a man walks into the pub and asks the party to go kill someone or something. This type of quest is perfect for beginners. The only prep work you will need to do is picking or creating suitable baddies to throw at the party. (below is an example of what you should have prepared for a standard hack and slash quest)

Example:

Your Notes ((info written in (()) will be for your eyes only. Everything else is what you will post to the players during the quest))

((Intro:)) You find yourselves suddenly standing in a large arena. Spectators boo you and yell obscenities as they wait to see a blood bath. The arena is square 200x200. You can see three large iron doors on the far end.

((Battle 1: 3 Demons, HP 800, dmg per hit 75, +6 to hit, no spells, level skills lvl 4 fade and lvl 8 fireball))
The first door flies open. You see three figures dressed in red armor. They stand nearly 8 ft tall with broad shoulders. Two horns poke through holes in their helmets. They hold massive swords which even with their gigantic arms they must use two handed. The crowd grows silent then erupts in applause and chants for your deaths as the figures rush forward.

((Battle 2: A Giant Spider, HP 1200, dmg per hit 100 with legs or bite for 200, +8 to hit, no spells, level skills level 4 fade level 8 death bite level 12 full heal))
The second door flies open. You see a gigantic black spider moves from the room beyond heading straight for you. Coarse hair covers its 10 ft long legs. It gives off a loud hiss speading its fangs. Venom drips from their needle sharp tips splashing to the ground. The crowd once again erupts in applause.

((Battle 3: 4 Cyborgs, HP 800, dmg per hit 90, +6 to hit, no spells, level 4 fade, level 8 death punch))
The third door flies open. You see four figures wearing chainmail. They have a flame thrower strapped to their right arms. They hold a steel sheilds in their left hands. An odd glow comes from their eyes as they walk ahead taking aim. Each releases a flash of flame from their weapons. Smoke pours fro their barrels as they suddenly rush ahead full speed. The crowd chants "Fry them!" over and over.

((Ending:)) As the last cyborg drops your surrounded in magic. You see a flash of light then suddenly appear in the pub. All appears normal except for a bulge in your pockets. You find 100/100 and a note that reads "Thanks for the show" End Quest

As you can see you wont need to do much prep work. If you know how to run combat you will be able to run this type of quest successfully.

Below is a sample "Dungeon Crawl" type quest. This type of quest is fairly simple to run. The only real difference between this type of quest and a "Hack & Slash" quest is the addition of things which will make a player use his brain as much as his brawn.

This type of quest normally contains some puzzles or riddles or traps or all three, instead of wall to wall combat. To run a successful Dungeon Crawl give the players plenty of stuff to see and interact with.

Notes surrounded in () are for the GM's eyes only. The rest is what should be posted to the players.

(Intro)As your sitting in the pub going about your normal routines you notice a flash in one of the back corners. Pure magical energy begins to swirl and crackle arcing off the walls. There is a small explosion as the magic bursts into flames forming a red firey portal. (Wait for thse who wish to quest to jump in)

(More Intro) You spiral through the flames at ungodly speeds. The firey tunnel twists and turns before your eyes as your bodies are wracked with pure agony. Your armor seers your flesh and the scent fills your lungs chokeing you with the fumes of what feels and smells like certain doom

(More Intro)Just when you can take no more pain the flames disappear. You tumble across a hard stone floor surrouded by almost complete darkness. As your eyes begin to adjust to the lack of light you see images painted on the stone walls in blood. They vary from simple runes and symbols to elaborate scenes of carnage and destruction. A deep voice rings out through the room "welcome to my gauntlet.. amuse me you bugs" You see an iron door to your left.

(Room 1: 4 Demons HP 750 Dmg per hit 75 lvl 4 ruby shield, lvl 8 fireball)

As the door opens you see four large figures each clenching a large battle axe. They stand nearly 9 ft tall with green skin and yellow horns which curve down the backs of their bald heads. They watch you with glowing red eyes and bare the large venom dripping fangs in their mouths. The voice rings out once again "kill them my soldiers" The figures rush forward.

(Room 2: Torches: nothing special. Well: 50 ft to "water" water is actually contact poison which inflicts 50 dmg every 5 rounds until neutralized. Statue: Appeas to be a sculpture of a powerful warrior, hidden compartment underneath which contains a large red gem and 5 vials which will neutralize the poison in the well. Red gem opens a portal to room 3 when broken)

As you open the next door you see a large room lit by six torches which line the walls. You see what looks like a well directly in its center. A simple frayed robe is lowered into the pit hanging from a large crank. Along the left wall you see a statue of what appears to be a warrior in full armor. From its detail and workmanship it was obviously the creation of a master sculptor.

(Room 3: Mirror: portal to room 4 appears to be liquid until dust in vials in candle are thrown in. Statue nothing special. Table: nothing special. Black Candle: cant be extinguished. White Candles: when lit with black candle they melt rapidly revealing two vials inside the wax. Vials: contain an odd dust Dust: when thrown into mirror they activate the portal.)

As you step through the portal you appear in another large stone room . Upon the left wall you see a mirror surrounded by a simple wooden frame. Along the right wall you see yet another statue of the warrior figure it is just as impressive as the first. In the center of the room you see a stone table on top of it you see five candles. The candle in the center is black and lit. Two white candles are on each side of it none have a flame on them.

(Room 4: As described until ceiling is broken)

You step through the mirror into a room which smells of death and decay. A large pool of blood is gathered in the center of the room. Small drips can be seen comeing through cracks in the stone ceiling adding to the pools volumne.

(Room 4: pos after ceiling is broken)

As you break though the ceiling three bodies fall into the room they are stripped of their skin. Their bowels splash to the floor. Those who look close can see their eyes moveing to each of you revealing though it seems impossible that they are indeed still alive. Their mouths move as they try to speak "R... R ... Ruuuu... Run!"

(Room 4: 6 Demons HP 750 Dmg 65 per hit level 4 ruby shield level 8 acidic breath)

With those words the wall on the far side of the room explodes. Your bombarded by bits of stone and choked with dust. As the room clears you see 6 figures dressed head to toe in black armor large jagged blades are strapped to their wrists. Bits of flesh cling to their shiney surfaces. Their is a flash of red behind the visors of their helms as they rush ahead bent on your demise.

(Conclusion:)

As the last demon drops the voice rings out through the room "Thank you for the show and congratulations on surviving my gauntlet" Your bathed in fire then suddenly find yourselves standing back in the pub. You feel a bulge in your pockets and find 150/150 as payment for your troubles. END QUEST.

�2001 Joe Pombo