No one starts out their adventuring career with flawless skill and execution. There are bound to be a few bumps along the way. Sometimes, those missteps can end with you realizing you are deep inside a dungeon, surrounded by rooms of enemies out of your league, low on healing items, and nearly over encumbered.
But don’t worry, we’ve all been there. And the best part is, you can use those experiences to learn and grow, so you can prevent those problems in the future. However, that doesn’t help you survive the situation at hand, now does it? At this point, your team is bound to be mentally and physically drained. Hope is nearly lost. But I’ve learned in my many years of dungeneering that determination can levy a desperate situation.
You want to find any way to reignite that fire of hope into your team so you can push forward, and that is how I discovered a trick that works nearly every time. I like to call it the “Rogue Bait” technique.
You tell your handling rogue that there is a huge stash of treasure at the end of this dungeon, and they get a large cut.
Now, I know what you might be thinking, “But wait, isn’t that dishonest?” And to that I say, “When you’re stuck in a dungeon with no way out, all bets are off.”
You see, rogues tend to be cynical in nature, but I’ve found that when money is involved, they perk right up. Honestly, there is very little I can’t convince our team’s rogue, Janix, of when I involve the potential of a little coin. With the promise of a big payout, Janix is able to accomplish seemingly impossible feats. Like disarming traps, picking locks, and sneaking past guards with ease.
Of course, you need to use this technique sparingly. If I did it too often then Janix would get suspicious and it wouldn’t be as effective. But if you see no other way out, and your team has lost all hope, then there’s no harm in trying it out on your team’s rogue.
But let’s say you don’t have a rogue on your team, or they’re not interested in the promise of treasure. Well, fear not adventurer, because there are other ways to reignite hope in a dire situation.
You could tell your team that there’s a magical healing fountain at the end of the dungeon. Or, you could tell them that the boss at the end of the dungeon is actually a pushover and that their defeat is guaranteed.
Whatever method you choose, just remember that it’s all about keeping your team’s spirits up. And if all else fails, you can always resort to the age-old technique of bribing them with pizza. Because let’s be real, who doesn’t love pizza?
In conclusion, adventuring can be a tough and grueling journey, but with a little bit of determination, a dash of humor, and a sprinkle of rogue bait, you can push through even the toughest of situations. So, take this advice, and go forth with hope in your heart and a pocket full of gold. Good luck in all your quests.
