I’m running a homebrew of Monster Hunter as a first time DM, with sort-of first time players. They treat it like a Disneyland ride where they “go here do X” and so I set them up for the first major boss fight with Teostra (cr13) against their group (lv4) with the inte t that they do 1/4 to 1/2 it’s health to drive it away. (I know they can’t kill it).
Except rather than fight it they offered to make it a cooked meal, since it can speak draconian and I want them to actually try to roleplay I let it unfold. Except now I have no idea how to proceed. I want this to pan out because it’s the first time they’ve all truly put their heads together and had to figure out how to proceed to actually strategize in the way I see so many players just naturally do in podcasts, but in the spirit of MonHun, the Elder dragons are nearly ageless and you cant…just like reason with them.
I also have no way to set a scene other than pure improvisation for this “city saving cookout” they have to plan. Help?
Let it play out - if they come out of their shells and RP, they’ll make it interesting. And if they save the day w/o a fight then you’ve got something in your library of encounters to pull out some other time when in need.
As for how to run to cookout: Let them figure out party logistics, but be ready to be an NPC or two that jump in with suggestions. Think through the things they’ll need (food, drinks, guests) ahead of time and come up with some options if they ask the right questions. Maybe someone knows of a local pig farmer who’ll trade some pork for an IOU from he party.
Then think about how Teostra may respond. If they make friends then maybe Teostra reveals that he has been talked into hunting the party because ____. That can set you up for your next adventure. Or two adventures, counting the pig farmer.