Holiday RPG Fun: One-Shot Adventures for Festive Gaming

 


'Tis the season for holiday cheer...and tabletop roleplaying! Whether you're hosting a marathon gaming session or looking for a lighthearted one-off, these festive one-shot adventures promise a jolly good time.


The Twelve Days of Dwarvish

Santa needs 12 volunteers to deliver presents and spread Yuletide joy. But his sleigh has broken down, leaving you all stranded at the North Pole workshop! Can you craft a new sled and save Christmas before it's too late? Keep an eye out for Santa's "helper" - he's been drinking the eggnog again...

  • Players take on roles as Santa's volunteer helpers as they scavenge the workshop for supplies to build a new sled. Skill challenges include woodcarving, reindeer wrangling, toy making.
  • Krampus has gotten loose in the workshop. Can the players return him to the "naughty cell" before he wrecks everything?
  • On the 12th day, it's a race against the clock to test the new sled and deliver all the presents before midnight. Hurry!


A Visit to Kringle Manor

You've been summoned to the estate of Jarl Kringle for a midwinter feast. But strange things are afoot in the manor walls! Can you use your wits and skills to solve puzzles, overcome challenges and discover who - or what - is disturbing the festivities before midnight strikes? Beware wandering between the walls - they say Kringle Manor is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past...

  • The manor is filled with puzzles that reveal its haunted history- can players solve them before encountering a ghost?
  • A spooky snowball fight breaks out with mischievous snow imps in the gardens overnight.
  • At the feast, the players must determine who or what is possessed after a guest suddenly turns monstrous. Can they defeat it with holiday songs or objects?


Quest for the Winterstar

A powerful gem said to grant wishes during the solstice has been lost in a frozen forest. The locals are depending on you to find it in time for the yearly Winterveil celebrations! But dark forces also seek the Winterstar's power for their own sinister ends. Can you brave snowstorms, Yetis and even Krampus himself to retrieve the gem? You'll need to stick together - there's no "I" in team, but there is in "pie"!

  • Yetis have been sighted! The players work together to sneak past or negotiate with the aloof beings.
  • Krampus and his monsters lie in wait. Can diplomatic players parlay, or will combat ensue in the frozen woods?
  • Once found, the Winterstar is stuck atop the tallest tree. Time for some daring climbing and a strategic plan to retrieve it safely!


Extras

Here are some additional details that could be included in the one-shot adventures:

For The Twelve Days of Dwarvish:

  • Santa's workshop could be filled with whimsical toy-making machines and contraptions for the players to operate or repair.
  • The head elf might ask players to help categorize presents or fulfill last-minute toy requests from children.
  • If players get stuck, the elven cooks could offer hints over mugs of hot chocolate in the kitchens.
  • Santa's magic sled-building workshop could feature tools/machines that randomly malfunction, requiring creative fixes.

  • Mischievous elven apprentices may cause mild chaos like letting loose toy soldiers or baking failed candy cane recipes.

  • Players could help judge a holiday toy design contest between inventive elves & test prototypes like a dreidel-copter or nutcracker drone.


For A Visit to Kringle Manor:

  • Each room of the manor could hold clues about past residents and traditions through fun props like letters, paintings or holiday decor.
  • The garden might feature winter plant life like holly, mistletoe or snowdrop flowers that could aid or hinder players.
  • Ghostly spirits could challenge players to recalls details about Kringle lore, carols or seasonal festivities to pass through a room.
  • The manor's hedge maze garden may shift at night, trapping players until they recite carols or stories aloud.
  • Ghostly residents love tales of manor history - rewarding players' roleplaying with helpful clues or visions.
  • Kringle family portraits could change subtly based on players' actions, revealing secrets about the manor's past.

For Quest for the Winterstar:

  • Yetis may only speak Yetish, so players would need creativity or translation magic to interact peacefully.
  • The frozen woods could feature tricky terrain like icy lakes, snowdrifts or barren brambles hiding threats.
  • Finding the gem atop the tree may require teamwork like having a small character climb atop larger allies' shoulders
  • Snowflake analysis or weather magic may be needed to survive a blizzard while tracking the gem's magic aura.
  • Players may meet traveling toymakers or Frost fairies with whimsical challenges/riddles in the forest.
  • The gemstone could be fused within an ice sculpture atop the tree, requiring clever teamwork to free it safely at dusk.

With a little holiday magic, any regular TRPG can become a seasonal treat. Grab some eggnog, assemble your party, and game the night away! Happy holidays and good luck saving Christmas!


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