I am compiling a list of non-mystical obstacles that would be a challenge for 0-level Villager PCs. Help me make it a big honkin’ list!
Physiological Needs
heat/cold
darkness
odors
smoke (danger of passing out)
scarcity of game/food
running out of food/water
tainted water/rations
wearing out one’s shoes
minor injuries (twisted ankle, fever)
travel fatigue
Non-Monstrous Creatures
insects
bats
spiders
large, non-magical predator (panther, etc.)
migrating herd
stinging nettles
mosquitos/flies
hornets
snakes
rats
fleas
biting ants
Natural Phenomena
rock slide
cave in
fire
blizzard
rain/thunder/lightning
earthquake
flooding
Man-Made Hindrances
rope bridge
bandits
crossing enemy territory
potholes in the road
hostile/indifferent locals
Landscape Features
Steep climb/descent
impenetrable copse
river
fog
a tight passage
mud
swamp
unclimbable wall/undescendable cliff
quicksand
getting lost
washed out road/bridge
Social Phenomena
approaching tax collector
approaching in-laws
lazy child or other dependent
attractive but dangerous crush
local village leader’s birthday approaching but not sure what to get for it
cruel step-parent or step-siblings
awkward family curse
Dysentery, cholera, typhus, enteric infections
Influenza, strep throat, common cold
Encephalitis, malaria, dengue, insect-borne infections
Landscape Feature
Impenetrable corpse
/sub
Quarreling neighbors
Shunned child
Bad dreams
An abandoned cart with enough food for the whole village
A press gang
A very handsome young man
Jason Morningstar ?!! In context, I assume you mean “copse”, but heck, it is a fantasy game, I guess. 🙂
Jason Smith look at the original list
Jason Morningstar is demonstrating his inimitable wit!
Seth Harris, don’t “sub” me – add one, sucka!
Jason Morningstar , Ah! Shenanigans! Thank you.
Oh, damn Marshall Miller: An abandoned cart with enough food for the whole village.
That gives me a whole new category, but I’m not sure what I’d call it. Strokes of fortune that derail your original mission. Yeah, you were suppose to go get the stolen sheep back from the ogre clan, but how can you pass by a cart with enough food for the entire village. Who needs wool for winter clothes, anyway?
Keith Stetson I’ll add an non-monstrous creature: Yo Momma
Plagues
Crusades
Witch Hunts
Witches (non-mystical threat if they have no real magic)
Cults & Cultists
Rebels
Renaissance Themed!
feuding families
shipwrecks
smugglers
tariffs
mercenaries
mutiny
striking dockworkers
storms at sea
draining a swamp
guild politics
challenge to a duel
identical twins
poison
gossip
lost libraries
secret lovers
Crusading nobles, wandering adventures, and the eye of the local noble on your daughter.
a minstrel with bad news from a nearby village/town
hornets’ nest
rotting-out bridge
leper
livestock run loose