Masquerade balls are a feature of civilised urban life, and eventually the PCs may be invited to attend such a prestigious event. Perhaps they are invited to secretly meet a new patron or to stymie some plot of these attending the event or alternatively their adventure may start unexpectedly during such an event. Masquerade balls are excellent excuses for role-playing and offer an excellent change of pace to a typical adventure.

By Bradley K. Mc Devitt

However, designing all the guests and their costumes would take more time than even the most diligent GM has at his disposal. That’s where Campaign Events: Masquerade Ball comes in. Presenting copious notes on masks, costumes and guests along with hooks, opportunities and complications it takes the hassle out of running a masquerade ball and lets the GM concentrate on the important details of the campaign!

Sample: 10 Mundane Masks

1. An elegant lion mask, complete with full mane.
2. A bright feathered bird mask with a curved beak, which covers the wearer’s nose.
3. A smooth brown eye mask, it includes two horns that curve back over the wearer’s head.
4. A dark shroud with a deep hood, pulled low over the wearer’s face.
5. Stylized crow mask, like that of a plague doctor. An herbal aroma emanates from the beak.
6. An eye mask of delicate, pale green lace.
7. This white mask is covered in pattered gold spirals around the wearer’s eyes.
8. An ornately carved wooden handle supports this plain, black mask.
9. A half-face mask painted in a black and white diamond pattern.
10. These oversized glasses have thick black frames and lenses that distort the face behind them.

Sample: 10 Magical Masks

1. A crocodile mask with jaws that snap.
2. A collection of autumn leaves covering the entire head save the eyeholes. Live slugs inhabit it.
3. A faint green mist obscures the wearer’s face.
4. A semi sheer fabric covers the wearer’s face, but the wearer can see through it easily.
5. An elaborate wig; tendrils of hair writhe around the wearer’s face, obscuring it.
6. A realistic red dragon mask, which periodically emits smoke through its nostrils.
7. A third eye painted on the forehead, which occasionally blinks.
8. A complicated collection of metal gears spin and move around, alternately obscuring and revealing the face.
9. An inverted fishbowl, filled with water and fish.
10. A lifelike (perhaps too lifelike) werewolf mask.

6 Hooks, Complications & Opportunities

1. A courier rushes in with a message for the guest of honour, who leaves immediately. This creates a stir among the other guests.
2. A noble fleeing an arranged marriage seeks the PCs’ assistance. He is hoping the ball will provide enough cover for them to spirit him away to safety.
3. A person who appears to be wearing a monster mask, asks for help lifting a terrible curse. Of course, it transpires an angry druid using a reincarnation spell trapped the person in this body. Normally, the person cannot be seen out in public and has used the ball as a chance to get help.
4. The planned entertainment fails to appear and the ball’s host asks the PCs for help finding a replacement.
5. A minor noble instigates a brawl at the bar. It is all a cover to damage a rival’s much more impressive costume (about which he is insanely jealous).
6. The local watch recruits the PCs to help solve a crime committed by one of the guests.

Praise for Campaign Events: Masquerade Ball

“As a dressing-toolkit, this is pretty much the apex of what can ask from a pdf on the subject matter and it is a great buy.”

–Endzeitgeist (five stars)

“There’s enough content here for a game master to prepare an elaborate masquerade ball in a fraction of the time it might normally take. Campaign Events: Masquerade Ball makes me want to find a way to work a masked ball into my next session!”

–TriangularRoom (five stars)

“In summation, I’m giving this DM Resource a *5* Star Rating. I honestly haven’t had such a unique and entertaining tabletop event as this Masquerade Ball … in at least a decade. I’m thankful for play-aids like this that help take me outside of my DM’ing Comfort Zone and help enable me to experience more alternative ways of thrilling & challenging both my players and myself.”

–Crai (five stars)

“A very useful resource.”

–Megan Robertson (four stars)

A Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatible GM’s Resource by Kat Evans

Released 16 July 2015; Pages 10

PDF ($2.45) d20pfsrd, DriveThruRPG, Paizo, RPGNow, Warehouse 23 or sign up to Raging Swan’s Patreon campaign before 12 July and get it for $2!

Download a Free Sample Masquerade Ball Sample

A System Neutral Edition GM’s Resource by Kat Evans

Released 1 February 2016; Pages 10

PDF ($2.45) DriveThruRPG, RPGNow