The Brewski Jubilee by Kari Jo “Kage” Freudigmann (@RageKagexRugger)
A Downtime Adventure – Please imbibe responsibly.
Content Warning: Alcohol Consumption, Drinking Competition
This is a standalone adventure that can also be used as part of a downtime session in a larger campaign. It is a level 5 adventure for three to four players, but can be adjusted for different levels of play. This adventure has an estimated 2-3 hours of playtime
This is a brilliant Brewski Jubilee Hopstacle Course Jamboree! A great downtime adventure in a town full of rich characters and their varied, silly and fun harvest ritual. Perfect as a fun one shot or dropped into any campaign, especially as a bit of downtime and/ or sidequest action, regardless of experience!
The adventurers come across a small, pastoral town and their celebration event, The Brewski Jubilee, to commemorate the tapping of the first keg of the season. In town they will find potential sponsors for their entry into the event in which they may compete together or separately against the reigning champion, Olga the Obliterated, who has won the Hopstacle Course for the last eight years running, as well as a variety of additional provided entrants as needed.
Chapter 1: The Town (Exploration and social)
The scene is set beautifully:
A small town lies amidst fields of grain on the outermost boundaries of a well-travelled kingdom.
Crops extend as far as the eye can see in all directions, except to the south where a large rocky outcropping disrupts the endless horizon. Unseen from this distance, a small stream rushes from this jagged pile of earth, nourishing the lush forest at the hill’s
This picturesque place is also home to a vibrant market where the party can pick up information and rumours relating to the town’s celebration of the “Brewski Jubilee, a century-old celebration of the season’s harvest—namely, beer.”
Rumours of information
Beginning with flyers covering “every vertical surface of both the marketplace and the town” to various potential patrons and punters, the adventurers learn of the Brewski Jubilee, the Hopstacle Course and the formidable Olga, the Obliterated, throughout the town all laid out with easy to reference bullet points.
The chapter ends when the party have enough information.
Chapter 2: motivations (Social)
Evening descends like a leisurely poured pint, bringing folx to congregate at the pub, allowing further opportunities for rumour gathering and specialising.
The appendix contains information that truly bring these characters to life!
The various prospective patrons and challengers are here to be met and deals made.
Chapter 3: The Hopstacle Course (Exploration and Combat)
3 simple rules
ONE: Participants shall stop at each drink station.
TWO: Participants shall not veer off the designated path in any direction.
THREE: Participants shall not make attempts on another competitor’s life.
The rules for the Hopstacle Course are clearly laid out with handy tables for the NPCs tactics and exhaustion to reference. This is a really nice touch and more adventures that have more bizarre and confusing statuses and effects should have information like the on hand.
The challenges involve all manner of elements and approaches, from the drinking, hair of the dog (Gnolls), spelunking in the dark, kicking a door in, finding a way across a river, avoiding traps and dangerous drops, and legging it to the finish. Again, all options, prompts and suggestions are clearly laid out.
The tactics of all NPCs are clearly laid out at each stage of the challenge.
Whomever wins the Hopstacle Course is hailed as a champion with a variety of results from sponsors, local shops and the party’s wallets, as well as the coveted half price pint amulet.
Further adventures with connections and allies the party may have made in town are suggested.
Appendix I
This contains the diverse NPCs in the adventure, each with a deeply flavourful bio and back story, as well the NPC statblock they use with all the specific changes neatly presented in a box. This is unbelievably helpful and inspired! I can’t count the times I’ve had an NPC and been called out for just using the basic statblock without features and traits, so it’s brilliant to have it right there. Plus, this full background approach is given to the optional additional NPCs, which is just a lovely piece attention to detail.
Appendix II
This contains the Player and DM maps for the Hopstacle Course. These maps are well laid out and colour-coded with clear labelling on the DM map.
This adventure does the impossible in creating a situation in where the players actually have fun, while suffering exhaustion! ...although the DM in me also sees this as a deliciously evil place to unleash something nasty on your drunk and exhausted party. Mwahahaha! (I’m actually a total kitten of a DM, but I can dream lol).
This is a great downtime adventure with availability of places to explore, shop and money (and half-priced drinks) to be won in a nameless town that can be easily incorporated anywhere, as well as a fun challenge and flavourful NPCs to socialise and compete with.
The helpful DM Notes, helpful layout and inclusion of information within the text are a huge aid to staying on track, making this easy to pick up and play. This extremely accessible nature also makes this an option for a first time DM and/ or a new group wanting to play about with D&D and get to grips with the rules. The adventure provides a relatively safe and certainly lively and fun place to play about with the social and initiative challenge aspects, as well as the Gnoll Corner providing the opportunity for combat. I do like that this is one of those adventures in which violence is not at all necessary, though it is optional.
This being a downtime jaunt with the quality of guidance throughout make it a perfect option for a session the DM can’t make or for someone else to take the helm so those forever DMs out there get to drink and cavort for a change.
This is a brilliant Brewski Jubilee Hopstacle Course Jamboree! A great downtime adventure in a town full of rich characters and their varied, silly and fun harvest ritual. Perfect as a fun one shot or dropped into any campaign, especially as a bit of downtime and/ or sidequest action, regardless of experience!
I reached out to Kage to find the inspiration for their adventure and they kindly provided me with this quote:
It was just something I’ve been thinking about doing for over a year. I love the idea of conflict that isn’t just hack and slash combat. And I do love myself a good brew so they just sort of combined. As far as actually getting it down on paper and published, I cannot thank the RPG Writer Workshop enough for helping me make this adventure a reality.
My Affiliate Link
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/323223/The-Brewski-Jubilee?affiliate_id=1507682
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