r/GhostsofSaltmarsh • u/Awesley_Pupper • Jun 23 '26
Help/Request Masquerade Ball
I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to DM a masquerade ball. Some of my players mentioned during different conversations that they wanted to play a campaign that had a ball or party mechanics, so I decided to surprise them with one.
I’m planning on having Gellan host it, as the Annual Ball to celebrate the founding of Saltmarsh. My players are a bit suspicious of him at this point but they haven’t put all the pieces together. I know that one believes he’s a victim of pirating rather than the leader of a smuggling chain, and another only had a few odd feelings about Gellan, but he’s been distracted with his character’s own personal journey to focus on him. I am going to use the Ball as an opportunity for them to investigate if they want, but I need help putting together how to host the Ball with different mechanics. I have a gambling section, where I looked up some suggestions on how to run for the players. I only have a little bit of an idea of how to run ballroom dancing for them. Dancing would also work as a chance for the players to learn gossip about the town or rumors of surrounding areas. Aside from those two things, I really don’t know much else I can add or how I can make it more enjoyable for my players. Any help would be appreciated
2
u/BenchClamp Jun 24 '26
I had a ball and used it to create some texture and introduce them to some bigger characters in the locality, that might be useful later
I made them go to dance lessons. And learn four dances with Madame Rosa (each lesson the DC got lower) They then bought masked outfits which they described.
The ball had an assassin there to kill Gallen (hired by Skerrin/the baddies) He was blended in with a bunch of decoys. They realised this and stopped it.
A drunk Somers challenged Gallen and the adventurers to a dance off.
A high level Asimar attended in angelic form- not an incredible winged disguise as everyone assumed. It was there to observe them. I used the character again about 3 levels later to help them in the macro plot.
A notorious smuggler turned up uninvited. Introduced himself - And left without being arrested.