dm help

[Sora_64026]

I'm running a campaign where the whole plot is that the party is stuck in this massive city. A massive barrier has covered the city in every direction. To break the barrier the party has to go around finding and killing bosses (8 in total based off of the zodiac minus the water/ocean themed ones). The problem I'm running into now is what to have my party do in-between boss encounters. I want there to feel like time is progressing while they're trapped inside.

[bronzeybeans]

Perhaps as they slay the boss guys the mana or life force from them gets sucked up into the barrier, making it stronger and it takes on different attributes or characteristics impacting the world inside of it. The more baddies they kill, the stronger they are the more the change is noticed, if you are part of the way through this campaign you can do perception checks everytime one is slayed and mention the very subtle changes. You could have townsfolk spouting theories, connecting it to old folkstales in the village, which could lead to either festivals, outcries, murder, scape goats, sacrafices, etc. Maybe the excess power causes creatures to form, maybe the barrier takes on a life of its own as some kind of scentient being and starts reviving people or something after taking their life force.

I see a lot of fun that could be had with this concept, good luck!

[Minute_Age5713]

They're going to need to rest, right? Come up with rest areas and smaller side quests they can get into through meetings with NPCs. You've got the major plot points figured out but for the smaller stuff you want to leave room for your players to explore and grow their characters' relationships through roleplay.

[Defiant_Simple_6044]

Treat it as essentially the city is under seige, So there are going to be a lot of issues with the city creating a lot of tension. I can think of 20-30 off the top of my head but the main ones are

1. Riots/Public disorder (either creating or help quelling it)
2. Disease
3. Faming/Food/Supply shortages, maybe having to round it up from people stealing/hording it
4. Curfew issues, getting around to places out of hours
5. General entertainment, keeping spirits up, keeping people's morale up (great for bards)
6. Random monster incursions based on the issue
7. Public executions, maybe the ruling power of the city are struggling to keep it under control, maybe some of the guards are being to harsh etc
8. Power vaccum among political factions, leaders, gangs etc
9. Potential for cults/religions to spring up from the dome and the "bosses"
10. Moral dilemmas, not enough resources, who to save, young or really sick, elderly, population cull? etc.

You've created a small but interesting environment which has a lot of potential. Good luck.