Recently updated on July 14th, 2023 at 12:12 am
A D&D heist can be a really fun part of a running campaign, and easily stands alone as an exciting one-shot! If you’re looking for some interesting DnD heist ideas for your next session, look no further – click below to get started!
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Getting Started: The List of DnD Heist Ideas
Every good heist requires intrigue, a seemingly impossible mission, a group of brave adventurers, and a mouth-watering reward.
But, to make sure your players aren’t bored, it’s important to flesh things out and come up with stories and plot points that peak their interest. Click here if you’re looking for a list of general D&D Adventure Ideas. For those looking for heists, specifically, continue reading on!
The Classic Dragon Hoard Heist
It may be a bit on the nose, but it’s hard to find a more appropriate DnD heist than one that is centered around a dragon.
In this heist, a group of brave adventurers are pitted against a fearsome dragon and its hoard of priceless treasures. The dragon, a powerful and cunning creature, has guarded its hoard for centuries, fending off all would-be thieves with its deadly breath and sharp claws.
But for a group of skilled and determined adventurers, the challenge of stealing from the dragon’s hoard may be too tempting to resist.
As they plan their heist, the adventurers must carefully scout out the dragon’s lair, gather the necessary tools and equipment, and come up with a daring plan to outwit the dragon and make off with its treasures.
With luck, skill, and a bit of bravado, the adventurers just might succeed in pulling off the ultimate heist and claiming the dragon’s hoard as their own.
Robbing a Royal Palace’s Legendary Artifact
Depending on the characters’ alignment, they could pursue a heist that involves a royal palace. I guess it would also depend on the alignment of the royal family in the story as well.
In this D&D heist, a royal palace is in possession of something known as the “Crown of Kings.” Obtaining this legendary artifact would challenge even the most skilled and cunning group of adventurers. This legendary artifact has immense power and is the most valuable and closely guarded treasure in the kingdom. It is protected by a host of loyal guards, powerful magical wards, and deadly traps, making it nearly impossible to steal.
But for a group of daring thieves, the challenge of stealing the Crown of Kings may be too great to resist. As your players decide their next moves, they need to carefully scout out the palace, gather the necessary tools, equipment and information, and come up with a seamless plan to outsmart the guards and evade the traps.
Robbing a Wealthy Merchant
This, again, depends on moral alignment. If your characters are in the moral gray area and want to gain wealth or power, “sharing” some wealth with a merchant may entice them.
Regardless, he infiltration and robbery of a wealthy merchant’s well-protected mansion is a thrilling challenge for any group of D&D adventurers. The merchant, in this case a cunning and ruthless individual, has amassed a fortune through underhanded dealings and nefarious trade, and has spent a small fortune on fortifying his lavish mansion.
The mansion is guarded by a host of loyal guards, powerful magical wards, and deadly traps, making it nearly impossible to infiltrate and rob. But for a group of skilled thieves, the challenge of stealing from the merchant’s well-protected mansion may be too great to resist.
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The High-Security Prison
Breaking free from a high-security prison is a unique one!
Whether you’ve decided to instruct your characters to break out an NPC with vital knowledge or resources, or your characters have been locked in the prison themselves, this makes for some great fun with high stakes included!
The prison, a formidable fortress built to hold the most dangerous criminals, is guarded by a host of loyal guards, powerful magical wards, and deadly traps, making it nearly impossible to escape.
But for a group of skilled and determined prisoners, the challenge of breaking free from the high-security prison may be too great to resist.
Recover an Artifact in a Temple
At this point of the article, I think we’re past the question of where your characters’ moral alignments are. If they’re attempting a heist, they’re likely in the gray at the very least.
Regardless, the recovery of a magical artifact from a heavily guarded temple hidden deep in a treacherous jungle is an exciting challenge for any group of D&D adventurers.
The temple, long forgotten by the outside world, is home to a powerful and ancient magical artifact, coveted by adventurers and treasure hunters alike. But the temple is guarded by a host of fierce jungle creatures, powerful magical wards, and ancient traps, making it nearly impossible to enter and recover the artifact.
This makes for a great adventure because it can easily be written into a campaign. You could have your characters be called to look into a missing person who happened to stumble into this temple. You find the missing person, as well as the temple’s artifacts. Or, the temple’s artifacts could be a crucial puzzle piece that unlocks some piece of ancient knowledge.
Stealing a Piece of Art
In this adventure, your characters can be commissioned (or come up with the idea) to steal a piece of art (or full collection) from a wealthy collector. This collection is, obviously, heavily guarded and difficult to access.
The collector, a wealthy and eccentric individual, has amassed a vast collection of priceless art, and has spent a small fortune on fortifying his private gallery to protect it from thieves. The gallery is guarded by a host of hired guards.
To make it interesting, you could do something similar to what the Bells Hells did in Critical Role campaign 3, where they were sent by Jiana Hexum to be one of two different burglar teams, to be competing to break in and acquire a specific artifact that was named by the museum owner, Hytroga.
Infiltration and Sabotage
It’s likely that your D&D world contains a variety of factions, many of which are rivals.
In this DnD heist, the powerful and dangerous rival faction has established a heavily guarded stronghold to plot their nefarious schemes and store their valuable intelligence. The stronghold is guarded by a host of loyal guards, powerful magical wards, and deadly traps, making it nearly impossible to infiltrate and sabotage.
Task your adventurers with sneaking into the stronghold (or breaking down the door if they’d like) to steal the information and give their faction the upper hand.
This could involve some interesting plot twists and points of difficult. For example, one of the leaders of the rival faction could be working with your characters’ faction. You could also give them incorrect information and make them figure out what’s correct and what’s not.
Stealing a Shipment of Goods
This “heist” could be part of a beginner crew’s journey.
In this adventure, a caravan, carrying a fortune in valuable goods, is making its way across treacherous terrain, guarded by a host of loyal guards and powerful magical wards. Not only will the characters need to figure out how to deal with whoever’s guarding the caravan, they’ll also need to deal with the terrain itself.
The terrain itself is a formidable obstacle, with steep mountains, deep ravines, and dangerous creatures lurking around every turn. There could even be a unique element included, like custom-created creatures that live in the area who can disease or poison anyone they come in contact with!
Rescuing the Noble
The daring rescue of a kidnapped noble is a noble and honorable mission for any group of D&D adventurers.
You could have the noble be a respected and influential member of society. In this case, the noble has been kidnapped by a group of ruthless bandits and is being held for ransom in their remote and heavily guarded castle.
The castle, a formidable fortress perched atop a steep cliff, is guarded by a host of loyal soldiers and powerful magical defenses, making it nearly impossible to infiltrate and rescue the noble.
For returning this noble to safety, your adventurers could receive wealth, fame, notoriety, knowledge, or all of the above! This could be a great way to start off a long journey.
Robbing the Local Wizard
Most wizards are known for their love of knowledge and, in many cases, powerful magical items.
In this case, the characters are tasked with stealing a powerful magical tome from a prestigious wizard’s academy. To say the least, it’s a treacherous and dangerous mission for any group of D&D adventurers.
The wizard’s academy, a renowned center of learning and magic, is home to a powerful and ancient magical tome, coveted by wizards and sorcerers alike. But the academy is guarded by powerful spells and dangerous creatures, making it nearly impossible to infiltrate and steal the tome.
You could have a full party of full casters who have been enrolled in the academy and figure out the secret magical tome. This could spark the desire to pursue the coveted item!
Conclusion
DnD Heists are extremely fun, and can be a great way for new players to get started!
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