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Using D&D for fantasy horror
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<blockquote data-quote="The_Warlock" data-source="post: 4823355" data-attributes="member: 21215"><p>Ok, here's what I'd do...</p><p></p><p>The set level with expenditures to buy specific improvements sounds good, but I would make it lower at first and grow to the maximum cost. Say 1/4 the costs you initially posted, then each time an improvement is bought, the cost for all improvements escalates. </p><p></p><p>Use a Taint or Corruption system. Personally, I use the one from True20, but anything that tracks maddening choices and evil choices that tacks on to the standard D&D system easily is worth it.</p><p></p><p>Characters with higher Corruption scores (which should impair them in one or more ways - usually at the attribute level) however get "discounts" on buying improvements, or open up some more edge of sanity type improvements. These aren't listed anywhere until someone gets enough corruption, you take them aside and say, "You can purchase these specials now at the listed costs. Don't tell anyone else about these options."</p><p></p><p>Add another level of fear condition, "Freaked Out" or "Jumpy" that penalizes Will saves and to hit by 1, but gives a bonus to Initiative or Spot as the character becomes totally on edge straining for the horrors around the corner. Then follow the normal fear progression.</p><p></p><p>The big issue, with D&D, is figuring out when a monster goes from being "Monstrous" to "Horrifying". Are all monsters beyond the norm for these adventurers, or can they handle bestial humanoids and basiliks, while totally losing it when an ooze from space rounds the corner?</p><p></p><p>I'd look at the various creature Types, and ID them as Mundane, Monstrous, Unsettling, Horrifying. </p><p></p><p>Mundane creatures instill no fear or potential terror on their own, and in fact, can suffer just as badly as the PCs when something terrible comes around the corner.</p><p></p><p>Monstrous creatures, while nasty and horrible, aren't instantly terrifying - but cause some kind of fear save whenever they use a special attack - howls, rends, rakes - and the gore and brutality sinks home in the PCs.</p><p></p><p>Unsettling creatures put everybody on edge. Give them a fear aura, save or be "Freaked Out". Like Monstrous, using a special attack should force a fear save vs the target or onlookers.</p><p></p><p>Horrifying monsters are all cthulian, all the time, and have a fear aura. Shapechangers can probably shut it off when they are in an alternate form, but otherwise, it's always on because the creature is just WRONG. Similar to all nasties, using a special attack triggers a fear save.</p><p></p><p></p><p>I would also focus on having lots of descriptions that are disturbing, unusual, and inexplicable - especially when the PCs are using different senses - detect magic, darkvision, etc. Players who roleplay a good reaction to that get some kind of benefit - escape death, but get a permanent minor insanity (you just weren't tasty enough to that creature); something that gets them out of the immediate jam, but still leaves them just a little more ruined by the horrors of the world.</p><p></p><p>That's all I can think of at the moment.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="The_Warlock, post: 4823355, member: 21215"] Ok, here's what I'd do... The set level with expenditures to buy specific improvements sounds good, but I would make it lower at first and grow to the maximum cost. Say 1/4 the costs you initially posted, then each time an improvement is bought, the cost for all improvements escalates. Use a Taint or Corruption system. Personally, I use the one from True20, but anything that tracks maddening choices and evil choices that tacks on to the standard D&D system easily is worth it. Characters with higher Corruption scores (which should impair them in one or more ways - usually at the attribute level) however get "discounts" on buying improvements, or open up some more edge of sanity type improvements. These aren't listed anywhere until someone gets enough corruption, you take them aside and say, "You can purchase these specials now at the listed costs. Don't tell anyone else about these options." Add another level of fear condition, "Freaked Out" or "Jumpy" that penalizes Will saves and to hit by 1, but gives a bonus to Initiative or Spot as the character becomes totally on edge straining for the horrors around the corner. Then follow the normal fear progression. The big issue, with D&D, is figuring out when a monster goes from being "Monstrous" to "Horrifying". Are all monsters beyond the norm for these adventurers, or can they handle bestial humanoids and basiliks, while totally losing it when an ooze from space rounds the corner? I'd look at the various creature Types, and ID them as Mundane, Monstrous, Unsettling, Horrifying. Mundane creatures instill no fear or potential terror on their own, and in fact, can suffer just as badly as the PCs when something terrible comes around the corner. Monstrous creatures, while nasty and horrible, aren't instantly terrifying - but cause some kind of fear save whenever they use a special attack - howls, rends, rakes - and the gore and brutality sinks home in the PCs. Unsettling creatures put everybody on edge. Give them a fear aura, save or be "Freaked Out". Like Monstrous, using a special attack should force a fear save vs the target or onlookers. Horrifying monsters are all cthulian, all the time, and have a fear aura. Shapechangers can probably shut it off when they are in an alternate form, but otherwise, it's always on because the creature is just WRONG. Similar to all nasties, using a special attack triggers a fear save. I would also focus on having lots of descriptions that are disturbing, unusual, and inexplicable - especially when the PCs are using different senses - detect magic, darkvision, etc. Players who roleplay a good reaction to that get some kind of benefit - escape death, but get a permanent minor insanity (you just weren't tasty enough to that creature); something that gets them out of the immediate jam, but still leaves them just a little more ruined by the horrors of the world. That's all I can think of at the moment. [/QUOTE]
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