D&D 5E What are the different 'tones' supported by 5e D&D?

[payn]

Don't forget horror. All sorts of options from gothic to cthuluesque.

I’d quibble 5E doesn’t do these well, but I suppose if you go a Cthulhu pulp route…

 

[Corinnguard]

I’d quibble 5E doesn’t do these well, but I suppose if you go a Cthulhu pulp route…

This could be done if someone were to convert the Great Old Ones from PF1 to 5e. https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/aberrations/great-old-ones/

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

This could be done if someone were to convert the Great Old Ones from PF1 to 5e. https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/aberrations/great-old-ones/

I think the objection, generally, isn't that the stats aren't available, but just that 5E D&D characters are very robust and have a lot of resources.

I've run successful horror adventures in D&D a number of times, but I think it would be easier in other systems.

 

[overgeeked]

The rules push a specific tone, superhero fantasy. Anything else requires ignoring the rules or changing them. Banning or modifying spells, feats, classes, subclasses, races, etc is required to push any other tone. It’s hard to do murder-mystery when speak with dead exists. It’s hard to do intrigue when zone of truth exists. Horror is hard when the PCs have a ton of abilities, piles of HP, and regenerate everything with a night’s sleep.

 

[Rabbitbait]

I’d quibble 5E doesn’t do these well, but I suppose if you go a Cthulhu pulp route…

I'd agree. D&D doesn't do most tones as well as game systems designed for those tones. But it is an easy system to learn and to bend to almost any tone you want.

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

The rules push a specific tone, superhero fantasy. Anything else requires ignoring the rules or changing them. Banning or modifying spells, feats, classes, subclasses, races, etc is required to push any other tone. It’s hard to do murder-mystery when speak with dead exists. It’s hard to do intrigue when zone of truth exists. Horror is hard when the PCs have a ton of abilities, piles of HP, and regenerate everything with a night’s sleep.

I agree. D&D5e supports the very specific D&D5e style of fantasy, mainly because of system design and presumptions. One can twist and turn it a bit with player buy-in, but in the end it will still be D&D.

 

[bedir than]

How about, This is a time of renewal? You will play adventures in a land recovered from a great long lasting war against evil. The lands are reclaimed, the peace is holding, its time to seek out hidden secrets and untold legends of yesteryear. Themes similar to exploration above, but with strong hints of long lost lore and dark secrets to uncover. (Not post apocalypse, but post-post-apocalypse?)

I would love to play in such a campaign

 

[dave2008]

This could be done if someone were to convert the Great Old Ones from PF1 to 5e. https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/aberrations/great-old-ones/

Sandy Petersen's Cthulhu Mythos

 

[MGibster]

I have to admit that I really don't know the difference between heroic and epic fantasy. I would classify D&D as heroic fantasy which it does very well. It does horror about as well as the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney does horror. I enjoy it, but it's tough being horrified when you're playing a super heroic action hero.

 

[payn]

This could be done if someone were to convert the Great Old Ones from PF1 to 5e. https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/aberrations/great-old-ones/

Thats another issue, I dont think old ones should be slaughtered by PCs. If they are, you are not playing a horror game.

I'd agree. D&D doesn't do most tones as well as game systems designed for those tones. But it is an easy system to learn and to bend to almost any tone you want.

Ugh, I wish folks didnt think so. For the sake of those other systems.