D&D 5E A truly horrifying Age of Worms

[TheSword]

I personally go the entire other way to the OP.

If Im running a military themed campaign. I expect and would encourage soldiers and warriors. A larceny themed campaign, thieves. A wilderness campaign, druids and rangers.

If I was running an undead heavy campaign, I would not only disclose that fact to the players, but actively encourage undead fighting classes.

Yes, those other examples make sense. However this is a horror themed campaign. At least the way I intend to run it.

Dracula is less fun if it’s Van Helsing has trained everyone before it starts. These characters being totally out of their depth is what makes it interesting. Sure once the threat starts to become apparent they learn and develop tools to combat the threat but not in the early stages.

 

[Flamestrike]

Yes, those other examples make sense. However this is a horror themed campaign. At least the way I intend to run it.

Dracula is less fun if it’s Van Helsing has trained everyone before it starts. These characters being totally out of their depth is what makes it interesting. Sure once the threat starts to become apparent they learn and develop tools to combat the threat but not in the early stages.

See again, I totally disagree.

In fact when I played in CoS, I specifically ran a Van Helsing knock off, a Monster Hunter Ranger/ Investigative Rogue who specialised in hunting vampires. When I played ToA, I specifically played an Archaelogist with a whip (ranger/ rogue) who never got lost.

I tie my PCs into the story (mechanically and narratively) and I expect my players to do the same.

Like, your players want to have fun. Let them tie their PCs into the story both narritavely (undead fighting specialists, fighting undead) and mechanically.

Its not like Clerics can do anything special vs undead man. They can turn them a few times per short rest at mid levels (maybe, depending on saves etc). Good for them, let them!

 

[dave2008]

In fact when I played in CoS, I specifically ran a Van Helsing knock off, a Monster Hunter Ranger/ Investigative Rogue who specialised in hunting vampires.

But did everyone play Van Helsing? That is @TheSword 's point I believe.

 

[Oofta]

When it comes to horror, depending on the campaign I throw a fair number of eldritch terrors at my group's PCs. Subtle and not-so-subtle curses, dreams troubling people's sleep and occasionally pulling them into shadow dimensions.

It's more about setting the mood while dropping subtle hints that something worse is coming. Players being paranoid, not knowing who to trust, throwing challenges that they likely cannot win and showing them the results. As a DM I can always build encounters the players will have to run away from. Throw multiple waves, set up the environment that hurts the players while benefiting the monsters. Having tentacles reaching down from the mist covered ceiling pulling people up into the impenetrable mist is good for chuckles.

So I don't see a need, nor do I have a desire to limit player options because I'm afraid my campaign will be "too easy". I do limit player choices for thematic reasons. I just don't see a place for dragonborn in my world. I limit warlock patrons because I don't want to deal with a fiendish pact. But not allowing paladins because they might have an ability I would have to counter with minor rules tweak is just foreign to me.

I'm not telling anyone how to run their campaign. But rather than telling people they can't play Van Helsing, I let them. Then beat them down anyway without taking away a single ability. It's worse to have the guy that dedicates their life to fighting a specific type of evil and still losing than just telling them they can't play that guy.

 

[Flamestrike]

But did everyone play Van Helsing? That is @TheSword 's point I believe.

Because then we would have an entire party of Vampire hunters in Barovia, hell bent on bringing Strahds reign of terror to an end.

Which is of course, totally awesome.

 

[dave2008]

Because then we would have an entire party of Vampire hunters in Barovia, hell bent on bringing Strahds reign of terror to an end.

Which is of course, totally awesome.

Sure, that's great for some, but it is not like it is universal viewpoint. It it can be completely awesome if there is no VH. There is only one VH in Dracula after all. You also didn't answer my question.

Really, the point of my post was to showcase that your post seemed needlessly confrontational (which perhaps my post is as well) given the context of your previous posts. But it is the internet, it is hard to discern intent in this forum and of course you are free to post pretty much anything you want.

 

[Coroc]

...
Choosing to play the class you want to play is not the equivelent of doing the dishes. Doing the dishes is something you don't want to do but you have to do. Choosing the class you want to play is something you do for fun. That was a terrible analogy.
..
You seriously don't believe your players want the freedom to choose whatever class they desire? I don't think I am projecting anything. Reducing choices is not something people enjoy, particularly in their entertainment activity where you're ruling out base classes.
..
So you just arbitrarily reduce the number of classes every game you play, because that increases opportunity for your players, and it's what they want?
...

To break a lance for @OPs opinion here, I like both concepts, and as long as I can make a meaningful selection at all, I am content.

If a game is play anything you like, any weird combo, any class, any race, then the challenge and fun is rather to find something fitting, both me and the intended campaign.

If there are restrictions, then I even prefer the challenge more, because then I got to make the best out of a given set.

You see, some of the best adventures start out with PCs being in a dungeon without equipment and spell books.
You cannot run these with players insisting on getting the RAW starting equipment, no matter if the DM intends to do such a secenario or run darksun:
"Ok here is your metal chainmail, Player X. " "Nice, I sell it for a gazillion of ceramics, and bribe the Templars to help me usurp the sorcerer king, and put me in his place. Do I have to check for persuasion or can we hand wave this, DM? "

So restrictions and limitations make a campaign more distinguishable and unique for me. I do not want to play FR official only, no matter where or when or what. If you want a game like this call it "Modern Playstyle & 5E Everything Goes" and not "Dungeons & Dragons"

 

[Mistwell]

To break a lance for @OPs opinion here, I like both concepts, and as long as I can make a meaningful selection at all, I am content.

If a game is play anything you like, any weird combo, any class, any race, then the challenge and fun is rather to find something fitting, both me and the intended campaign.

If there are restrictions, then I even prefer the challenge more, because then I got to make the best out of a given set.

You see, some of the best adventures start out with PCs being in a dungeon without equipment and spell books.
You cannot run these with players insisting on getting the RAW starting equipment, no matter if the DM intends to do such a secenario or run darksun:
"Ok here is your metal chainmail, Player X. " "Nice, I sell it for a gazillion of ceramics, and bribe the Templars to help me usurp the sorcerer king, and put me in his place. Do I have to check for persuasion or can we hand wave this, DM? "

So restrictions and limitations make a campaign more distinguishable and unique for me. I do not want to play FR official only, no matter where or when or what. If you want a game like this call it "Modern Playstyle & 5E Everything Goes" and not "Dungeons & Dragons"

I agree, if the players are into it, it's fine. But, only if that's the theme of your adventure or it makes things more fun. This isn't a "Let's have a one-shot Halfling Musketeers adventure!" which would be a restriction for both theme and fun. It isn't the theme of the adventure here. He's going it for perceived balance reasons, not fun reasons or theme reasons. That's why I was wondering why he's choosing that method.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Late to the game, but question: is there a full 5e version of this campaign somewhere, or is there just the fan-made conversion document?

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

Late to the game, but question: is there a full 5e version of this campaign somewhere, or is there just the fan-made conversion document?

Only the fan made one. To get a "full" (by which I guess you mean official) 5e version would require WotC to either do it themselves or outsource it.