D&D 5E Revisited Setting News: Its not the 2023 Classic setting, but rather for 2024

[overgeeked]

I honestly don't get this. Any setting or game is as scary as you, the DM, can (and want to) make it.

The rules of the game and the reactions of the players are far, far more meaningful in the tone a game has. If players sit down to Call of Cthulhu and treat it as a comedy, nothing the Keeper does will change that. Likewise, there‘s almost nothing you can do to make games like Toon properly scary.

 

[Faolyn]

The rules of the game and the reactions of the players are far, far more meaningful in the tone a game has. If players sit down to Call of Cthulhu and treat it as a comedy, nothing the Keeper does will change that. Likewise, there‘s almost nothing you can do to make games like Toon properly scary.

The reactions of the players, yes. They need to be willing to buy in to the horror. The rules, less so. Toon is an outlier, of course, as are other games that are supposed to be silly or were written for small children. But for the majority of other games? The GM can definitely make any sort of game scary. It requires the GM to be able to paint evocative word-pictures.

 

[overgeeked]

The reactions of the players, yes. They need to be willing to buy in to the horror. The rules, less so. Toon is an outlier, of course, as are other games that are supposed to be silly or were written for small children. But for the majority of other games? The GM can definitely make any sort of game scary. It requires the GM to be able to paint evocative word-pictures.

And requires player buy in. No matter how good the DM, no matter how evocative the descriptions, players who don’t care won’t be pulled into the horror.

 

[Faolyn]

And requires player buy in. No matter how good the DM, no matter how evocative the descriptions, players who don’t care won’t be pulled into the horror.

I literally said that. Also, player buy-in has nothing to do with rule sets.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I literally said that. Also, player buy-in has nothing to do with rule sets.

Yeah. Mechanics can help, but I would argue that they're not even the most important component of conveying tone.

 

[tetrasodium]

Yeah. Mechanics can help, but I would argue that they're not even the most important component of conveying tone.

mechanics that thwart a particular tone will ensure that even player buyin & great gm'ing will make achieving that tone difficult though

 

[Micah Sweet]

mechanics that thwart a particular tone will ensure that even player buyin & great gm'ing will make achieving that tone difficult though

Are there any mechanics in any version of Ravenloft that thwart the horror tone (that don't also exist in D&D in general)?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Are there any mechanics in any version of Ravenloft that thwart the horror tone (that don't also exist in D&D in general)?

You could make a case that removing the horror from the "real world" (of the Forgotten Realms or whatever) makes it less (pseudo)real and hence less disturbing. Try dropping the horror into the middle of Waterdeep to really freak out your players.

Of course, there was nothing to suggest that the original module was not the real world.

 

[Micah Sweet]

You could make a case that removing the horror from the "real world" (of the Forgotten Realms or whatever) makes it less (pseudo)real and hence less disturbing. Try dropping the horror into the middle of Waterdeep to really freak out your players.

Of course, there was nothing to suggest that the original module was not the real world.

Of course, by that definition, VRG is no good for horror either.

 

[Weiley31]

Boy: Tell me Grandpa, how did Slavery end in Golarion?

Grandpa: Ah yes, my boy, tis a tale of love, sacrifice, and the noble deeds of heroes. Why I dare say such an act could never be repeated again, for that how valorous this hero was and the effort of others. The majestic triumph of such an almost impossible goal. Alas, my feeble old mind lacks the once vigor of memories, so abundant in my youth. I'm afraid that, I cannot tell you h-
Door swings widely open as a heroic figure comes forth and the glory of light shines in from the outside.


THE Hero: Worry not lad, I shall tell you first-hand how we managed to open the eyes of vain society and how one should love their fellow brothers and sisters, treating them with humility and the same rights of all living b--

Grandpa: SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH puts lips on the Hero's lips we don't mention the "S" word around here anymore. It never existed to begin with.

Boy: But Grandpa, you just said this Hero and the his party did the impossible and-Grandpa puts hand around the boy's mouth

THE Hero: Aye, the youngling is right. I had just heard you say such a thing and mention such a tale just now as I passed by!

Grandpa proceeds to snap the boy's neck with cold efficacy and throws him out the open window.

THE Hero:

Grandpa: AAAH yes good hero, I had not noticed your glorious presence until just now. I need ye to slay a mighty dragon over in yonder mountain.

The Hero: The people have a right to know! Villain, murdering your own in cold blood. I sha-is shot in the back by Paizo. The old man then Coup-De-Graces THE Hero.

Paizo: Get rid of his body, like the rest of his party. the Grandpa nods and proceeds with the grim disposal And one more thing (Grandpa looks up) you never saw me.