AWESOME Idea from rpg.net...

[Zappo]

@Zappo: since I am "NPC" over on rpg.net I'm really pleased that you liked my idea

Heh. The funny bit is that I don't really like GURPS much - but in this case it would fit great. You'd need a fantasy game that's as far from D&D as possible, mechanically, to really drive the point that "the rules are different here". GURPS is perfect.

D&D combat in comparison to GURPS combat is almost like Matrix combat in comparison to real world combat, if you see it the right way; you just have to ditch the interpretation of hit points as near-misses and scrapes, and break out the over-the-top descriptions of blows that cause walls to shatter behind you - but leave you alive and well.

 

[lukelightning]

I find this idea kind of boring. It might be cool for a Keanu moment ("whoah.") but not for long.

 

[Orryn Emrys]

Extraordinary. Love the premise. In the interest of adhering a bit closer to the "Matrix" phenomenon, which certainly isn't necessary but I find very inspiring, I'd consider spinning the concept a bit to affect humans (humanoids?) trapped within the Dungeon at the behest of Draconic overlords who somehow used the energy produced by the ensnared species to further their own needs. It might be entertaining to use the idea Drew mentioned and make the real world more of a futuristic genre, perhaps giving it something of a Dragonstar feel.... Or an actual sci-fi type of setting, which I think could still be very kewl with draconic masters.... In any case, though a change of system between worlds would easily highlight the differences, I prefer not to stray too much from my players' D20 comfort zone. You can highlight the differences sufficiently by using an entirely different era of play for the "real world" environment.

Of course, I know a few players who would absolutely fall all over themselves to play the concept as presented above, as well....

 

[Snapdragyn]

I like the idea of illithids as the masters. Having the 'gods' be programs is so sweet I can hardly stand it; you can even have the one program-god who works against its own survival (i.e. the Oracle).

Key point for a Dungeon campaign: don't tell the players. Let them discover, through their characters, that the entire thing isn't real -- then hand them a basic interpretation of a starting GURPS character when they emerge into the 'real' world.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

Ooh! How about using Exalted for the "Dungeon Setting" cinematic capabilities!

I like the idea a lot, but might like it better with Dragons/Devils/Illithids/Yugoloths/ enslaving humanoids, giving the spunky ones dungeon adventure time.

 

[jmucchiello]

This reminds me of an idea mentioned on pyramid (I believe) where one of the D&D character died at an inopportune time for the DM. So he took the player into another room and said something like "as the light fades from your eyes, you become aware of the plastic chamber surrounding you. The door opens and the Computer says 'welcome clone 2, please reenter the simulation'. They return to the other room and the DM continues 'as you continue forward, Jarvis appears on the next hill top waiting for you to catch up to him. This does not seem unusual to you.'"

 

[smootrk]

Much as Neo 'woke' to the real world which was far in the future (from his point of view), The D&D world characters could wake up in the Real World (D20 Modern or variation of).

This idea is an ironic turn around for us real world folks, playing a game set in a fantasy 'past' of sorts. The Forgotten Realms pulled over your eyes...

 

[Sarellion]

I like the original idea of nonhumanoids being the prisoers better. We already had the caged humans thing in matrix and Dragon Overlords is something seen often enough.

 

[dream spawn]

Actually, for an over the top system for in Matrix play, Exalted would work rather well too. The characters start out playing standard humans and when they wake up, they come back as Solar Exalted. The system is already kind of in place for hunting them. Then, when they play in the real world, GURPS could work, or maybe Iron Heroes?

 

[DMH]

Much as Neo 'woke' to the real world which was far in the future (from his point of view), The D&D world characters could wake up in the Real World (D20 Modern or variation of).

The Second World Sourcebook would come in very handy here- it has a modern world and a fantasy world that are connected via planar gates. Of course it will need some major tweeking, but the advice it has is pretty cool.

As for dragons as the people in the Dungeon, I have no problem with it, but I think elves might be better. They are magical (so humans can drain them) and humanoid (so they don't have the disconnect of motion when walking or not flying). Or kobolds as they are equally magical.