D&D General Baldurs Gate, Darksun, Fallout Mashup.

[Zardnaar]

So some of you are aware I'm brainstorming up my next campaign after Norse. Previous thread was what races to spotlight outside the phb. After suggestions I want these ones.

Early Brainstorming

Goliaths
Warforged
Thri Kreen

Open to suggestions on 2 more and cutting 2 phb.

Basic theme post apocalyptic

Apocalyptic Event: Day of 1000 Sun's

When. 1000-2000 years ago.
Big Bads Aberrations.
The wasteland. Dead and wild magic zones. Darklands/shadowlands (necrotic damage).

Darksun ideas. 7 cities, Sorcerer Kings.
Fallout. Rad storms
BG. The Absolute,

In this case the absoulte isn't an elder brain but more an elder evil. Instead of religion it's offering exaltation. Kinda like the matrix you live in your own dream world saying your every desire.

Illithids may be involved but they've changed. Instead of ceremorphosis they just take control and can exist on a more regular diet. Think Gou'ald from Stargate SG1.

So how woukd you implement environmental factors to challenge PCs? My basic idea is storms and hot zones inflicting damage or exhaustion or messing with magic.

 

[MarkB]

So how woukd you implement environmental factors to challenge PCs? My basic idea is storms and hot zones inflicting damage or exhaustion or messing with magic.

Fallout 4's concept of radiation or similar damage reducing a character's max HP translates well enough to D&D.

You could look into Eberron's The Mournland as an example of a magically-devastated land. When I ran a campaign that involved it, I had a daily d20 roll for each character with a 1 resulting in a minor magical mutation, and that range getting progressively larger the closer they got to the most contaminated regions.

There was also a chance of any spell becoming a Living Spell upon being cast, but that may not fit your theme.

 

[Zardnaar]

Fallout 4's concept of radiation or similar damage reducing a character's max HP translates well enough to D&D.

You could look into Eberron's The Mournland as an example of a magically-devastated land. When I ran a campaign that involved it, I had a daily d20 roll for each character with a 1 resulting in a minor magical mutation, and that range getting progressively larger the closer they got to the most contaminated regions.

There was also a chance of any spell becoming a Living Spell upon being cast, but that may not fit your theme.

Energy drain in 5E terms. Hmmn.

Living spell coukd be done. I own the Eberron book haventbpaid much attention since 2020 or whenever I bought it.

 

[grimslade]

Very cool!
Change to magic? Psionics? Corruption of power? Might look at Forbidden Lands by Free League for ideas. Post-apocalyptic fantasy ideas to mine.

 

[Shardstone]

Need vaults.

 

[Steampunkette]

Seven evil rulers of the largest settlements in the area are under threat from The Absolute('s replacement) and don't know exactly what it is. Even though they're evil, conniving, backstabbers they're patrons for heroes who are out to fight against the big ugly horror show that's coming. Willing to set aside a few grudges to save their own hides.

They're stockpiling magic and weapons (And occasionally raiding each other) to try and be in the best position to fight the Absolute('s replacement) but are unaware the infighting is helping it.

The "Vault" stand-ins are either magic bomb shelters or hidden valleys that have been disrupted by the Absolute, sending the Vault Dweller PCs out into the world?

 

[Zardnaar]

Seven evil rulers of the largest settlements in the area are under threat from The Absolute('s replacement) and don't know exactly what it is. Even though they're evil, conniving, backstabbers they're patrons for heroes who are out to fight against the big ugly horror show that's coming. Willing to set aside a few grudges to save their own hides.

They're stockpiling magic and weapons (And occasionally raiding each other) to try and be in the best position to fight the Absolute('s replacement) but are unaware the infighting is helping it.

The "Vault" stand-ins are either magic bomb shelters or hidden valleys that have been disrupted by the Absolute, sending the Vault Dweller PCs out into the world?

Wasn't planning on using vaults as such. It's been to long. There's still hot zones and thinking of a rad storm replacement.

Kind of a replacement for defiling.

 

[Argyle King]

...

The "Vault" stand-ins are either magic bomb shelters or hidden valleys that have been disrupted by the Absolute, sending the Vault Dweller PCs out into the world?

Vaults could be Dwarven settlements that have secluded themselves from the radiated surface world.

 

[Zardnaar]

Vaults could be Dwarven settlements that have secluded themselves from the radiated surface world.

Well underdark is a thing in D&D so vaults kinda obsolete.

 

[Argyle King]

So some of you are aware I'm brainstorming up my next campaign after Norse. Previous thread was what races to spotlight outside the phb. After suggestions I want these ones.

Early Brainstorming

Goliaths
Warforged
Thri Kreen

Open to suggestions on 2 more and cutting 2 phb.

Basic theme post apocalyptic

Apocalyptic Event: Day of 1000 Sun's

When. 1000-2000 years ago.
Big Bads Aberrations.
The wasteland. Dead and wild magic zones. Darklands/shadowlands (necrotic damage).

Darksun ideas. 7 cities, Sorcerer Kings.
Fallout. Rad storms
BG. The Absolute,

In this case the absoulte isn't an elder brain but more an elder evil. Instead of religion it's offering exaltation. Kinda like the matrix you live in your own dream world saying your every desire.

Illithids may be involved but they've changed. Instead of ceremorphosis they just take control and can exist on a more regular diet. Think Gou'ald from Stargate SG1.

So how woukd you implement environmental factors to challenge PCs? My basic idea is storms and hot zones inflicting damage or exhaustion or messing with magic.

Lizardfolk (or perhaps Kobolds given the general culture and vibe of desert lizardfolk) would fit a post-apocalyptic world. It may be interesting to see how they interact with Deathclaws.

I was trying to think of how to do ghouls, but I'm unsure what fits. Both Dhamphir and Reborn kinda fit but also kinda don't.

For a second choice, I have a few thoughts, but I don't think they fit the vibe you have in mind. I had been thinking either Plasmoids or Tortles, but that's less because of your idea and more because I feel those would fit well with the three species you've already highlighted.

I'd keep Dwarves, as they could easily work as a version of isolationist vault-dwellers.

I might remove Dragonborn as a player race. Instead, they become the elite shock troopers, city guards, or whatever else is needed by the Sorcerer Kings.

If you use kobolds as little lizardfolk, I would cut one of the usual PHB shortfolk.

Ogres could work as Super Mutants, with Ettins and Hill Giants being special versions.