D&D 5E Building A Campaign Around The BBEG

[Reynard]

NOTE: This is tagged 5E but in reality I plan to run this in 2024 5E just to give the system its shot. I might also run it in SWADE. Who knows.

NOTE 2: This is a working idea, so I am hoping for feedback on how to make the premise work. I am not looking for people to argue with the basic premise, thanks.

THE PREMISE: The campaign is centered around a villain -- specifically a very powerful villain that exists in the open and has influence on top of raw power. The entire campaign is based on the PCs wanting to take this villain down, with them starting at 1st level. Every PC will have a (player chosen or randomly rolled) reason for their hatred of the BBEG, and that is what binds them together. Otherwise, the game is a sandbox, full of NPCs, factions, locations and secrets. It will be up to the PCs to decide how they want to finally get to the point where they can try and legitimately take the BBEG down. There is no predetermined path.

First off, I need to decide what the BBEG is. What would make a good villain? An ancient dragon? A wizard-king? A demigod on Earth? What would you use for a blatant, open villain that is exceedingly powerful?

Second, I want "leveling up" to be something that actually happens in the fiction of the world. That is, the PCs know, in character, that they have to get more powerful before they have a chance to face the BBEG. And they know what sorts of things can provide power of that sort. I am almost thinking of a "soul energy" or something. Whatever it is, is something that exists in the world for everyone, not just the PCs.

Finally, I want the setting to be contained. maybe a fantasy megalopolis? An island nation? A demiplane?

I look forward to discussing further with you all.

 

[GMMichael]

Every PC will have a (player chosen or randomly rolled) reason for their hatred of the BBEG, and that is what binds them together.

Leading off with hatred. Interesting . . .

It will be up to the PCs to decide how they want to finally get to the point where they can try and legitimately take the BBEG down. There is no predetermined path.

That's pretty cool. Let the PCs choose the takedown. Death by spear. Power source shattered. Forced to wear a big, red, "F."

First off, I need to decide what the BBEG is. What would make a good villain? An ancient dragon? A wizard-king? A demigod on Earth? What would you use for a blatant, open villain that is exceedingly powerful?

What about an Ancient Gold Dragon? I've been thinking about those for some reason lately.

Second, I want "leveling up" to be something that actually happens in the fiction of the world. That is, the PCs know, in character, that they have to get more powerful before they have a chance to face the BBEG. And they know what sorts of things can provide power of that sort. I am almost thinking of a "soul energy" or something.

Yeah, I was going to say, "look at Elden Ring for this." But really, Christopher Lambert knows it better:

Finally, I want the setting to be contained. maybe a fantasy megalopolis? An island nation? A demiplane?

Please don't do demiplane. Few things introduce absurdity like a demiplane.

 

[Reynard]

That's pretty cool. Let the PCs choose the takedown. Death by spear. Power source shattered. Forced to wear a big, red, "F."

What I am hoping for is scenarios like the players saying, "Okay, we are going to need some serious firepoer. We research where we can find Weapons of the Ancients." And then as GM, I either have already or then make up some Weapons of the Ancients buried in tombs or whatever.

In other words, i want the players to drive the whole thing in a semi-random sandbox environment.

 

[Velderan]

Wait for the 2024 2025 Monster Manual and pick your favorite updated statblock for a high CR creature and have its lair be close enough to civilization that it has to be appeased. Gives you some options for why the PCs have had enough (took family livestock or money, maybe it killed a relative for amusement, etc) and lets you put the new rules including the new monsters to the test.

Pretty generic, but it works!

 

[Tonguez]

When I did a similar premise it was the Hierarch of a bloodthirsty cannibal cult who were expanding out conquering the other islands in the archipelago (think Majapahit Indonesia). He was served by a number of Princes (subbosses) both Humanoid and monstrous including a Lamia Queen, a Merrow Oni, and a Nightwing ()Nightshade) who were being sent out to gather artifacts that would form the key to summon their Chaos god into the world (the Hierarch becoming its Avatar).

The PCs started on an island kingdom aware of threat but still not invaded until it was learnt that they had one of the artifacts in their midst - the quest thus started to protect their kingdom, try and gather artifacts and eventually rise until they were powerful enough to defeat the Avatar of a chaos god. The Artifacts required the PCs to have the right levels of Mana (Spiritual Influence) which was represented via a modified Reputation/Leadership/Wealth score.

 

[Piperken]

First off, I need to decide what the BBEG is. What would make a good villain? An ancient dragon? A wizard-king? A demigod on Earth? What would you use for a blatant, open villain that is exceedingly powerful?

My thought... someone just like the PC's?

 

[Reynard]

My thought... someone just like the PC's?

I don't think PC classes make particularly good BBEGs. Can you articulate how that might work?

 

[aco175]

I like the idea of a gold dragon as the BBEG. Perhaps he has ruled the island kingdom for the last 500 years. In the beginning he brought peace to the waring people and united the lands to one strong nation. The kingdom prospered with trade and the rule of law.

Like most things, time has a way to add weight to the laws and more chains to the people. Trade has slowed as other nations do not agree with the tariffs and taxes. Taxes to travel and own animals burden the people. Illegal trade is up and rumors of rebellion have begun to stir.

This places more oppression from the leaders. Taxes go up to pay for dealing with the rise in underground goods.

 

[Tonguez]

I like the idea of a gold dragon as the BBEG. Perhaps he has ruled the island kingdom for the last 500 years. In the beginning he brought peace to the waring people and united the lands to one strong nation. The kingdom prospered with trade and the rule of law.

Like most things, time has a way to add weight to the laws and more chains to the people. Trade has slowed as other nations do not agree with the tariffs and taxes. Taxes to travel and own animals burden the people. Illegal trade is up and rumors of rebellion have begun to stir.

This places more oppression from the leaders. Taxes go up to pay for dealing with the rise in underground goods.

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Taxes and Tariffs dont really scream oppressive evil though and theyre hardly the stuff of epic fantasy.

especially when Gold Dragons are paragons of virtue and justice - you have to balance their strict lawfulness with their goodness, which means they have rhe same issue as Paladin antagonist - either theyre Lawful Stupid or theyre Fanatical and no longer good.

Which is fine - The Gold Dragon Emperor who despenses Law from its high mountain but leaves enforcement to its corrupt Paladine Inquisitors can indeed be the top of an evil empire, but is He truely the antagonist or is that his Vizier who does oppression and draconian tyrrany in the Emperors name?

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I had a Greatwyrm as the Emperor of a Spelljammimg Empire with a powerful fleet of ships and a number of officers who could serve as antagonists throughout the campaign. I recall it being 6 major officers and their various subordinates. The game didn’t materialize, but these were various ideas I came up with. I can go more into detail if you want