Campaign Design Questions - *My Players Stay Out!*

[DarrenGMiller]

I'm trying to think of gives D&D that distinct flavor. I think a big part of it is the heroism. CoC and WoD are designed to show the PC's just how naive it is to think that the world can become a better place. In those games, the best you can hope for is to forestall the destruction of all humanity for a few years. But D&D is all about preventing the end of the world altogether.

Our group used to do quite a bit of horror-gaming. But we've shied away from it in recent years. It just got too depressing.

Absolutely! I don't much like Ravenloft...I'm not sure why. But it's a pretty specific kind of horror (undead heavy), and easily avoidable.

I do want it to be heroic and not depressing. Almost like Batman is heroic. That is the best setting analogy I have come up with so far.

See swashbuckling above? You mean, the swashbuckling game that didn't go over so well? Instead of forcing the players into pre-conceived characters, I'd just give them some guidelines. For example: "All PC's must know one another very well, and be willing to trust each other with their lives. During character generation, come up with 2 or 3 very firm moral convictions that your PC is unwavering on. Write up a page on your immediately family, lovers, living situation, profession, etc." This will help bring the characters together in a solid group, and give you plenty of hooks to bring them into the campaign world.

Excellent idea!

I think so. But beware of the "one-step-forward-two-steps-back" temptation in horror games. It's always tempting to have the BBEG burn down an orphanage while the PC's are off rescuing kittens. When the PC's succeed, let them shine. Furthermore, I'd recommend having them work towards a world-changing goal over the course of the campaign. That will let them see some real progress from their actions.

I am not sure what my world changing goal would be at this point. Doesn't mean I won't have one, just haven't figured it out yet.

Think about how and when the world went all wrong. Was it a single event, like the Gates of Hell opening? Or did it take longer, like a plague? Or are they in the midst of everything going wrong? How do people view this change? Who's taken advantage of it? Who's suffering the most?

What would it take to set things right? Is this something the PC's can do in their lifetimes?

It sounds like a great basis for a campaign. I'm eager to hear some details.

Thanks! I hope to provide some more as I flesh this out. I am thinking that the world has been sliding into the current state for some time as curropt beaurocrats have gotten fat on the gold that shady characters have slid their way. They started out with the best interests of the people at heart and many political figures still have that, but it is easier and sometimes better for the people if they look the other way sometimes. If they don't, then Mr. Evil Necromancer/Mad Scientist/Vampire/Lich might take out the city instead of killing the odd vagrant a few times a month. I would like to think that the campaign is happening in the middle of the slide and the party can stop it and eventually see the scales begin to tip back towards the light. The average peasant/commoner is suffering the most. The wealthy got that way being not casting "Detect Alignment" every time some gold came their way, etc.

Thanks for the help!

DM

 

[DarrenGMiller]

I think it's a cool idea. I've had the idea of doing something very similar, set in the real world circa 1500, Early Rennaissance meets Cthulhu. There was an Elizabeth-thulhu setting that was going to come out, but it got cancelled.

Are you thinking "real world" setting, or a published or homebrew D&D world set in a late medieval time frame?

I am not going "real world" but am unsure of published or homebrew. I will probably go inspired homebrew in that it is a homebrew that is inspired by an amalgamation of other sources.

DM

 

[DarrenGMiller]

Update

I introduced the idea to a few of my players. They seemed optimistic about the concept and actually came up with a few conepts and PrC's they thought would work well. The other DM said, that he doesn't HAVE to alternate with me if I want more continuity. The group as a whole however did not like the Vitality/Wound Points or Grim & Gritty ideas. They did like Eberron-style action dice. I am not sure about that. One of them suggested making magic less common. I am up in the air about that as well.

DM

 

[BiggusGeekus]

One of them suggested making magic less common. I am up in the air about that as well.

A quick and dirty way to do this is to simply state that no one can start as a casting class (this includes ranger and bard). Every spellcaster is one level behind. Let the NPC classes Expert and Aristocrat start with a bonus feat, that will give the would-be wizards and clerics a few more options. This gives the melee and sneaky types a small edge.

You could also just simply ban evocation spells. That works too.

 

[DarrenGMiller]

I also saw the upcoming Heroes of Horror and I think that would be a great thing to use to help put this together.


DM