D20 Modern: The Reincarnated or DnD: The Dreaming

[Angel Tarragon]

I have been contemplating having a group of DnD characters (based in Earths past) retire at some point. Now the idea is to start up a new game with the same players but in the Modern day. So what I was thinking of was having the characters realize at some point that their modern character is the reincarnation of their respective DnD character.

I was thinking of making this a feat, but that just seems a bit broken to me. I mean why waste a feat on realizing that your soul was reincarnated? I'm not sure how to handle this.

The other thing was that when the characters come to realization that they have been reincarnated was having them be able to get some of their DnD abilities back. Now the D20 modern campaign would not in the least be like Urban Arcana, but more like what goes on today for real.

One player is currently playing a cleric of Odin, another is playing a wizard and the other is playing a paladin of Heimdall. I was thinking that there should be some sort of cost to reacquire the powers they had in their previous life. Magic does not exist as far as most people know it today. So what kind of prereqs should I set for allowing the characters to regain their spellcasting/paladin abilities?

 

[Yair]

Just remembering their past, which will be done upon reaching level 10; after that, and ONLY after that, can they start taking levelss in advanced classes with supernatural elements. Just configure the campaign to reveal the "big secret" at level 10.

I am currently working on making a campaign where everyone else is an Ordinary, and only the PCs increase in levels via XP. The XP marks their remembrance of their old selves, everyone else advances the hard way - by practice and training to SLOWLY increase skills*. Perhaps this kind of model would work for the modern part of your campaign?

*or BAB, or Will save, or so on - but only one aspect at a time, taking years to achieve high levels in it. This way an ordinary might have a very high Perform skill, say, but will have low hp, saves, other skills, BAB, feats, and so on. He is just an ordinary man with great skill in playing the guitar.
The PCs, however, are special: reincarnations of heroes from the age of myth, living vessels of divine power, enlightened persons on a part to transcendence, gods incarnated in human form awakening from their long slumber, princes of Amber slowly regaining their memories... you get the idea.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Interesting thoughts Yair. Definetly worth thinking about. 10th level seems a little high though, so I'm gonna go with 8th. I like the idea of putting a level behind the requirement for gaining supernatural abilities.

Also it would be kind of neat to give them prophetic dreams where they see themselves dressed differently (like back before they were reincarnated) beginning at about 5th level.

Also if I am going to do this it might make sense for them to have the BBEG from the DnD game be reincarnated as well. Have him some sort of figure of authority. I'm thinking alonfg the lines of Superman with this. Have the BBEG be like Lex Luthor in that he is megarich, owns one lage company with many subsidiaries and has a lot of pull in the cities goings on.

It'll be fun to see the campaign develop.

 

[Von Ether]

Just remembering their past, which will be done upon reaching level 10; after that, and ONLY after that, can they start taking levelss in advanced classes with supernatural elements. Just configure the campaign to reveal the "big secret" at level 10.

I am currently working on making a campaign where everyone else is an Ordinary, and only the PCs increase in levels via XP. The XP marks their remembrance of their old selves, everyone else advances the hard way - by practice and training to SLOWLY increase skills*. Perhaps this kind of model would work for the modern part of your campaign?

*or BAB, or Will save, or so on - but only one aspect at a time, taking years to achieve high levels in it. This way an ordinary might have a very high Perform skill, say, but will have low hp, saves, other skills, BAB, feats, and so on. He is just an ordinary man with great skill in playing the guitar.
The PCs, however, are special: reincarnations of heroes from the age of myth, living vessels of divine power, enlightened persons on a part to transcendence, gods incarnated in human form awakening from their long slumber, princes of Amber slowly regaining their memories... you get the idea.

This is a solid mechanic I think more GMs should use often. Just as d20 M hit the scene there where quite a few "Dark Angel" threads, with GM trying to come up with templates and races for the home brews. I simply said, "uh. Make the NPCs ordinaries or just cap their growth."

I am contenplating a SF game soon where all the PC will be teenagers who discover they were genetic experiments. Thier level progresssion will reflect in part their growing up and evolutions.

 

[Turanil]

One player is currently playing a cleric of Odin, another is playing a wizard and the other is playing a paladin of Heimdall.

That could be that (as already suggested) the characters can pick-up levels in appropriate FX classes, where it otherwise impossible. I mean: mage for the ex-wizard, acolyte for the ex-cleric, and shadow-slayer for paladin. I wouldn't restrict that to 10th level minimum however.

Now i think there should be more to make this really interesting that just allow similar classes to what they had in their former lives. I would add something more to the modern game. I would add plot devices that can be better resolved in remembering some of their adventures as these Norse DnD characters. Furthermore, I would eventually reveal something that make sense they have come back: the Ragnarok. The three of them are reincarnated from Vikings (well, what about the wizard?) , so this makes sense. They have come back to fight the GREAT FIGHT. Are you going to play this during World-War II? (I mean, the one where German had the nuclear weapons and real dark supernatural powers. However, they were stopped by three heroes reincarnated from a distant past..., so in the end the German lost.) Just my two cents suggestion of course.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

The wizard is a Half-Atlantean (from Twilight of Atlantis) actually that isnt fully aware the he is half-atlantean. The wizard is eligible at the next level to enter in the Orphean prestige class, and I know he will because he has expressed interest in it. At that point (right before entering the PrC) the character is going to have a dream [while dead] where his Atlantean father reveals to him who and what he is. He will then wake up in Atlantis (which is now an extra-dimensional realm) and have his first level in the PrC. At that point, one of the Atlanteans uses Doorway to Elsewhere and the character will return to Greece.

And the D20 modern game will start [not in reality but game time] on May 13, 2005. Friday the 13th.

 

[Turanil]

The wizard is eligible at the next level to enter in the Orphean prestige class.

He is 14th level tho?

I bought this supplement long ago, and was disappointed with it. I had even forgot I still have it!

 

[arnon]

I don't quite understand why you need special rules to do what you want.

It's your campaign. You want your PCs to be Reincarnated Heros, so let them. Give them bonuss to skills or feats, or whatever, every few level (or even every level) that reflects their past-selves... give them special abilities that make them unique amongst the rabble.

just my opinion of-course,

arnon

 

[Angel Tarragon]

He is 14th level tho?

No, he is 10th. Whic is all he has to meet for the prereq besides dying in battle, having his body being preserved then being returned to Atlantis.

 

[Fate Lawson]

Why does the BBEG from the current game have to be reincarnated to show up later in the Modern game? Maybe he is just really, really ancient. And he remembers his setback. Oh does he remember. And every few generations since their first encounter, he has been making sure the reincarnated heroes have met with "accidents" (particulalry gruesome and bloody accidents) before they could grow-up and finish him off.