D&D 4E Harry Potter 4E

[d2OKC]

So, one of my gf's best friends wants to play D&D pretty badly. She doesn't live near us, but is visiting for a few days in June, and has requested to play with us while she is here. That's cool. I told her I'd figure something out.

My gf has never played D&D, and even though she encourages me to (because she knows how much I enjoy playing with my friends), she has never really had much interest. She is a big Harry Potter fan, though, so I suggested if she played when her friend came into town, we could do it in the Harry Potter world, and this seemed to get her kind of excited!

So, those are good things. Now, I need to figure out some of the details.

I'll have five players. My gf and her friend - neither of them have ever played, but her friend has the core rulebooks (which she bought cheaply) and has listened to some of the Penny Arcade podcasts, so she kind of understands the rules. My gf has no knowledge of the game, except for what she's picked up from me. Basically, two newcomers.

Then I have three others who have offered to play, and they all have varying degrees of experience. Two of my regular group, plus the wife of one of those guys (who has played three or four times - enough to understand how to play without someone helping her).

The game itself will be about a group of aurors on their first job after graduating from Hogwarts. I'm going to pre-make a set of characters, and they'll just choose which one they want to play before we begin. I have pretty much decided to just make one of each of the arcane classes. Tentatively, here is the party I've constructed:

Level 2 human wizard
Level 2 human sorcerer
Level 2 half-veela (eladrin) bard
Level 2 half-giant (goliath) swordmage
Level 2 human warlock

I've also deicded to give each character an extra daily power: Expecto Patronum! Here is the write up of the power for you to PEACH for me:

Expecto Patronum * Arcane Attack 1
In a moment of dire need, you conjure the happiest memory you can think of and a beam of silvery light bursts from your wand, forming into the shape of an animal, to protect you from danger.
Daily * Arcane, radiant, implement, summoning
Standard Action Close blast 3
Target: One enemy in blast
Attack: Primary Ability vs. Will
Hit: The target is dazed and weakened (save ends)
Effect: The patronus is summoned to a square inside the blast and adjacent to the targeted enemy. As a minor action, the power Patronus Strike can be used.

Patronus Strike * Special Attack 1
Your guardian patronus lashes out against your enemy.
At-will * Arcane, radiant
Minor Action Melee 1
Target: One enemy adjacent to the patronus
Special: The power Expecto Patronum must have been used and a patronus must be summoned to use this power.
Attack: Primary Ability vs. Fort
Hit: 1d6 radiant damage and the target takes a -2 to its next saving throw

I think it's fairly accurate to the source material (i.e. it does what a patronus is supposed to do) without being overpowered. If anything, it might be a bit underpowered, but since each character will be getting it, I'm not too worried about balance. Also, it's most likely just a one night affair anyway, so balance is really not an issue for me, as long as everyone is having fun.

I'm also considering giving each of them special wands, based on the wood they are made from and whatever magical thing is in the core. I'm not sure how that will work yet, mechanically. Ideas?

Also, storywise, my original idea was to have it set during the Wizarding War, where they are aurors, and maybe end up hooking up with the original Order of the Phoenix to fight Voldemort's forces? Or would it be more interesting to have it after the books' storyline and they are working in a post-Harry Potter world? I'm not sure.

I've considered having it take place near Nottingham and use some of the Robin Hood stuff as the backdrop for the adventure, but I'm not exactly sure what the hook would be either. There weren't any real high profiled witches or wizards in the Robin Hood stories, but it would be a bit of folklore that they would all be familiar enough with that ti would be interesting.

This is where I am. I have a few weeks to plan, but I thought I'd see if you all had any ideas as well. Thanks!

TL;DR what are cool ways you can play in the Harry Potter world with the 4E ruleset?

 

[Nichwee]

I would set it after the books (so any knowledge from the books is valid but not up to date) and have them maybe trying to track some of the last DeathEaters that escaped after the Battle Of Hogwarts. They can be getting rumours of activity in Sherwood Forest and local muggles are atesting it to the ghosts of the RobinHood era.
This post-Harry era also explains why a HalfGiant is allowed in the Aurors when PotterWorld was mostly anti-giant. (Ditto the HalfVeela, but less so as humans are unfairly inclined to accept good-looking oddness over "freaky" oddness).

Remember the players are the good guys and as such power selection should be mostly about containment more than damage (though Aurors can be going for "Kid gloves are off until they are down."), and remind the players that all powers can be used for "knockout" not kill, by RAW.

Remember to put a Potter flavour on things that get done to maintain the feel.
Retrained = Incarerous.
Dominate = Imperious.
Dazed = Confundus.
Petrified = Petrificus Totalus (except when a basilisk does it).
Granted Saves vs conditions = Finite Incantartum.
Majestic Word = Cheering Charms (for replenishing non-bloodied exhaustion HP damage), Quick bone repairs , Etc.
Granted Defences/To Hit = Luck charms, Protego, Etc.
Alchemy = Potions
Nature Skill = Herbology Checks
Monster Knowledge Checks = Remebering DADA/Care of Magical Creatures as appropriate (DADA for evil/sentient things CoMC for Unaligned/beast things)
......

################################################################################################

For wands I would look at doing them by specialty and give them an power, and a propety of cool. For example:

Charms Wand (Springy, Unicorn Hair iirc)
Power: Has a Wizard (or other suitable arcane) Utility in it.
Property: All Utilities can be regained on a D20 roll made after expending them (10+ for an Enc, 15+ for a Daily)

Tranfigurations Wand (Rigid, Dragon Heartstring)
Power: A Conjuration/Summoning power.
Property: Summons/Conjurations are better (creature things have +1 to Hit and 10THP, walls = +1 length, etc)

DADA Wand (Pheonix Feather)
Power: Staff Of Defence/Shield or similar
Property: +1 to all defences vs arcane attacks when bloodied

Healing Magic Wand (No clue)
Power: A Heal Skill Utility
Propety: The Heal Skill may be used as a move action at upto Range 5.

Combat Wand (Flexible)
Power: A cool single target attack power
Property: Impose a -2 to save from effects caused by this wand, and -1 to hit UEONT if no save was imposed by a power that hit used through tthis wand.

BadGuys Wand (No Clue, Dragon Heartstring would be my guess)
Power: Something that can be harsh if it works, maybe a dominate power (Imperious)
Property: Bonus damage or some such on attacks.

##################################################################################################

Remember to throw in items like Broom Of Flying [MME] (maybe grades of it for Cleansweeps to Firebolts so it doesn't have to be a Lvl 15 item) and Cloak Of Invis (not an uber version like Harry had tho).

Probably a good plan to give out some potions that fix minor issues/give minor bonuses as basic "Auror Gear". Potions are common in PotterWorld.

##################################################################################################

For Half-Veela you may want to use the Hamadryad race from HotFeywild (It gets a beauty-based racial power; if you restrict them to only the Spellbinding Beauty half of it. And can choose bonus Cha.).

May also be worth looking at any Racial utilities you can give the HalfGiant and HalfVeela to play up their origins a bit. Ditto racial feats that play nicely.

##################################################################################################

Give DeathEater mobs, or badass ones at least, a Recharge power (on a 6) Avada Kadavra (make exact stats level appropriate):
Attack - 2 vs Reflex (AK takes a lot of umph to do well so it gets a loss of accuracy, in 4ed terms, imo)
Hit: Mid-High Damage
Special: If this attack reduces you to less than zero HP you die.
------------------------ This is risky but it gives you a chance to live up to the hype of AK without being too risky (as players can heal quite well), and you know the players will get the idea when you say "And he thrust his wand at you and shouts 'Avada Kadavra' as he ....". Works best if a mob starts with this (when it has no chance to kill) and identifies that mob as a BigBad of the event ------------------------
If you remind peeps that HP in 4thEd are not always damage this can cover the idea AK isn't always insta-death, only when all your ability to roll out the way, and your luck, has run out. Remember to describe it as such when it "hits" the Ref Defense. So an hit that won't reduce to 0Hp is described as "You just duck out of the way; but it takes a lot out of you, you aren't sure you could do that again, but you also know that if that spell had actually struck you it would all be over." Then a heal could be a shot of adrenaline, or a cheering charm or actual magic healing.

###################################################################################################

Don't forget to include recognisable monsters from the books :
Acromantulas (The MM has lots of giant spiders)
Giants
Basilisks
Dementors (Wraiths or some such undead should do)
Dragons (not many)
Pixies/Moxies (any Fey small humanoid should do)
Inferi (Zombies)
Werewolves (may want to include these in human mode as well as werewolf mode - or mention they have heard of Remus, as well as Greyback - to impose moral issues)

###################################################################################################

Ok that is all I can think of for now (will probably add more as I think of it)

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

For the wands, you could just treat the different materials like the superior implement versions - it's simple and there is already lots of support for it in the rules and character builder. You could even give each of them a free feat to take the proficiency in "their" wand. You can use reflavouring to make the different types of implements (daggers, orbs, rods, staves, etc) still be wands for your purposes.

Sounds cool, and I like the Patronus charm. Cool stuff.

 

[Arlough]

Expecto Patronum * Arcane Attack 1
In a moment of dire need, you conjure the happiest memory you can think of and a beam of silvery light bursts from your wand, forming into the shape of an animal, to protect you from danger.
Daily * Arcane, radiant, implement, summoning
Standard Action Close blast 3
Target: One enemy in blast
Attack: Primary Ability vs. Will
Hit: The target is dazed and weakened (save ends)
Effect: The patronus is summoned to a square inside the blast and adjacent to the targeted enemy. As a minor action, the power Patronus Strike can be used.

Patronus Strike * Special Attack 1
Your guardian patronus lashes out against your enemy.
At-will * Arcane, radiant
Minor Action Melee 1
Target: One enemy adjacent to the patronus
Special: The power Expecto Patronum must have been used and a patronus must be summoned to use this power.
Attack: Primary Ability vs. Fort
Hit: 1d6 radiant damage and the target takes a -2 to its next saving throw

Well constructed, but I would make it a conjuration and have it state that provides cover (which would be consistent with the books.)

 

[Mengu]

Love what's been suggested so far. Also I would encourage the players to come up with the wizard world lingo for their powers, or help them if they need it.

Sword burst might be - accloco gladius (combining accio for summon and loco for animate)
Aegis of Shielding - aegis scutus

If you run into flavor issues with the swordmage, on paper build him with a sword, but just say all his attacks, even weapon attacks including melee basic, are delivered with the flick of a wand.

I'd be tempted to give everyone some free wizard cantrips, like repairo, lumos, and prestidigitation for various daily activities from sweeping floors with an animated broom, to dishes that wash themselves.

Also I think I would allow everyone to apparate, but would require a hard DC arcana check if they try it in combat, and failure means they get splinched. So they would not be likely to try it in combat, though some powers like Fey Step, and Ethereal Stride will provide good risk free ways to apparate a short distance. Out of combat, there would be no risk, unless the target location is warded in some way.

Be sure to include a few magic items in the game from magic brooms, to extendable ears, not to mention potions.

Random thought... If someone wanted to play an animagus, simply applying Pack Outcast theme, and reflavoring animal as needed, would suffice.

When in doubt, if it's possible in the Potter universe, make it possible in your game. Most of it can just be boiled down to an arcana check. Just play around with risks and consequences. Some stuff like obliviate, is seriously potent. Tell the PC's there is a chance they could turn the target's brain into mush if they fail (set a hard DC).

 

[Breaks]

I feel like artificers fit more easily than warlocks. pacts would almost definitely be frowned upon, but potions and magical constructs are awesome.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Yesterday, 09:46 PM #3 (permalink)
Albert07
has no status.

Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 4
Novice (Lvl 1)

Reported.

 

[Nichwee]

Also I think I would allow everyone to apparate, but would require a hard DC arcana check if they try it in combat, and failure means they get splinched. So they would not be likely to try it in combat, though some powers like Fey Step, and Ethereal Stride will provide good risk free ways to apparate a short distance. Out of combat, there would be no risk, unless the target location is warded in some way.

Love this idea, but I would change it somewhat (though both versions will basically keep peeps from using it in combat 90% of the time).
Apperating is a Move Action requiring a Medium DC Arcana check at all times (They should all have Arcana trained).
Fail = Splinch = Dazed + 1d6/tier damage (Stunned instead of Dazed and +5 damage if they fail the Easy DC) = This is no biggie out of combat.
Apperating provokes OA, if the OA hits you may cancel the Apperate or take a penalty equal to the damage done (minimum 10).
In combat you take a -2 penalty to the check per square you intend to travel and -2 per enemy within 2 squares of your departure square (distractions and getting a clear image of your destination during the hectic fight is harder to do).
You can negate all/most penalties to the Apperate if you use a StdAction instead of a Move Action (So it is still a good "I must" option).
This way Apperating in combat is still viable(ish) for highly skilled types, or the desperate.

############################################

May also be worth looking at some of the Arcana Skill Utilities and making them doable by all on a Hard DC of the utility's level* (or some such) with penalties for the action used (None if it uses a StdAction, -X for Moves, -2X for Minors, -5X for II/IR say, as the easier it fits into a turn the faster it is cast so the harder it is to do)
Could give bonuses to the roll for wand types appropriatte to the style of Utility you feel each is.

*Could also just give each player one or two of these for free to indicate their speciality of magic

############################################

I agree with Mengu that each player should get a few free wizard cantrips. Light and Prestidigitation should cover it, as Prest gives you almost all the "it realy doesn't matter but looks cool" stuff and Lumos is universally taught. Maybe add Mage Hand that only works to move stuff to you (Accio).

############################################

You might want to invent the "Expelliarmus" power but I'm not sure disarming can every really work properly in 4thEd (plus, only Harry ever seemed to use this as a combat option - and out of combat Mage Hand [Accio Wand] will do).

############################################

Might want to hand out a few rituals/martial practises each for free, just to allow for the more complex effects that work out-of-combat, but if you build the adventure to be largely one-off with a solid train of action this should be less needed without it breaking flow or feel.

 

[Neonchameleon]

The first thing I'd do is a serious reskin for combat spells.

Stupify -> Phantom Army or Vicious Mockery.
Protego -> Second Wind and [Inspiring/Majestic/Whatever] Word
Tarantallegra -> Blunder

And so on. Also many spells only actually hit when the target is out of HP.

 

[d2OKC]

Wow, guys. Thanks for all the responses. I'm not going to address every single one, because there are a lot of good ones, but I'll ask a few questions here.

For starters, keep in mind this is being run for two people who have never played before, so for some of it, I'm just trying to keep it simple.

1) Love the apparition idea. I'll definitely use that. Too keep it nice and simple, it will just be a hard Arcana check in combat and provoke OA, but risk free outside of combat, because any good auror should be able to do it by now.

2) I was also considering the cantrips thing already. I'll probably do it, because it's fun. That's really what I'm going for, is fun.

3) Also love the idea of Artificer instead of warlock. For some reason I completely forgot about Artificer! That will be changed. Thanks for that suggestion.

4) Should the patronus provide cover, or should it do more? Block line of effect perhaps?

Here are a few of the things I'm thinking about, adventure-wise:

I've changed the location from Notthingham to Stratford-Upon-Avon. Instead of Robin Hood, I want to kind of have a Shakespeare theme running through it, and the final encounter with the Death Eaters will take place in the theater (I can use the Paizo flip-mat for this!). Kind of a Harry Potter version of Shakespeare in Love.

The idea is there have been reports of strange lights above the town, and though the locals thing they're just getting a rare appearance of the aurora borealis, they are actually Death Eaters communicating with each other. The town has been completely run over by the Death Eaters, though they are being careful to avoid muggle casualties to keep themselves hidden a little bit.

The aurors are sent to investigate. They reckon there are three Death Eaters hiding out there, and they may have more help in the form of inferi and even possibly a Dementor.

Before they arrive, the Death Eaters have an argument and one ends up dead from avada kadavra. He is remade into an inferius and the other two flee to the theater. The first encounter the aurors have is with a group of inferi and the undead (even though that's not really a Harry Potter term) Death Eater.

They also discover a mischievious freed house elf looking to steal things from them (named, appropriately, Pip), a ghost in the local church tower bellfry (which may have inspired the ghosts in Hamlet), and then the final assault on the theater. The first fight involves more inferi and a dementor (a wraith with a rechargeable Dementor's Kiss ability?) and the second will involve the two remaining Death Eaters. Maybe even try and find a way to leave it open ended, implying something bigger to come if this group ever plays together again? But, I don't know what that would be. I don't really have any plans beyond this single session.

Like I said above, I'll switch from a warlock to an artificer.

For the swordmage, I'm thinking that the character maybe didn't even go to Hogwarts? As a half-giant, maybe he went to Durmstrang instead where he showed a lot of aptitude with weapons, but not as much with enchantments, and when he graduated he was snatched up by the aurors. So, he probably has a wand, but it is somehow built into the sword he carries with him?

I looked at the hamadryad, and it's ok. The issues I have with it are cosmetic, which can obviously be changed. I might stick with eladrin and just say that the men they run into are overly interested in her, especially compared to other females in the group.

What else am I missing? Thanks again for all the help!