d2OKC
Explorer
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?
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?