Modern warfare in D&D: would it work?

[warlord]

I been toying with the idea of adding elements of modern warfare to D&D like Gnomish submarines,WWI style fighter planes, Zepplins, Aircraft Carriers, dropships and dwarven tanks and the like so I want to know will it work? From a rules standpoint would it unbalnce or does it just not make sense both positive and negetive feedback is accepted.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Apparatus of Kwalish!

To be honest, though, this is more of a General question - I'll move the thread.

-Hyp.

 

[Samothdm]

I been toying with the idea of adding elements of modern warfare to D&D like Gnomish submarines,WWI style fighter planes, Zepplins, Aircraft Carriers, dropships and dwarven tanks and the like so I want to know will it work? From a rules standpoint would it unbalnce or does it just not make sense both positive and negetive feedback is accepted.

This isn't going to help much, but I think it depends on your game.

I think there's a way to include this kind of stuff in a D&D-type game as long as the Craft times and construction costs do not put it in the hands of the PCs (or NPCs) until they are at the appropriate levels.

Submarine? There's a water-breathing spell, there's a freedom of movement spell... you can take elements from the existing rules to figure out how to create some of these items and translate them into the existing mechanics.

Same with fighter planes and stuff. It would be a lot of work to do it on your own, but you're really the only one who can say if it's balanced because you're the only one who knows how your campaign world works.

If all of your PCs and NPCs walk around with +5 swords at 1st level, then fine, give them access to some of this stuff and have fun.

If instead you follow the treasure guidelines in the DMG, then just give them access to the stuff very slowly, commensurate with their level.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Some random thoughts to consider. These are not truly problems, but issues you should consider ahead of time. Look before you leap.

It is very easy for "inanimate" objects to be either to wimpy or too tough. You have to consider hardness and DR carefully. A typical battlefield is filled with 1-3 HD critters that may not be able to scratch a tank. Is that good or bad? It can work either way, but you need to be prepared for the consequences.

Is a "killed" war machine totally destroyed or merely disabled to the point of no longer useful? Large objects are really begging for at least some crude hit locations.

Are the machines going to scale up? There may come a point in time that the raging half-orc barbarian can simply run up to a dwarven steel tank and disable it with a single blow. Is that okay? Are there "leveled" machines? Are you going to just throw adamantine tanks next?

"Standard" D&D involves mostly short brutal fights. Warfare has a different pace and will reward different builds. Are these machines going to make a regular appearance in combats? Are you prepared to see an archer crisp a zeppelin from 1000 feet away with arrows from a flaming bow?

Will it work? I dunno, but I would jump at the chance to play Road Warrior on airships! How can it get cooler than that?

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Why wouldn't it work?

It all depends upon the DM and his ability to run the game effectivley.

It would not be D&D anymore however IMO, but some type of d20 fantasy game (still very interesting and cool however). I would recomend using vehical rules from some d20 source to help stat out tanks and airplanes.

 

[warlord]

While a Dwarven tank would probably kill an orc barbarian before he got to it I'm using stats similar to the SWRPG for the vehicles and planes a tank would be as follows. Dwarven Steam tank: HP:60,DR:10,speed:30 ft, main gun:4d10,side gun:2d10,crew(trained) +5. A Zepplin wouldn't be so easy to ignite as with 1 flaming arrow. Maybe a wing of the golbin Black Death bomber squadren could though. Planes of course would have repeating ballista launchers instead of machine guns.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I propose that you check out DragonMech, a project that saw the fruition of completion by the people of Goodman Games and Sword Sorcery.