D&D 5E Optimizing for more grit…

[Warpiglet-7]

The more I think about it, the less thrilled I am with cantrips for this type of adventure. I am thinking only 1st level and above can ct through the dark magic in the tomb to escape entropy…and actually have a cohesive effect.

If I do this I would be telling people up front so they don’t double down on cantrip builds

 

[Dr_Sly]

So up front: I cut my teeth on 1e. Loved it. Liked and played 3e for a while: at home now with 5e…

I just got (and love!!!) barrowmaze for 5e.

I would like to increase the grit in my 5e game for a this old school dungeon. Suggestions welcome save one: I am not running a retroclone nor switching systems at this time. Might get into dragonslayer one day?

What can I do to make this as old school/harrowing as possible? Use optional rules for healing and spell recovery was one thought…

Suggestions about this or other things welcome…

Play Symbaroum -> get more grit!

 

[Shiroiken]

The more I think about it, the less thrilled I am with cantrips for this type of adventure. I am thinking only 1st level and above can ct through the dark magic in the tomb to escape entropy…and actually have a cohesive effect.

If I do this I would be telling people up front so they don’t double down on cantrip builds

For a grittier game, I'm all in on limiting cantrips. Either limit them per day, or require a check each time you use them, with a failed check removing it as an option until after a long rest.

 

[Skyscraper]

I have a single houserule in my game: no magic exists to bring creatures back from the dead. This means that revivify, raise dead, resurrection don't exist.

Then, whatever houserule you use if any, it's a question of balancing your encounters. If you move your dial towards more difficult, well it will be... More difficult If your encounters come without the possibility of resting, then it further increases difficulty. Managing encounters is story-related, so this usually takes some upstream work. With no coming back from the dead, the rules makes for more tension = grit.

Removing cantrips (and some other suggestions in this thread) have significant impact on character building. For instance playing a warlock without cantrips makes no sense, so you're essentially ruling out a class. Non-magic using classes all become relatively stronger. I would avoid this kind of game-imbalancing change. As a player, I would not appreciate that kind of class modification, and if I wanted to play in that game, I would undoubtedly select a non-caster class so as not to have to live with the nerf. I mean, fighters, barbarians, rogues, they kick ass, getting the wind out of spellcasters by removing their go-to basic attacks is not a trivial modification.

Whatever houserule your wish to implement to crank up the grit, I recommend discussing it with your players and getting consensus on the houserules beforehand. It will reduce frustration a lot on the players' side. For instance all my players buyed in on the no coming back from the dead rule. We discussed it, what is means, why I was proposing it. I asked them if they agreed to that rule or not, and if they did not I would simply not implement it. They bought it and we're playing with it.

 

[Shadowdweller00]

I've never actually used such a thing before in D&D, but I keep wanting to introduce a few status effects that represent wounds and injuries beyond straight hp loss. Debilitating stuff like sprains, broken bones, longer-lasting physical damage, or just large amounts of pain. Things one can impose when one takes massive strikes, or falls off a cliff - that a person realistically shouldn't be just getting up from.

Might be one way to go for a more gritty game.

 

[Guest 7037866]

Carried Equipment (50/100/150 – 140.5 lbs.)
Worn/Carried (29 lb): Studded Leather Armor (10 lb), Component Pouch (2 lb), Fine Clothes (6 lb), Light Crossbow (5 lb), Crossbow Case (1 lb), Backpack (5 lb)
Belt & Baldric (7 lb): 3x Dagger (1 lb), 4x pouch (1 lb)
Crossbow Bolt Case (1.5 lb): 20 bolts
Backpack (30 /30 lb) Bedroll (7 lb), Book of Lore (5 lb), Fine Clothes (6 lb), Mess Kit (1 lb), 2x Slung Sack (0.5 lb), 5x Rations (2 lb)
Sack 1 (30/30 lb): 15x Rations (2 lb)
Sack 2 (30/30 lb): 15x Rations (2 lb)
Pouch 1 - Silk (6/6 lb): coins (4 lb), Acid Vial (1 lb) , Alchemist Fire (1 lb)
Pouch 2 - Leather (1/6 lb): Pipe, 4x lb Pipeweed, 10x Requiem Clay, 3x Requiem Bliss, 1 lb Opium
Pouch 3 - Cloth (0/6 lb): Ink vial, Ink Pen, Blotting Sand Bag, Small Knife, 10x Chalk (various color), 10x parchment, 3x signet rings, 5x sealing wax
Pouch 4 - Cloth (6/6 lb): Holy Water (1 lb), 5x Potion of Healing (1 lb)

You seem to be missing something pretty vital... waterskins (or wine if you prefer...). I'd repalce sack #2 with waterskins instead.

Otherwise, love it. Great organization and detail!

 

[Shiroiken]

You seem to be missing something pretty vital... waterskins (or wine if you prefer...). I'd repalce sack #2 with waterskins instead.

Otherwise, love it. Great organization and detail!

It was an old character, so I don't remember the details, but you're totally right

 

[Guest 7037866]

It was an old character, so I don't remember the details, but you're totally right

LOL it happens. But for all I knew, you might have had a party member with water via spells or an item so didn't "need" to carry any yourself...

Eitherway, as I said, love the detail and organization of it.

 

[Bill Zebub]

New idea:

Darkvision is an ability you toggle on/off. If you have it on and a bright light comes on in your field of vision, you have Disadvantage on checks that depend on vision for 1d4 rounds. (Works both ways, so makes for a useful monster ambushing tactic.)

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I've never actually used such a thing before in D&D, but I keep wanting to introduce a few status effects that represent wounds and injuries beyond straight hp loss. Debilitating stuff like sprains, broken bones, longer-lasting physical damage, or just large amounts of pain. Things one can impose when one takes massive strikes, or falls off a cliff - that a person realistically shouldn't be just getting up from.

Might be one way to go for a more gritty game.

In 5E, those would probably all be represented by disadvantage on various types of rolls, I think, and would be fixed by various spells already in the clerical toolkit (and in some cases, time). Go for it!