Redhurst Academy of Magic

[Silver Moon]

I will be starting a new campaign next month for my seventh-grade daughter and a few of her classmates using the "Redhurst: Academy of Magic" book as the basis of the Harry Potter-esque game. I was wondering if any of you have used the book and what your experiences were with it.

 

[Kryndal Levik]

I bought Redhurst at GenCon when it was released, but have yet to play it. It seems like the perfect setting for a Harry Potter-style game (with a few modifications). Unfortunately, I've not gotten around to playing/using it yet, but plan to use it for that purpose at some time in the future. I seem to recall some discussions about using it for that purpose, but it was several years ago.

 

[Psion]

I'd be tempted to use it with Elements of Magic to give mages a bit of room to individualize mages.

 

[RangerWickett]

I recall looking at Redhurst last year, and being intrigued, but I never got the chance to really do anything with it. But yeah, a magician's school with Elements of Magic is an idea I've had kicking around my head for a while. Problem is that D&D assumes 1st level characters are competent adventurers. I actually think it'd be a nice paradigm if 1st level PCs were kinda like Harry & co., and when they graduate they end up somewhere around 6th or 7th level.

 

[Silver Moon]

I have no intention to starting them knowing any magic at all. I plan to start them as "Cadets", the equivalent of 8th grade, where they first arrive and find out about the school while all being educated to the same starting point to begin their studies (as they will come from a variety of different backgrounds, so initally be at different education levels). They won't start to learn Cantrips/0-level spells until their first full year and won't be learning 1st level spells until their third year. With all novice players I think that I should be able to hold their interest without having to rush into the other spells - of course, more powerful magic items will still be fair game to also liven things up.

 

[Psion]

I have no intention to starting them knowing any magic at all. I plan to start them as "Cadets", the equivalent of 8th grade, where they first arrive and find out about the school while all being educated to the same starting point to begin their studies (as they will come from a variety of different backgrounds, so initally be at different education levels). They won't start to learn Cantrips/0-level spells until their first full year and won't be learning 1st level spells until their third year. With all novice players I think that I should be able to hold their interest without having to rush into the other spells - of course, more powerful magic items will still be fair game to also liven things up.

So, how are you planning on managing this? Ad hoc the rules for it, or do something like d20 modern (or even, grim tales) where essentially all magic classes are advanced classes, and their first level (or more) are "mundane" classes. That would given even more room to individualize students.

 

[Stormborn]

Have you looked at the d20 Grimm? It has what are basically kid archetypical classes that might work well for nonmagic begining students.

 

[Silver Moon]

So, how are you planning on managing this? Ad hoc the rules for it.

Well, I'm pretty much planning to improvise, as the emphasis will be on role playing rather than rules. I've been gaming and DMing for a quarter-century so should be able to handle this.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

My only objection with Redhurst (other than a lack of sequels!) is that the years/levels don't line up evenly. IIRC, students graduate after five years as level three. This is good for beginning adventurers, but it makes an adventure set in the first term of second year sort of hard to judge.

Having said that, the online material, like What's In Her Name and the Spellflag-related adventure, would be great for a HP-flavored game. I'd also dust off MM2 and sneak moon rats into the setting as recurring enemies for low level characters. Mice that gained intelligence as a byproduct of all the magic around, which school officials don't believe happened, make nice nemeses with personality.

I would also settle on who the spy inside the school is and stat him out. In the interest of keeping things low-powered, I recommend making him (or her) a changeling instead of, say, a doppleganger.

I would also decide where Redhurst will be over the course of an academic year, so that you can then strand students there at some point. (A perfect move by the spy or a certain dean who isn't at all what he seems.)

 

[Meloncov]

Having run a brief homebrew Harry Potter D20 campaighn, let me warn you that running a HP-esque campaign is very difficult. You can only come up with so many reasons why the higher level teachers don't get involved in a adventure before they start gerring repetive.