Redhurst Academy of Magic

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

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.

The Redhurst spy works for a while, no? A (presumably) faculty member or assistant faculty member who's an adult and a practicing wizard can hopefully outdo some young apprentices when they try and drag in the authorities, especially if he has a chance to plan in advance.

Likewise, if you have the world Redhurst is in at war, that would constrain where and when the school could move. Strand the students in a hot zone that's (at least for the moment) hostile to Redhurst and there's a plausible reason not to go pick them back up.

And JK Rowling also shows us that not having the adults believe there's a problem works for hundreds of pages each school year.

 

[trancejeremy]

And JK Rowling also shows us that not having the adults believe there's a problem works for hundreds of pages each school year.

Not just her, pretty much every mystery show with a kid detective works like that. (Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys, for instance).

 

[Silver Moon]

Well, one thing that I plan to do is modify the source material to fit in my existing campaign world. I had previously established a Ravensgate School (posts #26 & 27 of the following thread):
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=31874
set in the city of Ravensgate (posts #23 to #25 of the same thread). Since it is not publically known on this world that Ravensgate is a magic academy I'll have it that they are more secretive, but given the inter-dimensional teleportation of the school they will be known by the Redhurst name on other worlds (the 3E setting locations detailed in the book).

For a 2-3 hour once-a-week gaming session I don't anticipate having any problem keeping the kids involved and active. As to why the kids are solving the problems instead of the teachers, my guess is they will want to show their independence and/or accept that it is part of their ongoing training. A few "You never know what or when you will be tested" comments should help to reinforce that.

 

[Psion]

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.

Didn't say you couldn't. Just wondered if you had considered using any tools to address the issue.

 

[Silver Moon]

I don't currently own either D20 Grimm or D20 Modern, but if you have a link to any of the information I'll be happy to read it over.

 

[Stormborn]

The d20 Modern SRD is easily accesible over at the WotC site. The d20 version of Grimm is from Fantasy Flight Games and is discussed here: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/hr02.html

and reviews by the usual suspects are available here :
http://www.enworld.org/reviews.php?do=product&productid=119198


Its not exactly what you are looking, but for 14.95 it might be worth you taking a look at to do the whole "kids as characters" idea. There is also a nond20 version that look interesting, but I doubt its really what you need.

 

[Silver Moon]

Thanks for the links, I'll take a look.

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.)

All excellent suggestions Whizbang, which I will certainly use. Thank you.

Further suggestions are welcomed!