So how stupid is this campaign idea?

[Warehouse23]

I'd only run this as a one-shot adventure, trimming off a lot of the fluff. Then, at the end, when the players are transported back to their own time/plane/dimension, they wake up. "Thank god!" they shout. "It was all just a dream!" .... or was it?

 

[F5]

It would make a fun one-shot con game, but I can't see playing it out as a long term campaign.

 

[Breakdaddy]

Mildly idiotic as is, but could be very cool if the cheesy railroading DM was taken out of the equation (how many games have suffered this particular fate?). Either way, at best it would make a mini campaign, imo.

 

[der_kluge]

I've heard of worse ideas, I can assure you. If this was played in the spirit in which it is intended, it could be fun.

I don't see it having a lot of long-term potential, though.

My other idea is to not model the characters after the show so much. Let them make their own characters, and then tailor the classes to fit their new personalities. Don't typecast them, otherwise they'll end up role-playing Bobby, Sheila, Presto, Eric, and the rest.

 

[Henry]

I have a gamer in our group who would go for this hook, line and sinker, and use the opportunity to tell DM what an idiot he was, and to kick Venger's butt with explosives and traps, and not hesitate to kill him.

He'd then try to find a way to get out, and sell the rights to enter a fantasy world for real, and make himself a fortune out of that darned amusement park.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

The book The Dragon and the George by Gordon R. Dickson has a similar plot (but only a couple of people get transported). It was filmed as an animated cartoon called Flight of the Dragons with John Ritter as the main character, but I don't think the cartoon is much like the book (different target audience, I guess).

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

It's so stupid... It .. just... might... work.

I agree that of you are using the "specific characters" from the show then it would be a better 1-shot.

On the other hand, if players "play themselves" in that situation then it could be interesting.

 

[the Jester]

Way too much of a railroad for my taste as written...

 

[Hammerhead]

I think it's stupid. If one of the people in my gaming group did this, we'd taunt him incessantly until he cried. Or beat him to death with nerf bats.

However, I like the idea about ordinary modern day people transported to some fantasy land. It's a classic theme in fantasy books, and could make for a very fun campaign. I think the Second World Sourcebook has some great ideas for this as well.

 

[reveal]

I think it's stupid. If one of the people in my gaming group did this, we'd taunt him incessantly until he cried. Or beat him to death with nerf bats.

However, I like the idea about ordinary modern day people transported to some fantasy land. It's a classic theme in fantasy books, and could make for a very fun campaign. I think the Second World Sourcebook has some great ideas for this as well.

I play tested Odyssey Prime for Eden Studios. Basically a rip-off of Stargate. All the players were d20 Modern folk and one world they went to was fantasy-based. It was a lot of fun.