Sources of Inspiration for Higher Level Gaming

[Phoenix_Knightwind]

With all of the conversation about leveks of play going on I thought this might be an appropriate extension of the topic. I have seen over and over again that while there are certainly powerful characters in literature, there are few or no examples of high-level or epic adventure perpetrated by these "epic" characters. I agree that much of our source material is about mostly average characters in extraordinary situations, there are a few books and movies (not to mention comics) out there with plenty of material to draw from for ideas for high-level, but not world shattering adventure.

My favorite examples are below. Does anyone else have some to share?

The Return of the Archmages trilogy from WoTC
The Legacy of the Drow series
Any Waylander book by David Gemmell
Rhapsody by Elizabeth Hayden
Any Planescape book
The Epic Level handbook
Dragon Lance Legends
Knight of The Black Rose
The Oathbound Setting
Conan

For inspiration from other genres where extraordinary, or larger-than-life characters wade through impossible situations, check out Silverado, True Grit, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen book and movie, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Princes Mononoki, Hard Boiled, Spirited Away and just about any Wuxia movie (try Iron Monkey, Twin Warriors and Crouching Tiger; Hidden Dragon to start)

 

[Olive]

See sep's story hour. High level and fun!

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Wizardru's story hour is Great! Check it out. The heros have only just gone epic and were getting used to being "world remouned"

 

[ruleslawyer]

Superhero comics.

To be honest, there is no comparison in heroic fantasy literature to REALLY high-level play using the core rules, simply because of the ability that high-level characters have to do practically... well, anything. Conan is really, really tough; maybe even tough enough to imitate the combat options available to, say, a 14th-level fighter/barbarian/rogue. But, with no magic items and no buff capability, he's not really the equal of a D&D fighter, who can have magically-enhanced superstrength, enough hit points to wade through a legion of lesser foes, flying, elemental resistances, and a vast slew of abilities. A better comparison might be:

The Justice League of America: Batman can use his skills (epic Hide and Move Silently checks, anyone?) and custom equipment (magic items) to avoid super-hearing (JLA #1, Morrison run), Martian super-senses (#2-3, same) and cower crazy alien criminals into submission. The team can teleport to practically any known location, discern faraway problems using the technology of the Watchtower and certain members' super-senses ("divination spells") and can travel to far realms of existence and battle previously-unknown alien threats. The teams's allies include legions of ocean wildlife, super-powered Amazon warriors, lesser magicians, and other useful cohorts. Sound like a D&D party to you?

There are certainly fantasy literary parallels that could only suggest high-level gaming, but they involve some serious restrictions on the range of magical options available to the characters therein. For example, Elric of Melnibone certainly fits the description of a high- or epic-level D&D character: Artifact-level god-slaying sword, near-invulnerable armor, planar travel abilities, the power to summon incredibly powerful fiends and animal spirits, and a vast range of minor magical talents. But, he lacks quite the same range of powers. That's the trick, really, and why you need to twist your gaming style a few degrees from the fantasy mold in order to adequately anticipate design challenges.

 

[Jolly Giant]

Other sources:

The Highlander movies (surely those guys must have gained plenty of experience over the centuries? )

Super-hero comics (preferably with heroes that don't have any super-powers, but get by on their skills and natural abilities. Batman's gotta be Epic by now...)

The classic sagas (The Odessy, Beowulf, King Arthur...)

Mythology (Both the Greek and Norse mythologies are full of "epic adventures")


Will post again if any more spring to mind...


EDIT: Dang, you beat me to it with those superheroes Ruleslawyer!

 

[Nightfall]

For High level play, watch DBZ.

 

[Mystaros]

Wow... no mention yet of Tolkien's Silmarillion?

The Silmarillion includes all sorts of inspiration for high level and Epic level adventures. It has the discovery of new lands, founding of realms, massive battles, epic quests against the dark gods, amazing one on one battles between elves and balrogs and even elves against a god! And of course it is all fantasy, in fact, the core of that from which nearly all other modern fantasy is derived. Must read for those designing an epic level campaign...

 

[Katerek]

Wow... no mention yet of Tolkien's Silmarillion?

The Silmarillion includes all sorts of inspiration for high level and Epic level adventures. It has the discovery of new lands, founding of realms, massive battles, epic quests against the dark gods, amazing one on one battles between elves and balrogs and even elves against a god! And of course it is all fantasy, in fact, the core of that from which nearly all other modern fantasy is derived. Must read for those designing an epic level campaign...

I think that the Silmarillion, like the Oddysey, is one of those books that alot of people want to have read, but do not want to actually sit down and read.

But yeah, the Silmarillion all the way.

 

[ruleslawyer]

Wow... no mention yet of Tolkien's Silmarillion?

The Silmarillion includes all sorts of inspiration for high level and Epic level adventures. It has the discovery of new lands, founding of realms, massive battles, epic quests against the dark gods, amazing one on one battles between elves and balrogs and even elves against a god! And of course it is all fantasy, in fact, the core of that from which nearly all other modern fantasy is derived. Must read for those designing an epic level campaign...

Same problem that I mentioned earlier, though. Even First Age characters cannot raise the dead, travel vast distances in the blink of an eye, or blast armies to dust with a wave of their fingers. It's an issue of options. Tolkien's background material (not just The Silmarillion, but also "Morgoth's Ring," "The Istari," and "The Fall of Gondolin") are great for "epic" flavor, but do not prepare a DM for the true challenges of epic-level gaming (which, Nightfall's smiley aside, resembles DBZ more than Tolkien in most respects!).

 

[Hjorimir]

What Olive said.