Using CoC-style rules in a D&D setting

[kengar]

I know the d20 CoC book talks about using it in your 3e game, but I'm talking about using the lower hp, the Sanity rules, CoC style spells, templates instead of classes, etc. After having tried numerous "house rules" to lower magic and make combat a bit edgier, I'm thinking an alternate d20 system used in a fantasy setting might by the way to go. I love Warhammer:RPG and other "Dark Fantasy", but I play with a pretty d20-centric crowd.

Has anyone tried this? If so, how did it go? If not, any thoughts or advice?

 

[Sammael99]

Not having tried it, I can't really give you advice, but I do have thoughts

Using the CoC rules as a basis for characters is going to make your game extremely non-heroic. There's nothing wrong with that, but you have to ask yourself if it's really what you want. Most critters of CR2 and above in the MM will be lethal to even a party of higher level characters.

One of the consequences will be that your players will likely become paranoïd and shun combat and heroics.

Sanity rules are a nice addition but they would make sense only in a humano-centric world. In a world where various races roam the countryside, it doesn't make much sense to be horrified and disturbed by something a little unusual.

All in all, I'd be tempted to say that there are systems a lot better suited to non-heroic fantasy stuff than d20 CoC, but it could work and be enjoyable if it's what you and your players are looking for.

 

[Zappo]

With the insanity rules, it would be kinda weird. You'd have to either make the monsters very rare, or drastically lowering the sanity loss for most of them, or be ready for a world where the majority of the population is insane.

 

[seasong]

Personally, I like some aspects of CoC for fantasy. The psychic feats are kind of neat, and the offense/defense option + skill templates system works well (particularly if you are willing to prepare some setting-specific templates ahead of time).

The magic system is work-intensive for the GM, however... each spell is a somewhat unique 'event', and if you want the spells to fit your setting (and your setting does not already match CoC's), you're going to have to create a lot of spells ahead of time. So if you are just looking for Low Magic, I don't think this would be the way to go.

If you're just wanting edgier combat, it could work pretty well. Personally, I have everyone take HP = CONx2 + BAB. Thus, a CON 14, 1st level Fighter would have 29 hit points; and the same Fighter at 20th level would have 48 hit points.

 

[kengar]

My thought is to have a much more human-centric world; orcs, elves etc. are rare to legendary to non-existent. Your typical combat encounters would be beasts & bandits sort of thing.

Encountering something like animated skeletons would be bizarre enough to call for a Sanity check, but not enough to send an adventurer permanently 'round the bend. A normal corpse wouldn't be too bad, Sanity-wise; unless it was mutilated in some horrific way.

Spells would probably not all cause Sanity loss, but would be learned one at a time and be fairly rare. A "wizard" who could cast 5 or 6 spells would be a terrifying thing to face. I'm thinking of adapting a few 3e-style lower power spells to give the players something to work with.

Magical healing would probably be limited to alchemical potions (Cure Light Wounds) and extremely powerful divine magic like raise dead or remove disease.

Anyway, just something I was pondering, haven't really fleshed it out yet.

 

[Desdichado]

Arrr!!! Shiver me timbers, low fantasy do be a favorite booty of mine to raid, at every opportunity. Bring me high fantasy, and you walk the plank!

In a week or two, click on the big genie in the sig file for how I handled it. Does use some ideas from CoC -- a little bit. Mostly, though, it's closer to the Wheel of Time game, and I handled madness more like they did it in that game, which is easier to keep track of. I also modified all classes to non-magical classes (except my alt.wizard) and the alt.wizard gradually goes insane.

Barsoomscore also has a very similar campaign world that he's been running for some time now. See if you can't get his attention.

Arrrr!!

 

[Citizen Kane]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is CoC?

 

[kengar]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is CoC?

No pardoning required. CoC= "Call of Cthulhu"

 

[Desdichado]

Kengar, what in the world does that sig mean? Is that some weird alternate Cthulhu Dave Bowman reference?

 

[kengar]

Kengar, what in the world does that sig mean? Is that some weird alternate Cthulhu Dave Bowman reference?

It's a quote from the CoC:d20 Rulebook. I leave finding it as an exercise for the reader.