D&D General Using dreams to plant adventure hooks or provide motivation

[Scott Christian]

Outside of a DM, I once had a warlock that used dreams very effectively on the other players. I had locks of all their hair, and would use their dreams to plant seeds as to what to do. I convinced the paladin to give me his three artifacts (they were the main questline - build a crown). I convinced the rogue to be my bodyguard. And I convinced our cleric to always heal me first, as that was the wish of his deity. Then when he did, I would use illusion to make it look like his healing worked better than it should have.

I showed up to probably eight different sessions with a typed out "dream." I would get there early, hand it to the DM, and then he had to pretend he was the one handing the players these dreams. So they had no idea these were coming from me, but instead thought they were coming from our mysterious benefactor who was leading the fey realm in their fight against the antagonist - a type of corruption. They just thought that since I was fey, I had some special role to play in how the quest gets solved.

In the end, when they found out, it was priceless. I was the same character I had always been, a manipulating spoiled young man who believed he was more important and special than everyone.

Incidentally, I never once casted a damage spell for all 20 levels. A fact my teammates bemoaned, but that gave even more impetus that I was special - because I had never hurt anyone. Turns out the two were uncorrelated, even for me. I certainly didn't plan for them to think that, but they did. Another priceless moment.

 

[Marc_C]

Not a fan of this technic. I might have used it, once or twice, in the 80s and early 90s but I can't recall doing it afterwards.

 

[Blue]

I don't follow Critical Role, but from some of the posts on this thread if sounds like that has the character in the dreams and interacting in a way the DM dictates. I've never used dreams like that where I control the PC. That's not something that belongs in my toolbox.

However, I have used dreams and visions at least once in every campaign I've run in the past few decades. Usually as the result of in-game actions. An example in one of my current campaigns, after breaking a set of powerful wards set by an archfey a few centuries before, the next time the characters slept they heard the archfey in their head psychically broadcasting to those in the area trying to figure out who did it which manifested as dreams.

Though players who want mystery in their backstory so they can be surprised can also have it come up. The same group are currently they are following a hook from a vision of Eilistraee now that they are no longer tied up in some other plots and want to make time for it. (I normally throw a lot more plots at the characters than they can do, and they choose what to follow - or do something else.)

 

[Burnside]

Like many things, I think they can be extremely effective when used sparingly or with restraint. When used too often they will obviously lose their impact. The "every long rest" suggested in Curse of Strahd certainly seems excessive.

There are references to dreams being used narratively in the rules themselves; for example, aasimar characters receive "visions and guidance from celestial entities via dreams". Matt Mercer employs this with Yasha on Critical Role; her aasimar barbarian is generally the character most likely to have dreams that involve portents or symbolic choices. The other character who has them is Fjord, as his warlock patron uses dreams to communicate what it wants from him.

 

[Stormonu]

Oh, so that must be where the DM in the game I loathe must be pulling this from.

Once or twice, I’ve used dreams to communicate info to the players, but I use it very rarely - maybe one every three campaigns or so. Current DM uses this every session, much to my chargrin. Especially when it goes on for an hour or so of play time.

 

[HJFudge]

Oh, so that must be where the DM in the game I loathe must be pulling this from.

Once or twice, I’ve used dreams to communicate info to the players, but I use it very rarely - maybe one every three campaigns or so. Current DM uses this every session, much to my chargrin. Especially when it goes on for an hour or so of play time.

Wait, for real?

The dm has an hour long dream sequence every session?? I hope its at least interactive! Or is he just talking at you for an hour straight?

 

[SirMoogle]

Especially when it goes on for an hour or so of play time.

An hour?! Is it designed to be a dream-heavy campaign?

 

[Burnside]

Oh, so that must be where the DM in the game I loathe must be pulling this from.

Once or twice, I’ve used dreams to communicate info to the players, but I use it very rarely - maybe one every three campaigns or so. Current DM uses this every session, much to my chargrin. Especially when it goes on for an hour or so of play time.

That's...awful.

 

[aco175]

The best dream sequence I recall was back in 3e when we went to a mage tower to train to gain a level. The first night there, the tower was attacked and we rushed out to defend the mage and the other NPCs, but most of them ended up dying. We woke up the next day to it being a dream and training was over. The cool thing was that each PC somehow practiced what they were training for for skills and powers.

 

[Stormonu]

Wait, for real?

The dm has an hour long dream sequence every session?? I hope its at least interactive! Or is he just talking at you for an hour straight?

sigh For real; last session took an hour out of the start of the game for the DM to go through the dreams of the four PCs (not counting me) at the table. I'd say 90% of it is the DM talking, the players might make one decision and several head nods - but I've gotten to the point I tune out for the whole sequence and just make a mental note of the time elapsed.

At least I've made my displeasure well enough known the DM skips me. Luckily, as the game is at my house, I can sit and paint minis as I wait for this portion of the game to pass.