What Should My Next 4e Project Be? (Round 3)

[jaldaen]

I'd also like some more molds/fungi drawn up as hazards, but that's simply because I need them soon, and I'll have to do them if someone else doesn't.

Fungi are fun with an extra "gi."

Otherwise, I think that the Backdrop book will have the most utility. Because you can drop a rope bridge anywhere, or send your PCs to a volcano for multiple reasons, but unless the monster appeals to the DM, the DM isn't going to use it. Also, there's an entire book of monsters, quite a few traps and hazards, but no iconic Backdrops (Escaping a burning building, dealing with a crumbling floor, jumping across logs on a quick moving River)

I thinking the fantasy backdrop book would indeed have the most utility. The question is how generic should such backdrops be? Or should they have an assumed setting (and/or multiple adventure hooks/sample encounters?). I'll have to think about how much flavor is enough to make each backdrop interesting to DM and useful in multiple situations.

I must commend you, Jaldaen. You are a posting fiend, good sir! The enthusiasm and quick response is good.

Thanks It helps to have no current day job

Actually, that does give me an idea. A sort of "Savage Garden". Be it underground, or on the surface, but things like mantraps (Venus fly traps taht use hypnotic pheremones), tri-fond flowers (from 2e), and other threatening flora, interspersed with a plant-monster or two.

Hmmm... interesting ideas. Could be a lot of fun to design

 

[jaldaen]

Surprise me?

I'll try

Okay, here are some ideas. A lot go around the "epic" and "encounter" type of monsters.

Thanks for the ideas!

- There is still the unresolved issue with the "Sea Serpent" for D&D. It's an old topic (I am not sure, it might also have been Rechan who reminded me of it a few months ago). Build a monster that can attack a ship, and make it interesting. One (3e) idea was to make it a "encounter monster", being representing by possible more then one monster and some enviromental hazards. But don't let that constrain you.

Sounds like an interesting solo monster encounter... could be a lot of fun to write up.

- A "Hell Mouth" (Buffy) might be interesting - something tentacled that lives underground.

Yeah that could be lead to some bad fun...

- Epic monsters. I remember someone talking about a mythological fight where the hero killed so many foes that all the blood flowing into it angered a river and had him attack. A write-up for that alone would be awesome. But generally, monsters that really fit the epic scope.

Cool... sounds Greek epic to me.

- Xenomorphs/Aliens. We really need Face Hugger (Minion?), Alien and Queen.

So you want a "Game Over" encounter...

- A Discworld Troll - a being made of "stone".

- A Discworld "Wee Free Man". Blue guys, very short. Definitely some feyish creature, with inappropriate strength for their size.

I've only read one Discworld novel about Death... but it was a lot of fun. Lots of great ideas in it.

- A Monolith (Clarke/Cubricks Space 2001). Could also be just a "rock" with some intellect. Doesn't move, but teleport, and uses telekinesis or telepathy.

Cool idea.

Okay, admittedly, these are the kinds of monsters I like to write up, not necessarily find a way to use them. Some are pretty outlandish or might come off as a cheesy, but if you reflavor them and just keep the basic inspiration, they should still work.

Thanks for the ideas... I can definately see some of them as interesting encounters and will see what I can do with them

 

[jaldaen]

Psst.

Okay... can I just say that it quite an awesome setup for an encounter.

I agree with Ol' Mustrum. Some real epic situations would be nice. For instance, take a fight with an Earth Titan. Don't do much to his stats, but create some set pieces like the earth tearing apart in a jagged line across the battlefield, or pillars of rock and iron that suddenly thrust upwards forty feet into the sky (anyone on top is separated from the party, and in perfect slapping distance for the titan). Then the next round the pillars fall over.

Cool... I like these ideas a lot. They have certainly gotten the creative juices flowing

 

[jaldaen]

After sleeping on it I've decided that the winner is:

<<Drumroll>>

Fantasy Backdrop Book: Design generic and unique adventure locations for use in any campaign (rope bridges, volcanic cavern, etc.).

I chose this one because as others pointed out it allows me to do a little bit of all the top three (and maybe even the honorable mentions).

Anyway, I'll be starting up a new thread concerning this book in the near future. In this thread I hope to get your comments, questions, and suggestions for what fantasy backdrops you would like to see in the book and how you would like it organized (descriptions, rules, adventure hooks, sample encounters, etc.). I'll post here once the new thread is up. It will probably show up in the 4e House Rules section since I can't think of any other place to put it. If you have any other suggestions about where a discussion of this project should occur, then please feel free to post your thoughts on the subject.

 

[jaldaen]

Further discussion of the Fantasy Backdrop book can be found in this thread. I hope to see you all there and look forward to what we can come up with in terms of backdrops and encounters.