In my campaign, I have a small island that is slowly being corrupted by the Book of Vile Darkness. As part of that corruption, Resurrection and Reviving magic will not function...ramping up the difficulty and making the party think a LOT more than normal before going into battle. The party has two clerics and can Revifify. So I'm trying to figure out if I want to somehow let them know that this magic will not function, or let them find out on their own.
I understand the second avenue is a will be a nasty surprise, and potentially take away from the gameplay experience. But the island is basically inhabited by undead, monstrosities and Necromancers/Death Clerics. So nobody is there to willingly help the party understand this unless it happens to them.
I could sacrifice an NPC to let them know. This would provide the shock value while not losing a party member and cause them to be very cautious going forward.
Any other ideas to keep the impact memorable without crushing anybody's spirit?
You could do a lore drop. Have them find a scroll or NPC who knows about it and find out that way. I'd certainly give hints. You could even have a messenger from their deity(ies) visit them and warn them that the deity's powers to bring people back to life are being blocked.
Don't let them find out via the death of a PC. The concept is fine, but it could be an issue if they're playing with Revivify in mind but it chokes. If you don't think researching the area or rumours are appropriate, have a guide NPC go with them, have them be ambushed, railroad the NPC's death...then inform them that their spells aren't working, being blocked somehow.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
You could do a lore drop. Have them find a scroll or NPC who knows about it and find out that way. I'd certainly give hints. You could even have a messenger from their deity(ies) visit them and warn them that the deity's powers to bring people back to life are being blocked.
Don't let them find out via the death of a PC. The concept is fine, but it could be an issue if they're playing with Revivify in mind but it chokes. If you don't think researching the area or rumours are appropriate, have a guide NPC go with them, have them be ambushed, railroad the NPC's death...then inform them that their spells aren't working, being blocked somehow.
I'd go with something like this. Maybe find a couple of dead PCs and one has a journal explaining which spells had failed them. Or since its undead. It could be on one of the zombies they defeat, put the zombie in plate mail wearing what looks like it used to be a holy symbol, but the natural magic of the place burned the symbol away, defiling it. That kind of thing on a zombie will get their attention. They have the journal, or some scrolls of paper, be tucked inside the armor. The final entry can be about the cleric knowing that undeath awaits them, so they are hoping to pass this message along to some future group who can learn from their mistakes. And then end it with a thank you from the cleric, to the future adventurers who have ended their undeath.
You can also have a character make an Aracana or Religion check (DC whatever you want) to realize that there's an unnatural aura of death permeating the island and as such, spells to raise the dead may not work. Or have one of the clerics get a message from their god that any souls who die on this island will be beyond their reach.
You may wish to save those options in case the players don't get the message from other means.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I like this a lot. There's a landing area that would be perfect to set up an early encounter to reveal this. Thanks for the insight...I definitely want the game to be fun even when it's really intense, and losing a PC because of them no knowing would go against the purpose. I want it to be really challenging, but with planning, be doable. Thanks again!``
You could do a lore drop. Have them find a scroll or NPC who knows about it and find out that way. I'd certainly give hints. You could even have a messenger from their deity(ies) visit them and warn them that the deity's powers to bring people back to life are being blocked.
Don't let them find out via the death of a PC. The concept is fine, but it could be an issue if they're playing with Revivify in mind but it chokes. If you don't think researching the area or rumours are appropriate, have a guide NPC go with them, have them be ambushed, railroad the NPC's death...then inform them that their spells aren't working, being blocked somehow.
I'd go with something like this. Maybe find a couple of dead PCs and one has a journal explaining which spells had failed them. Or since its undead. It could be on one of the zombies they defeat, put the zombie in plate mail wearing what looks like it used to be a holy symbol, but the natural magic of the place burned the symbol away, defiling it. That kind of thing on a zombie will get their attention. They have the journal, or some scrolls of paper, be tucked inside the armor. The final entry can be about the cleric knowing that undeath awaits them, so they are hoping to pass this message along to some future group who can learn from their mistakes. And then end it with a thank you from the cleric, to the future adventurers who have ended their undeath.
This is such a good idea. I love the bit where the dead cleric thanks whoever ends the curse on them. You could even give them a small boon to reflect the spirit moving on, something as small as a single reroll they can use within 24 hours perhaps.
Since your characters are clerics, they can swap out their spell choices every day, so they're not losing much by preparing a spell that won't work. That's good; that'll soften the blow.
You might consider putting in some specific places where resurrection can still be possible. Like maybe a temple that needs X amount of gold spent on repairs before it'll be active again. Or a sanctuary guarded by some mythical beast, like a unicorn or a coatl, who doesn't want just anyone getting in.
Edit: Or do the Curse of Strahd thing where there's some way for them to come back to life, but at a terrible cost... Usually some corruption of their morality. Anyway, I'm rambling now.
You could do a lore drop. Have them find a scroll or NPC who knows about it and find out that way. I'd certainly give hints. You could even have a messenger from their deity(ies) visit them and warn them that the deity's powers to bring people back to life are being blocked.
Don't let them find out via the death of a PC. The concept is fine, but it could be an issue if they're playing with Revivify in mind but it chokes. If you don't think researching the area or rumours are appropriate, have a guide NPC go with them, have them be ambushed, railroad the NPC's death...then inform them that their spells aren't working, being blocked somehow.
I'd go with something like this. Maybe find a couple of dead PCs and one has a journal explaining which spells had failed them. Or since its undead. It could be on one of the zombies they defeat, put the zombie in plate mail wearing what looks like it used to be a holy symbol, but the natural magic of the place burned the symbol away, defiling it. That kind of thing on a zombie will get their attention. They have the journal, or some scrolls of paper, be tucked inside the armor. The final entry can be about the cleric knowing that undeath awaits them, so they are hoping to pass this message along to some future group who can learn from their mistakes. And then end it with a thank you from the cleric, to the future adventurers who have ended their undeath.
This is such a good idea. I love the bit where the dead cleric thanks whoever ends the curse on them. You could even give them a small boon to reflect the spirit moving on, something as small as a single reroll they can use within 24 hours perhaps.
That’s a good idea. Even just give them inspiration. I’d also thought, it I were a player, I’d want to give this cleric a proper burial. Might be nice to come up with a reward if they do. A potion. Or maybe a scroll of revivify that works even in this area. So they get one free use, but only one use. Or something that fits with the backstories. Some macguffin pops u as they dig a grave.
I played a cleric in a campaign with this issue. My DM telegraphed that resurrection magic was corrupted by narrating how my cleric had to fight to cast Spare the Dying and get healing spells to go through. Nothing changed with my spellcasting mechanically, but my DM described it like I was having to ward off some necrotic, evil presence every time I pulled an ally back from the brink of death. The closer I got to the source of the trouble, the more I felt this dark power.
I happened to be a Grave domain cleric, so it fit really well with my subclass' flavor, but this can work with any healing magic, I think.
Letting the party know the island prevent raise from the dead in itself in any fashion has the fear factor and should encourage them to be more cautious.
Not letting the party know result in;
1. No one die, then this particular aspect goes unoticed.
2. Acharacter die, then this will come off as a shock and may even leave a very bad sour taste in learning after the fact that revivify was impossible.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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In my campaign, I have a small island that is slowly being corrupted by the Book of Vile Darkness. As part of that corruption, Resurrection and Reviving magic will not function...ramping up the difficulty and making the party think a LOT more than normal before going into battle. The party has two clerics and can Revifify. So I'm trying to figure out if I want to somehow let them know that this magic will not function, or let them find out on their own.
I understand the second avenue is a will be a nasty surprise, and potentially take away from the gameplay experience. But the island is basically inhabited by undead, monstrosities and Necromancers/Death Clerics. So nobody is there to willingly help the party understand this unless it happens to them.
I could sacrifice an NPC to let them know. This would provide the shock value while not losing a party member and cause them to be very cautious going forward.
Any other ideas to keep the impact memorable without crushing anybody's spirit?
You could do a lore drop. Have them find a scroll or NPC who knows about it and find out that way. I'd certainly give hints. You could even have a messenger from their deity(ies) visit them and warn them that the deity's powers to bring people back to life are being blocked.
Don't let them find out via the death of a PC. The concept is fine, but it could be an issue if they're playing with Revivify in mind but it chokes. If you don't think researching the area or rumours are appropriate, have a guide NPC go with them, have them be ambushed, railroad the NPC's death...then inform them that their spells aren't working, being blocked somehow.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I'd go with something like this. Maybe find a couple of dead PCs and one has a journal explaining which spells had failed them. Or since its undead. It could be on one of the zombies they defeat, put the zombie in plate mail wearing what looks like it used to be a holy symbol, but the natural magic of the place burned the symbol away, defiling it. That kind of thing on a zombie will get their attention. They have the journal, or some scrolls of paper, be tucked inside the armor. The final entry can be about the cleric knowing that undeath awaits them, so they are hoping to pass this message along to some future group who can learn from their mistakes. And then end it with a thank you from the cleric, to the future adventurers who have ended their undeath.
You can also have a character make an Aracana or Religion check (DC whatever you want) to realize that there's an unnatural aura of death permeating the island and as such, spells to raise the dead may not work. Or have one of the clerics get a message from their god that any souls who die on this island will be beyond their reach.
You may wish to save those options in case the players don't get the message from other means.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I like this a lot. There's a landing area that would be perfect to set up an early encounter to reveal this. Thanks for the insight...I definitely want the game to be fun even when it's really intense, and losing a PC because of them no knowing would go against the purpose. I want it to be really challenging, but with planning, be doable. Thanks again!``
This is such a good idea. I love the bit where the dead cleric thanks whoever ends the curse on them. You could even give them a small boon to reflect the spirit moving on, something as small as a single reroll they can use within 24 hours perhaps.
Since your characters are clerics, they can swap out their spell choices every day, so they're not losing much by preparing a spell that won't work. That's good; that'll soften the blow.
You might consider putting in some specific places where resurrection can still be possible. Like maybe a temple that needs X amount of gold spent on repairs before it'll be active again. Or a sanctuary guarded by some mythical beast, like a unicorn or a coatl, who doesn't want just anyone getting in.
Edit: Or do the Curse of Strahd thing where there's some way for them to come back to life, but at a terrible cost... Usually some corruption of their morality. Anyway, I'm rambling now.
That’s a good idea. Even just give them inspiration.
I’d also thought, it I were a player, I’d want to give this cleric a proper burial. Might be nice to come up with a reward if they do. A potion. Or maybe a scroll of revivify that works even in this area. So they get one free use, but only one use. Or something that fits with the backstories. Some macguffin pops u as they dig a grave.
I played a cleric in a campaign with this issue. My DM telegraphed that resurrection magic was corrupted by narrating how my cleric had to fight to cast Spare the Dying and get healing spells to go through. Nothing changed with my spellcasting mechanically, but my DM described it like I was having to ward off some necrotic, evil presence every time I pulled an ally back from the brink of death. The closer I got to the source of the trouble, the more I felt this dark power.
I happened to be a Grave domain cleric, so it fit really well with my subclass' flavor, but this can work with any healing magic, I think.
Letting the party know the island prevent raise from the dead in itself in any fashion has the fear factor and should encourage them to be more cautious.
Not letting the party know result in;
1. No one die, then this particular aspect goes unoticed.
2. Acharacter die, then this will come off as a shock and may even leave a very bad sour taste in learning after the fact that revivify was impossible.