So I had dream a few weeks ago where a group of people was adventuring in London in the 1880s (Sherlock Holme's time) they were in a dingy alley and a women took her knitted hat and revealed she was an elf. I talked to the group I play with, they were really interested and we want to give this a try. I will be the DM and I have a LOT of work to do. So there is some link between Ferune and London in this Campaign with "our world" astral portals and magic and so on. London has a few creatures lurking in say, the sewers, the old gardens and so on, and groups of fey who survived by hiding. Has anyone tried something like this before? I would love any feedback you have. Here are some questions I have right off the bat.
1. Weapons. Obviously armor and things like long bows and shields are way too obvious to be seen on the streets of London, walking sticks, sword canes, brass knuckles, and tools and knives are obvious choices. Fire arms would be things like revolvers, pepperboxes, sawed off shotguns, maybe a Martin Henry Rifle from ambush. A grenade or two? I have absolutely no idea how to incorporate firearms. Magic on the other hand would work much the same way.
2. Classes. I have thought of bringing in the pugilist class, on the other hand I don't think Rangers would work well (maybe an explorer type would).
3. Medicine. 1880s medicine sucked, but it was better than slapping a bandage on a wound.
4. Races, I see Half Elves, Elves and maybe Dwarves, maybe Half Orcs, but not Tieflings or Dragonborn.
Like I said I have a LOT of work to do. Any resources out there? 1880's London had millions of people, strange and exotic people from all over the empire and a lot of interest in the occult, (those crazy Victorians). I think I can make this work!
is there a reason you’re planning on using D&D for this, instead of a different RPG system? D&D is pretty much designed for fantasy realms, there’s probably other systems better targeted at occult London. I’d have to look around to see what’s out there.
May already have the D&D rule books and doesn't want to invest in a bunch of new stuff. Or already knows the rules, doesn't want to learn a new system. This is why I would use D&D if I didn't already know or have other systems to use. I don't think you would have to change up much to be honest. weapons can be re-skinned. or just used as they are, maybe your world london is still slightly touched by magic and the old ways. I would run the game with the rules and mostly re-skin stuff that might need it. IMO. Also the pugilist class is pretty awesome we have one in our group.
Its Interesting I actually did not think of any other options, I guess I am a D & D purist at heart. I will look at the website you sent with interest, if nothing else it might help with some ideas.
Lordneg. that actually explains it perfectly. So you guys have a pugilist? That is awesome. Some of the examples I am seeing has the pugilist with 1d 8 for hit points which seems a bit low. Does yours have 1 d 10 or 8?
It probably doesn't quite have the exact tone you'd be going for, but there is a setting for D&D called Gothic Earth that's set in the 1800s with a strong gothic horror twist to it. There's old sourcebooks/homebrew adaptations you could check out on DM's Guild:
1. Weapons. Obviously armor and things like long bows and shields are way too obvious to be seen on the streets of London, walking sticks, sword canes, brass knuckles, and tools and knives are obvious choices. Fire arms would be things like revolvers, pepperboxes, sawed off shotguns, maybe a Martin Henry Rifle from ambush. A grenade or two? I have absolutely no idea how to incorporate firearms. Magic on the other hand would work much the same way.
Those seem fine. Even if there are less weapons in this setting, that’s not an inherent bad.
2. Classes. I have thought of bringing in the pugilist class, on the other hand I don't think Rangers would work well (maybe an explorer type would).
Clerics and paladins might have some tweaking needed. They run pretty heavily armored, and victorian london kinda preferred anglican priests, as opposed to clerics of Tymora. Idea: They’re all priests of God, but ordered according to “the patron saint of ___” which would give clerics their domain. Paladins probably can go through any faith, just making their vows according to their personality. The armor might still stand out on the street, though.
3. Medicine. 1880s medicine sucked, but it was better than slapping a bandage on a wound.
4. Races, I see Half Elves, Elves and maybe Dwarves, maybe Half Orcs, but not Tieflings or Dragonborn.
I’d add to this list halflings. However, you could add other races as Frankensteinian creations. Probably need to be disguised in public, but there’s a way for them to exist. I’m thinking specifically Aasimar, Genasi, shifters, and gnomes (as altered halflings).
This sounds fun, and I wrote a Christmas one-shot that would run beautifully in this setting. I’d love to see a quality campaign written to work with 5e rules in this setting.
so I actually just went to London so I'll be perfect for this first of all what you're gona want to remember is to look up London history at around this time. With all the crazy stuff that happened that you'll practically get a campaign that can write itself
like seriously the history is crazy and you will get flooded with amazing ideas also remember that they do actually have a gun axe. that is a thing and you should use it
also unless you're making an intentionally I'd avoid the more dark medicine stuff cause diseases back then where just brutal and for a good place to start.. I think extra credit has some good videoes about London stuff like the south sea bubble and how London got an actual police force
These are great ideas. And yes I agree Halflings would work too. I agree about Clerics and Paladins. and remembered that the original clerics in D & D were of St. Cuthbert. And of course you have Catholics and Methodists.
is there a reason you’re planning on using D&D for this, instead of a different RPG system? D&D is pretty much designed for fantasy realms, there’s probably other systems better targeted at occult London. I’d have to look around to see what’s out there.
D&D is a fantasy built system, it is true. But if you want to run a parallel universe campaign, the juxtaposition of 1880's London to mythical creatures, races and lore could be really sweet.
Maybe a dire force drove many habitants of Faerûn to leave their homeland and become refugees on Earth, a world with a very weak connection to magic?
The 1880's were a time of great change for Europe's social systems, scientific development and ethics - maybe this was partly because of the arrival of magic on Earth? For example:
A famous physician could actually have been a druid or cleric, who covered up his workings with the justification of science; A musician from Eastern Europe who has charmed and bedazzled the upperclass London audiences could in fact have been a skilled glamour bard; Henry Ford could have actually been an inventive artificer; Houdini could have been a crafty illusionist Wizard; A famous writer on the topic of 'Unjust Ethics in London' could have been an inspiring lore bard.
I think a good place to start is to really flesh out how magic is going to work in your London. Not the 5e D&D rules for magic, as long as you have a "place" for celestials, elementals, fey and fiends to be summoned from/banished to, as well as astral and ethereal “planes” for certain spells and creatures to interact with you shouldn’t need to change any rules (although you are more than free to do so). With that in place all the class rule sets function fine without gods, patrons, differences between arcane & divine magic etc, not that that is really fun for everyone. So...you need to decide how prevalent magic is and where it comes from. Is Christianity the dominant religion and is it all, part or any source of magic? Victorian London would have influences from most of the world. Especially from colonies in Africa, Asia and North America, as well as relics from ancient civilizations. Druidic lore is probably derived from the Celtic culture already. Is there a source of magic that doesn’t come from a “historical place?" Since magic is the significant thing you’re adding to a historical setting, once you know how it functions you can start figuring out how it would have changed world development. Is healing magic easily available? Then medicine may not be as advanced as it otherwise would be. What laws have been developed regarding magic use, if it’s taboo maybe there are no written laws, but a secret agency that hunts down rogue magic users. If is widely recognized, are there strict laws governing its use?
I agree that magic would seem to transfer really well from Ferune to Victorian London. I am thinking of the Gods though, thinking religious stuff Clerical would be more our reality based.
Thank you all for your suggestions. I still have a long way to go but I have been given a place to start and a lot to think about. I downloaded a bunch of Masque of the Red Death 5E stuff, and although I am not to going to use all of it I will certainly use a lot of it. Each time I have asked for some help on these forums I have received great feedback. Thank you D & D beyond community!
So I had dream a few weeks ago where a group of people was adventuring in London in the 1880s (Sherlock Holme's time) they were in a dingy alley and a women took her knitted hat and revealed she was an elf. I talked to the group I play with, they were really interested and we want to give this a try. I will be the DM and I have a LOT of work to do. So there is some link between Ferune and London in this Campaign with "our world" astral portals and magic and so on. London has a few creatures lurking in say, the sewers, the old gardens and so on, and groups of fey who survived by hiding. Has anyone tried something like this before? I would love any feedback you have. Here are some questions I have right off the bat.
1. Weapons. Obviously armor and things like long bows and shields are way too obvious to be seen on the streets of London, walking sticks, sword canes, brass knuckles, and tools and knives are obvious choices. Fire arms would be things like revolvers, pepperboxes, sawed off shotguns, maybe a Martin Henry Rifle from ambush. A grenade or two? I have absolutely no idea how to incorporate firearms. Magic on the other hand would work much the same way.
2. Classes. I have thought of bringing in the pugilist class, on the other hand I don't think Rangers would work well (maybe an explorer type would).
3. Medicine. 1880s medicine sucked, but it was better than slapping a bandage on a wound.
4. Races, I see Half Elves, Elves and maybe Dwarves, maybe Half Orcs, but not Tieflings or Dragonborn.
Like I said I have a LOT of work to do. Any resources out there? 1880's London had millions of people, strange and exotic people from all over the empire and a lot of interest in the occult, (those crazy Victorians). I think I can make this work!
is there a reason you’re planning on using D&D for this, instead of a different RPG system? D&D is pretty much designed for fantasy realms, there’s probably other systems better targeted at occult London. I’d have to look around to see what’s out there.
E.g. https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/16/16241.phtml
(Just found it via websearch, haven’t played or even read any more about it)
May already have the D&D rule books and doesn't want to invest in a bunch of new stuff. Or already knows the rules, doesn't want to learn a new system. This is why I would use D&D if I didn't already know or have other systems to use. I don't think you would have to change up much to be honest. weapons can be re-skinned. or just used as they are, maybe your world london is still slightly touched by magic and the old ways. I would run the game with the rules and mostly re-skin stuff that might need it. IMO. Also the pugilist class is pretty awesome we have one in our group.
Its Interesting I actually did not think of any other options, I guess I am a D & D purist at heart. I will look at the website you sent with interest, if nothing else it might help with some ideas.
Lordneg. that actually explains it perfectly. So you guys have a pugilist? That is awesome. Some of the examples I am seeing has the pugilist with 1d 8 for hit points which seems a bit low. Does yours have 1 d 10 or 8?
Ours is running D8, so far it has been working out pretty good. He has some pretty good damage out put.
It probably doesn't quite have the exact tone you'd be going for, but there is a setting for D&D called Gothic Earth that's set in the 1800s with a strong gothic horror twist to it. There's old sourcebooks/homebrew adaptations you could check out on DM's Guild:
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17513/The-Gothic-Earth-Gazetteer-2e
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/295377/Masque-of-the-Red-Death-Players-Guide
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/298797/Harkers-Handbook--A-Masque-of-the-Red-Death-Accessory
Even if you don't use the setting or the rules, it still might be a resource you'd want to look into.
Thank you!
Those seem fine. Even if there are less weapons in this setting, that’s not an inherent bad.
Clerics and paladins might have some tweaking needed. They run pretty heavily armored, and victorian london kinda preferred anglican priests, as opposed to clerics of Tymora. Idea: They’re all priests of God, but ordered according to “the patron saint of ___” which would give clerics their domain. Paladins probably can go through any faith, just making their vows according to their personality. The armor might still stand out on the street, though.
I’d add to this list halflings. However, you could add other races as Frankensteinian creations. Probably need to be disguised in public, but there’s a way for them to exist. I’m thinking specifically Aasimar, Genasi, shifters, and gnomes (as altered halflings).
This sounds fun, and I wrote a Christmas one-shot that would run beautifully in this setting. I’d love to see a quality campaign written to work with 5e rules in this setting.
so I actually just went to London so I'll be perfect for this
first of all what you're gona want to remember is to look up London history at around this time. With all the crazy stuff that happened that you'll practically get a campaign that can write itself
like seriously the history is crazy and you will get flooded with amazing ideas
also remember that they do actually have a gun axe. that is a thing and you should use it
also unless you're making an intentionally I'd avoid the more dark medicine stuff cause diseases back then where just brutal
and for a good place to start.. I think extra credit has some good videoes about London stuff like the south sea bubble and how London got an actual police force
Marvarax and Sora (Dragonborn) The retired fighter and WIP scholar - Glory
Brythel(Dwarf), The dwarf with a gun - survival at sea
Jaylin(Human), Paladin of Lathander's Ancient ways - The Seven Saints (Azura Claw)
Urselles(Goblin), Cleric of Eldath- The Wizard's challenge
Viclas Tyrin(Half Elf), Student of the Elven arts- Indrafatmoko's Defiance in Phlan
These are great ideas. And yes I agree Halflings would work too. I agree about Clerics and Paladins. and remembered that the original clerics in D & D were of St. Cuthbert. And of course you have Catholics and Methodists.
A gun axe, how cool is that? I will look that up for sure.
Just Downloaded Harkers Handbook.
D&D is a fantasy built system, it is true. But if you want to run a parallel universe campaign, the juxtaposition of 1880's London to mythical creatures, races and lore could be really sweet.
Maybe a dire force drove many habitants of Faerûn to leave their homeland and become refugees on Earth, a world with a very weak connection to magic?
The 1880's were a time of great change for Europe's social systems, scientific development and ethics - maybe this was partly because of the arrival of magic on Earth? For example:
A famous physician could actually have been a druid or cleric, who covered up his workings with the justification of science; A musician from Eastern Europe who has charmed and bedazzled the upperclass London audiences could in fact have been a skilled glamour bard; Henry Ford could have actually been an inventive artificer; Houdini could have been a crafty illusionist Wizard; A famous writer on the topic of 'Unjust Ethics in London' could have been an inspiring lore bard.
Hi there! I'm a Christian musician based in Canada :)
I think a good place to start is to really flesh out how magic is going to work in your London. Not the 5e D&D rules for magic, as long as you have a "place" for celestials, elementals, fey and fiends to be summoned from/banished to, as well as astral and ethereal “planes” for certain spells and creatures to interact with you shouldn’t need to change any rules (although you are more than free to do so). With that in place all the class rule sets function fine without gods, patrons, differences between arcane & divine magic etc, not that that is really fun for everyone. So...you need to decide how prevalent magic is and where it comes from. Is Christianity the dominant religion and is it all, part or any source of magic? Victorian London would have influences from most of the world. Especially from colonies in Africa, Asia and North America, as well as relics from ancient civilizations. Druidic lore is probably derived from the Celtic culture already. Is there a source of magic that doesn’t come from a “historical place?" Since magic is the significant thing you’re adding to a historical setting, once you know how it functions you can start figuring out how it would have changed world development. Is healing magic easily available? Then medicine may not be as advanced as it otherwise would be. What laws have been developed regarding magic use, if it’s taboo maybe there are no written laws, but a secret agency that hunts down rogue magic users. If is widely recognized, are there strict laws governing its use?
Edit: Too many typos.
I like these suggestions a lot.
I agree that magic would seem to transfer really well from Ferune to Victorian London. I am thinking of the Gods though, thinking religious stuff Clerical would be more our reality based.
Thank you all for your suggestions. I still have a long way to go but I have been given a place to start and a lot to think about. I downloaded a bunch of Masque of the Red Death 5E stuff, and although I am not to going to use all of it I will certainly use a lot of it. Each time I have asked for some help on these forums I have received great feedback. Thank you D & D beyond community!
Did you find anything? Or put anything together? I want to run a similar campaign.