What the heck is a level zero campaign, you might ask? Well, it's exactly what it sounds like. You have no levels. No class. No proficiencies. Nada. Zip. Nothing. That club over there, you're not proficient with it. Your rolls are all straight D20 rolls (-1) (not including damage) because you also don't have stats - everything is an 8 (barring racial adjustment). At first.
Let me explain.
You're children. You live in, what might be generously described as the most horrible slum in the world. You're orphans (embrace the cliché). Now, survive. Death isn't an option - no literally, this is 2022 on the internet, I cannot kill children. Especially underprivileged children. But... you can "lose" your character if they get taken by the authorities or evil grownups (and they're all freakin' evil). You're on your own, and the system really really really sucks. The game will progress through time, covering the highlights of the years of your early life from age 6 to age of 16 (ah, sweet 16), when you gain your first class level. You will have to have earned how you got training into your class to even get this far. This campaign effectively ends when that happens, and then you are left with the most fleshed out Level 1 character backstory. Ever. You will have earned that "Urchin" background. Oh yes.
As a little background, I ran this setup as a 3.5 Edition campaign twenty-some years ago, and it is one of the most memorable games for those that partook. We still talk about it to this day. Lots of failures, lots of shenanigans. One of the PCs grew up to be Jimmy Hoffa (basically), another became a werewolf with social anxiety issues. Each had a crazy outcome that no one predicted. It was serious and somber, even depressing at times, and then there were moments of incredible levity, jubilance, and unexpected human triumph over terrible things.
This is an interest check only at this moment. I'm running a full campaign and my hands are full. But, I'm super curious what other people think of the idea. Unlike most posts where you would describe your backstory, here you cannot do that. It has to be played to be written! What race would you play, what class would you want to eventually achieve? Why? For context, though it is a homebrew world-setting, the magic-level is equivalent to Forgotten Realms. Unfortunately for you, your Podunk town is the medieval equivalent to an industrialized cesspool miles from anywhere important. Like a city-sized anti-magic field, no one wants to bring magic items near for fear they'll get stolen, and those that have them are scary enough to keep them... unless someone gets lucky.
One of my favorite characters is an Urchin Gnome Rogue. Though he’s got a general backstory about how he became an Urchin (which I think could still fit here), his trials and tribulations of actually ‘growing up’ would be really fun to fill out.
Two simple questions:
For backstory, could we still use our own personal reasons for how we became alone at such a young age, stuck on the streets?
Can we start with, or find a way to include finding, the pet mouse that the Urchin background gives?
One of my favorite characters is an Urchin Gnome Rogue. Though he’s got a general backstory about how he became an Urchin (which I think could still fit here), his trials and tribulations of actually ‘growing up’ would be really fun to fill out.
Two simple questions:
For backstory, could we still use our own personal reasons for how we became alone at such a young age, stuck on the streets?
Can we start with, or find a way to include finding, the pet mouse that the Urchin background gives?
Very interested, I love the creative play that this promises.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Recently played through a similar idea, but it was just the beginning of our campaign! Doing something like this for a whole campaign sounds like a blast so count me in if you wish.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
Okay - well, I think you have all answered the fundamental question whether anyone is interested!
Since I'm not running this game now or potentially anytime soon, thank you everyone for validating the concept. I had run it TTRPG style, and have already begun notes on how to PBP this kind of game.
That said, something I haven't seen too much of here in the forums is DMs sharing home-made campaigns. I'm no professional module maker, and I do sandbox games, so my notes are big picture-oriented with only prospective scene by scene consideration. I do a *lot* of world-building-level work with almost scant encounter-level details. I see a pattern on the forums, whereas a great deal (but not all!) of the games offered are module-based, with sandbox game selections being far and few between. Some players love these, and some DMs love to run them. However, I wonder how many DMs out there just haven't ventured into Sandbox territory? Or, maybe haven't got an idea of even how to? If anyone wants to try this campaign idea with their own group, just PM me. I'm happy to share notes, insights, and try to help you put your touch on it. I'd also love to see what others do with it.
Thanks everyone. I'll post again when I'm ready to run this one. I have three other "big sandbox adventures" I'd love to run here too, someday, but I'll save those for later.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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What the heck is a level zero campaign, you might ask? Well, it's exactly what it sounds like. You have no levels. No class. No proficiencies. Nada. Zip. Nothing. That club over there, you're not proficient with it. Your rolls are all straight D20 rolls (-1) (not including damage) because you also don't have stats - everything is an 8 (barring racial adjustment). At first.
Let me explain.
You're children. You live in, what might be generously described as the most horrible slum in the world. You're orphans (embrace the cliché). Now, survive. Death isn't an option - no literally, this is 2022 on the internet, I cannot kill children. Especially underprivileged children. But... you can "lose" your character if they get taken by the authorities or evil grownups (and they're all freakin' evil). You're on your own, and the system really really really sucks. The game will progress through time, covering the highlights of the years of your early life from age 6 to age of 16 (ah, sweet 16), when you gain your first class level. You will have to have earned how you got training into your class to even get this far. This campaign effectively ends when that happens, and then you are left with the most fleshed out Level 1 character backstory. Ever. You will have earned that "Urchin" background. Oh yes.
As a little background, I ran this setup as a 3.5 Edition campaign twenty-some years ago, and it is one of the most memorable games for those that partook. We still talk about it to this day. Lots of failures, lots of shenanigans. One of the PCs grew up to be Jimmy Hoffa (basically), another became a werewolf with social anxiety issues. Each had a crazy outcome that no one predicted. It was serious and somber, even depressing at times, and then there were moments of incredible levity, jubilance, and unexpected human triumph over terrible things.
This is an interest check only at this moment. I'm running a full campaign and my hands are full. But, I'm super curious what other people think of the idea. Unlike most posts where you would describe your backstory, here you cannot do that. It has to be played to be written! What race would you play, what class would you want to eventually achieve? Why? For context, though it is a homebrew world-setting, the magic-level is equivalent to Forgotten Realms. Unfortunately for you, your Podunk town is the medieval equivalent to an industrialized cesspool miles from anywhere important. Like a city-sized anti-magic field, no one wants to bring magic items near for fear they'll get stolen, and those that have them are scary enough to keep them... unless someone gets lucky.
Great concept. I'm interested.
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
I like it! Very creative.
Wilhorn Dustwater | Halfling, Lightfoot | Sorcerer, Divine Soul 2 / Warlock, Celestial 2 | Warriors, LMoP (NathanAscher -DM)
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
One of my favorite characters is an Urchin Gnome Rogue. Though he’s got a general backstory about how he became an Urchin (which I think could still fit here), his trials and tribulations of actually ‘growing up’ would be really fun to fill out.
Two simple questions:
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
This actually sounds pretty freakin' cool! The whole idea reminds me of the game INSIDE or the City of Lost Children. Definitely interested.
"Where do these guys get all their ideas?" - TommoBoi, to WOTC
DM of Night of the Nutcracker.
Yes and yes.
Interested if I’m permitted to partake in this!
I'm very interested in this and it sounds really fun and challenging
Very interested, I love the creative play that this promises.
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
I love the idea and the depth that the concept promises. Very, very interested.
100% interested! This sounds like an incredible story!
I share interest in this creative gameplay.
just an unstable unicorn.
Recently played through a similar idea, but it was just the beginning of our campaign! Doing something like this for a whole campaign sounds like a blast so count me in if you wish.
The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
Sounds epic, and always down for playing out backstory moments that lead into the growth and development of a full PC~
Okay - well, I think you have all answered the fundamental question whether anyone is interested!
Since I'm not running this game now or potentially anytime soon, thank you everyone for validating the concept. I had run it TTRPG style, and have already begun notes on how to PBP this kind of game.
That said, something I haven't seen too much of here in the forums is DMs sharing home-made campaigns. I'm no professional module maker, and I do sandbox games, so my notes are big picture-oriented with only prospective scene by scene consideration. I do a *lot* of world-building-level work with almost scant encounter-level details. I see a pattern on the forums, whereas a great deal (but not all!) of the games offered are module-based, with sandbox game selections being far and few between. Some players love these, and some DMs love to run them. However, I wonder how many DMs out there just haven't ventured into Sandbox territory? Or, maybe haven't got an idea of even how to? If anyone wants to try this campaign idea with their own group, just PM me. I'm happy to share notes, insights, and try to help you put your touch on it. I'd also love to see what others do with it.
Thanks everyone. I'll post again when I'm ready to run this one. I have three other "big sandbox adventures" I'd love to run here too, someday, but I'll save those for later.