Recently, I had a couple of players have to leave from a PBP game I am running, and I'd like to add at least a couple more. While thinking about a fun way to do this, I came up with an idea. This post will be a general summary of our current game and the idea. If there's interest, I will of course provide more detail for recruiting. As a disclaimer, I am fairly new to DMing, I got into the hobby in Spring of 2020, running an in-person game for about a year, and began this PBP game last year. I have really enjoyed the PBP format and the story so far and am hopeful to continue this campaign for a long time. That said, it might be a little unique what I am trying to do, so I will do my best to give a good picture of it here!
First of all, the existing game. I am running it over Discord. The system is ba5ic (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/285626/ba5ic), a light system which could be described as 5e pared down to essentials in a OSR style. The rules are the same as 5e, but there are fewer options with more customizability and less to keep track of (four races, three classes, and each skeleton class is paired with a background to create druids, paladins, sorcerers, thieves, warlocks, etc).
In addition, I've added in some mechanics and thematic elements borrowed from the 5e setting Adventures in Middle Earth (i.e., Corruption system, Journey and Sanctuary rules, use of Inspiration and Exhaustion). Custom or additional races and backgrounds are also possible for a good narrative reason. We have a dynamic spreadsheet for character sheets, made by one of the original players.
This is much more a story of character development and moral struggles than it is a victory-assured loot-and-pillage. There are many elements in the world and in the characters themselves that grant them special abilities and opportunities (mechanically as well as RP). There is no set storyline that you're expected to follow, just movers and players in a large world full of past and future, and embroiled in a battle between Law and Chaos.
The characters and their choices and conflicts largely drive the story. This is definitely a "roleplay" focused game, a "sandbox", with real risk and consequences to actions. You might die! Encounters are not necessarily balanced and not everything is best resolved with combat. But again, it's your story, whatever side of the war you're on and whatever approach that you want to take to the tale.
Some notes on the world: The setting is loosely based on the 4e setting Nentir Vale. Many of the places, entities, and histories are the same as the 4e setting, but much is also different.
It's a medieval world, caught in a cosmic battle. Magic is comparatively rare in the population and is almost always from a divine gift, a diabolical pact, or a magical bloodline. Relics and artifacts may also hold great power. Some creatures are themselves magical, such as dragons or fey (or elves, some would say).
There is one God, of Four Attributes or Powers through whom the order of the world was created. Similar to Tolkien'sValar, one of the Powers fell during the creation of the world, and has corrupted parts of it, including many lesser powers or celestials into fiends, turning what was meant to be a beautiful creation into a desperate battleground between the Powers for the mortal creatures that reside there.
The Hook!
Recently, I ran across a homebrew system called Trespasser (https://tundalus.itch.io/trespasser). I enjoyed the way this system handled character creation, starting with four randomly generated peasants, with stats and some attributes but no class or level, in a deadly situation. Out of the survivors from this first "meat grinder" session, one is selected to become your character. Choices along the way are yours to shape the character as you wish, with class, background, and permanent bonuses to skills and ability scores achieved through roleplay decisions and interaction with the world. (As a note, I am NOT using the Trespasser system, I merely wanted to credit the source of the idea.)
You play four peasant characters, their stats rolled 3d6 in order, with attributes such as race, personality, and occupation also rolled for. Create a name and character around each of these, and your story begins. Remember, many of your peasants may die, and one of them will be the hero that finds the strength to struggle upwards through adversity and become your character.
These four (or eight, or twelve) unlucky peasants were taken from their home towns, farms, shops, forests, or villages, usually at night, and usually by hobgoblins in furs and metal helmets with the sigil of a black hand on the side. Occasionally, your method of capture may have been more terrifying and sinister, as if spirits of Chaos haunted the lands of Law that should not. In either case, you were blindfolded, or knocked out, or both, and woke to find yourself in a freezing cold stone cell with other hapless folk, weaponless and certainly not dressed for the weather, which has got to be way up in the mountains somewhere at this time of the year to warrant those ice crystals on the walls.
I would definitely be interested in this! The trespasser system sounds very fascinating, I love the idea of randomly generated characters, and this seems to add a unique spin on that.
Thanks everyone for your interest! I'll be getting things together and put up an official recruitment thread soon. We'll be rolling stats/peasants either on the forum or on discord (but nice collection, GR; two nobles!). And yes, spectators will be welcome!
Hello DndBeyond!
Recently, I had a couple of players have to leave from a PBP game I am running, and I'd like to add at least a couple more. While thinking about a fun way to do this, I came up with an idea. This post will be a general summary of our current game and the idea. If there's interest, I will of course provide more detail for recruiting. As a disclaimer, I am fairly new to DMing, I got into the hobby in Spring of 2020, running an in-person game for about a year, and began this PBP game last year. I have really enjoyed the PBP format and the story so far and am hopeful to continue this campaign for a long time. That said, it might be a little unique what I am trying to do, so I will do my best to give a good picture of it here!
First of all, the existing game. I am running it over Discord. The system is ba5ic (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/285626/ba5ic), a light system which could be described as 5e pared down to essentials in a OSR style. The rules are the same as 5e, but there are fewer options with more customizability and less to keep track of (four races, three classes, and each skeleton class is paired with a background to create druids, paladins, sorcerers, thieves, warlocks, etc).
In addition, I've added in some mechanics and thematic elements borrowed from the 5e setting Adventures in Middle Earth (i.e., Corruption system, Journey and Sanctuary rules, use of Inspiration and Exhaustion). Custom or additional races and backgrounds are also possible for a good narrative reason. We have a dynamic spreadsheet for character sheets, made by one of the original players.
This is much more a story of character development and moral struggles than it is a victory-assured loot-and-pillage. There are many elements in the world and in the characters themselves that grant them special abilities and opportunities (mechanically as well as RP). There is no set storyline that you're expected to follow, just movers and players in a large world full of past and future, and embroiled in a battle between Law and Chaos.
The characters and their choices and conflicts largely drive the story. This is definitely a "roleplay" focused game, a "sandbox", with real risk and consequences to actions. You might die! Encounters are not necessarily balanced and not everything is best resolved with combat. But again, it's your story, whatever side of the war you're on and whatever approach that you want to take to the tale.
Some notes on the world: The setting is loosely based on the 4e setting Nentir Vale. Many of the places, entities, and histories are the same as the 4e setting, but much is also different.
It's a medieval world, caught in a cosmic battle. Magic is comparatively rare in the population and is almost always from a divine gift, a diabolical pact, or a magical bloodline. Relics and artifacts may also hold great power. Some creatures are themselves magical, such as dragons or fey (or elves, some would say).
There is one God, of Four Attributes or Powers through whom the order of the world was created. Similar to Tolkien's Valar, one of the Powers fell during the creation of the world, and has corrupted parts of it, including many lesser powers or celestials into fiends, turning what was meant to be a beautiful creation into a desperate battleground between the Powers for the mortal creatures that reside there.
The Hook!
Recently, I ran across a homebrew system called Trespasser (https://tundalus.itch.io/trespasser). I enjoyed the way this system handled character creation, starting with four randomly generated peasants, with stats and some attributes but no class or level, in a deadly situation. Out of the survivors from this first "meat grinder" session, one is selected to become your character. Choices along the way are yours to shape the character as you wish, with class, background, and permanent bonuses to skills and ability scores achieved through roleplay decisions and interaction with the world. (As a note, I am NOT using the Trespasser system, I merely wanted to credit the source of the idea.)
You play four peasant characters, their stats rolled 3d6 in order, with attributes such as race, personality, and occupation also rolled for. Create a name and character around each of these, and your story begins. Remember, many of your peasants may die, and one of them will be the hero that finds the strength to struggle upwards through adversity and become your character.
These four (or eight, or twelve) unlucky peasants were taken from their home towns, farms, shops, forests, or villages, usually at night, and usually by hobgoblins in furs and metal helmets with the sigil of a black hand on the side. Occasionally, your method of capture may have been more terrifying and sinister, as if spirits of Chaos haunted the lands of Law that should not. In either case, you were blindfolded, or knocked out, or both, and woke to find yourself in a freezing cold stone cell with other hapless folk, weaponless and certainly not dressed for the weather, which has got to be way up in the mountains somewhere at this time of the year to warrant those ice crystals on the walls.
Tell me what you think!
I'd be interested, sign me up!
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
I would definitely be interested in this! The trespasser system sounds very fascinating, I love the idea of randomly generated characters, and this seems to add a unique spin on that.
Innovative and well thought out. 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
This sounds great. Thank you for putting this together. I would also like to join.
D&D since 1984
I really like this idea and wish I could join another game! Would you be willing to make the Discord server public for guests to read along?
Definitely interested
Here are my four Peasants:
Trespasser Peasant Generator
PEASANT ONE
Alignment: Despairing & Imaginative
Lineage: Human (+1 Str, +1 Cng)
Former Profession: Prince (Letters, Speech, +2 Vig, +2 Cng, +2 Res)
Abilities Before Bonuses:
Strength 9 Knowledge 14
Agility 15 Cunning 9
Vigor 7 Resolve 12
PEASANT TWO
Alignment: Humble & Calm
Lineage: Elf (+1 Agi, +1 Knw)
Former Profession: Cartwright (+1 Str, +1 Agi)
Abilities Before Bonuses:
Strength 12 Knowledge 8
Agility 11 Cunning 7
Vigor 14 Resolve 15
PEASANT THREE
Alignment: Dutiful & Hopeful
Lineage: Orc (+1 Str, +1 Vig)
Former Profession: Nun (Letters, +1 Res)
Abilities Before Bonuses:
Strength 8 Knowledge 12
Agility 12 Cunning 9
Vigor 15 Resolve 9
PEASANT FOUR
Alignment: Dutiful & Impulsive
Lineage: Dwarf (+1 Vig, +1 Res)
Former Profession: Countess (Letters, +1 Knw, +1 Cng)
Abilities Before Bonuses:
Strength 7 Knowledge 6
Agility 6 Cunning 10
Vigor 9 Resolve 15
D&D since 1984
Thanks everyone for your interest! I'll be getting things together and put up an official recruitment thread soon. We'll be rolling stats/peasants either on the forum or on discord (but nice collection, GR; two nobles!). And yes, spectators will be welcome!
Definitely interested! This is my first go, but this sounds awesome!
This does look interesting, count me in as well.
This sound really interesting. I'd love to join.
If interested please apply here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/137624-recruiting-for-an-existing-homebrew-campaign-rp