So, like everybody else, I’ve become obsessed with Hades.
its inspired me to come up with a “campaign-lite” idea where the characters would be trying to escape or earn redemption in the afterlife. What I have so far is a series of encounters based off of encounter charts from Xanathars based on level. XP would carry over each death to allow progress, and maybe (like in Hades), at the beginning of each run there would be a roll on a magic item chart or maybe the choice of a Boon from the DMG. There could be mechanics for reincarnations or choosing a different class.
This is all a pretty fresh idea, so I’d like to hear any and all opinions.
For me, part of what makes D&D fun is the stakes — the threat that if you screw up your character can die. Seems like you are proposing something that removes that from the game. It might be fun for some people, but to me it removes something fundamental from the game.
In Hades, the world doesn’t reset when you die, everything progresses regardless. So I’d like to have NPCs at the “beginning” that can razz or comfort the characters each time they die. The other trick is there has to be an end goal, something that is worth reaching for besides leveling. That might be different for each character, It might be as simple as 20 encounters (5 for each tier) and you get something you want? I just think the relationships could be fun between the characters and the monsters if they all remember each other every time. There would also be the stress of “losing” progress throughout the runs.
In D&D, the world doesn’t reset when your character dies, it continues regardless. A recurring NPC who shows up to make fun of the PCs when they do something wrong can still exist without removing dying as a threat. After x number of encounters you will have leveled up y number of times and acquired z amount of treasure. Ideally, you will also have progressed the story and developed the character’s personality and relationships. Characters and recurring npcs remembering each other is, indeed, fun. Also fun is an NPC who remembers a dead PC and commiserated with the rest of the party over their fallen comrade.
I’ve not played the game, though I have read about it. From what I read, the general goal of the game could easily be turned into a D&D campaign. But, imo, since you’re playing D&D and not the game, you need to change the game to make it like D&D. Not change D&D to make it like the game. You’ll upset the rules balance in many unanticipated ways.
All that said, if your group is into it, go for it. You, obviously, don’t need permission from me or anyone else to play how you like. If everyone is having fun, that’s all that matters.
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So, like everybody else, I’ve become obsessed with Hades.
its inspired me to come up with a “campaign-lite” idea where the characters would be trying to escape or earn redemption in the afterlife. What I have so far is a series of encounters based off of encounter charts from Xanathars based on level. XP would carry over each death to allow progress, and maybe (like in Hades), at the beginning of each run there would be a roll on a magic item chart or maybe the choice of a Boon from the DMG. There could be mechanics for reincarnations or choosing a different class.
This is all a pretty fresh idea, so I’d like to hear any and all opinions.
For me, part of what makes D&D fun is the stakes — the threat that if you screw up your character can die. Seems like you are proposing something that removes that from the game. It might be fun for some people, but to me it removes something fundamental from the game.
In Hades, the world doesn’t reset when you die, everything progresses regardless. So I’d like to have NPCs at the “beginning” that can razz or comfort the characters each time they die.
The other trick is there has to be an end goal, something that is worth reaching for besides leveling. That might be different for each character, It might be as simple as 20 encounters (5 for each tier) and you get something you want?
I just think the relationships could be fun between the characters and the monsters if they all remember each other every time. There would also be the stress of “losing” progress throughout the runs.
What's the game over condition for the campaign?
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’ve never really run into a game over condition. Even with TPKs, the story moves forward, just altered by the actions of the heroes.
In D&D, the world doesn’t reset when your character dies, it continues regardless.
A recurring NPC who shows up to make fun of the PCs when they do something wrong can still exist without removing dying as a threat.
After x number of encounters you will have leveled up y number of times and acquired z amount of treasure. Ideally, you will also have progressed the story and developed the character’s personality and relationships.
Characters and recurring npcs remembering each other is, indeed, fun. Also fun is an NPC who remembers a dead PC and commiserated with the rest of the party over their fallen comrade.
I’ve not played the game, though I have read about it. From what I read, the general goal of the game could easily be turned into a D&D campaign. But, imo, since you’re playing D&D and not the game, you need to change the game to make it like D&D. Not change D&D to make it like the game. You’ll upset the rules balance in many unanticipated ways.
All that said, if your group is into it, go for it. You, obviously, don’t need permission from me or anyone else to play how you like. If everyone is having fun, that’s all that matters.