This post is to gauge interest/recruit for an experimental homebrew game I've been working on. The game is roughly based on the roguelike genre of videogames, but using 5e rules for characters/monsters/items/combat. For those unfamiliar with the term, the general definition of a roguelike game is a game where the character explores a procedurally generated dungeon type area, fights monsters, gets stronger, and most likely eventually dies and has to start over. This may sound annoying and frustrating (and sometimes it is!) but these games to me are all about learning, improving, and adapting to what you find during a run.
What you need to know about this game:
This isn't really D&D. There won't really be any exploration or role-playing, just pure, stupid, endless combat fun.
Your characters will die. That's just part of the game. But they come back and you get to try again!
This game could be a great way to experiment with different characters or weird combinations (or just have fun with a character you like to play!). You will also get chances to play with a lot of different interesting magic items and fight against cool monsters.
I consider this very much a work in progress, so rules might need to change if it becomes apparent that something is unbalanced.
I'm going to want feedback. No pressure if you want to just play for fun, but anyone willing to play and also provide feedback/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Characters will start at Level 1 using Standard Array or Point Buy. All official content is fine by me, UA/homebrew is probably fine but run it by me first. I own a decent amount of content on here and can share with the campaign for anyone looking for some different subclasses, etc.
Characters start with the worst possible equipment (padded armor, club/dagger/sling) and no money. But don't worry, you'll upgrade quickly!
This game is currently only balanced for a party of 4, but I can be flexible.
If you want to know more specifics, read below. If you know you want to try this and want to discover things in game, ignore the spoiler below.
The basic play loop will have the party choose a room to enter (based on preview of what reward the room will give), fight enemies in the room, and choose a reward from the available options.
Rewards include normal weapons/armor, magic weapons/armor/items, potions, short/long rests.
Eventually the party will reach a boss room, and if the boss is defeated the party will earn a permanent level-up.
Sometimes you'll earn gold which can be used to buy permanent equipment/upgrades/random stuff in between runs.
If you're interested or might be interested in joining:
Let me know with a comment below!
You can just tell me you're interested in joining, or you can make a character and post a link.
Ask me questions here or in a PM so I can help you figure out if you want to give this a try.
If you'd be interested in running this game either on here or with a private group:
Send me a PM and I can send you the general rules and materials I have.
This would be much appreciated, because I really want as much feedback as I can get.
Thank you for reading and considering! Let me know if you have any questions whatsoever, and have fun with your games!
I've been hankering for just days of straight-up combat; this sounds like just the ticket, so I'm totally interested. I'd likely play a dual-wielding pirate; I should post him soon.
One concern though: how/why are we starting with the worst possible equipment? Would my dual-wielder not even start with two swords?
Great question, I didn't explain that aspect super well. More or less I was designing this from a standpoint of the party starting with nothing and getting stronger as they progress through the levels. These games are usually very challenging, so this was one measure I put in to make encounters difficult, at least at the very beginning. In the first private game I'm running with friends, they were able to purchase all the weapons they wanted and a couple shields after the first run.
Viridi was always an explorer, she would wander around in the forest, her personal playground. She played with the animals, and she would go on quests, like the hero's in the storybooks. At the age of 18 her mother and father bid her farewell and Viridi was off on her adventure. Then she got broke. She had to sell most of her possessions barely having anything left, and had to use the forest to survive. While she was in the forest she picked up a few tricks from her animal friends but yearned for the comfort of home. So she picked herself up and is now trying to get enough money to prosper.
NAME: Gogon RACE: Stout Halfling CLASS: Monk (eventually Way of the Ascendant Dragon) BACKGROUND: Hermit ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good SHEET:https://ddb.ac/characters/39575718/ClujC8
BACKSTORY: Gogon's clan of halflings was a strange one, living in the wilderness and training as warriors. When he was young, Gogon heard tale of monk warriors who harnessed the power of dragons, and since then he has made it his goal to find and learn from these monks, and to return to his tribe as one of the strongest among them. In pursuit of this goal, he went into seclusion after his basic training, to prepare his mind, and to try to connect his spirit with that of the dragons.
Would love to play! I really hope Viridi doesn’t die right away... Is it possible if she could take a healers kit, or get one quickly? Otherwise I can’t use the healer feat... Thanks!
Would love to play! I really hope Viridi doesn’t die right away... Is it possible if she could take a healers kit, or get one quickly? Otherwise I can’t use the healer feat... Thanks!
I was thinking about this too. Duncan needs a pole arm (glaive) for his main build to work. But I guess that’s the idea with ‘gold to buy permanent items’. So the first time we wont have it, but for items that are central to your build/character, you just make sure to buy them first. It’ll be interesting watching them get stronger through means other than just leveling :)
The one thing I really hope to see are some form of combat mapping. Since that’s the focus of this campaign, it really is useful to know precise locations.
Would love to play! I really hope Viridi doesn’t die right away... Is it possible if she could take a healers kit, or get one quickly? Otherwise I can’t use the healer feat... Thanks!
I was thinking about this too. Duncan needs a pole arm (glaive) for his main build to work. But I guess that’s the idea with ‘gold to buy permanent items’. So the first time we wont have it, but for items that are central to your build/character, you just make sure to buy them first. It’ll be interesting watching them get stronger through means other than just leveling :)
The one thing I really hope to see are some form of combat mapping. Since that’s the focus of this campaign, it really is useful to know precise locations.
Completely agree... That's why I tried to create a build that will use as little equipment as possible (since it is hard to come by) so hopefully, there will be more stuff to go around for the rest of the group, and/or we can get more 'rest' rewards.
(@Iancellot27 Let me know if I started with too much equipment... It's just a dungeoneer kit, jewelers tools, and an iron pot)
I gave myself a sling, padded, some clothing, and a small pouch filled with pebbles. Is that okay? I mean sling and padded were both things lancellot27 said.
I am a bit worried about my melee fighter with only padded armor at the start :P
I assume this also means no spell casting focus for the magic type people. The start of this is gonna be rough. But that's the point eh? Learn and learn until we can beat it ~
Wow, that was faster interest than I anticipated. I think I'll get a group started right away, I'll set things up either tonight or tomorrow morning. I think I'll do first come, first served so the first 4 people who posted will get into this game, but I'm open to running it for more groups if we can put together another group of 4. I'll answer everyone's questions below, just look for your name:
@ThalaiDawncaller: No healer's kit at the start unfortunately, but you will likely be able to get one quickly.
@kevtr0n: As far as combat mapping goes, my stance as of now is to use theater of the mind and maybe a map for boss fights. I don't have a lot of experience in making maps for online play, I would usually just draw maps on a dry erase grid when I could do in person games. So if anyone has suggestions for good ways to make maps for this sort of setting I'm all ears.
@The_Mathemagician/kevtr0n/ThalaiDawncaller: For equipment, my general DMing style is to say that players just have any super common adventuring type item like you find in the dungeoneering/explorer's kits. For example if you think of a use for a rope or some ball bearings, we say that you have those. I don't personally see any reason to change that for this game, so I'm just going to go with that. Also I don't like keeping track of ammo so I also assume that everyone has as much ammo as they will need.
Spellcasters are allowed to start with a focus, I see it as on par to a martial character starting with a bad weapon. This might make spellcasters more powerful/less hindered at the beginning but I think martial characters will often have more opportunities to get stronger during runs.
My suggestion for equipment which I think people have figured out is just clear anything out and then add padded armor, a bad weapon (something that has a d4 damage die), and/or a spellcasting focus (all depending on your class). Use your best judgement and don't worry too much, I can check character sheets before we start.
@everyone: I didn't mention this in the original post but the new options from Tasha's Cauldron are good to use for this. Feel free to use optional class features and/or customized origin.
cool. so start with kit. and padded armor/simple club to start yeah? I'll go edit my sheet. If you create a campaign on here then we can join for you to easily check~ it'll also be good to have an OOC private message when you finally select who will be playing.
Hello all!
This post is to gauge interest/recruit for an experimental homebrew game I've been working on. The game is roughly based on the roguelike genre of videogames, but using 5e rules for characters/monsters/items/combat. For those unfamiliar with the term, the general definition of a roguelike game is a game where the character explores a procedurally generated dungeon type area, fights monsters, gets stronger, and most likely eventually dies and has to start over. This may sound annoying and frustrating (and sometimes it is!) but these games to me are all about learning, improving, and adapting to what you find during a run.
What you need to know about this game:
If you want to know more specifics, read below. If you know you want to try this and want to discover things in game, ignore the spoiler below.
If you're interested or might be interested in joining:
If you'd be interested in running this game either on here or with a private group:
Thank you for reading and considering! Let me know if you have any questions whatsoever, and have fun with your games!
I've been hankering for just days of straight-up combat; this sounds like just the ticket, so I'm totally interested. I'd likely play a dual-wielding pirate; I should post him soon.
One concern though: how/why are we starting with the worst possible equipment? Would my dual-wielder not even start with two swords?
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
@RodTheBard
Great question, I didn't explain that aspect super well. More or less I was designing this from a standpoint of the party starting with nothing and getting stronger as they progress through the levels. These games are usually very challenging, so this was one measure I put in to make encounters difficult, at least at the very beginning. In the first private game I'm running with friends, they were able to purchase all the weapons they wanted and a couple shields after the first run.
Ok. I'll probably try a different character, then.
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
I am interested, sounds fun. I have recently gotten back into CRPG's and am having a blast.
Name: Scal
Race/Class: Yuan-Ti Sorcerer
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/26164528/2xy8zc
Hey, could I join? I will make a character soon.
When players get creative.
Here's my character!
Viridi Faba, the druid.
Viridi was always an explorer, she would wander around in the forest, her personal playground. She played with the animals, and she would go on quests, like the hero's in the storybooks. At the age of 18 her mother and father bid her farewell and Viridi was off on her adventure. Then she got broke. She had to sell most of her possessions barely having anything left, and had to use the forest to survive. While she was in the forest she picked up a few tricks from her animal friends but yearned for the comfort of home. So she picked herself up and is now trying to get enough money to prosper.
https://ddb.ac/characters/39569589/yps7Vr
When players get creative.
I’m down for something like this actually. I’ve been dying to try a battle master fighter for a while, and a campaign to just fight sounds ideal.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/kevtr0n/characters/7025832
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
This sounds like a blast!
Just curious, would I be able to use firearms if I was an Artificer?
Turns out this isn't going to be necessary!I'll post my character here in a bit...
https://ddb.ac/characters/39574220/tBmXpT
Name: Arona Lightfist
Race: Half-Elf (Wood)
Class: Monk (Way of Mercy)
Background: Folk Hero
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
NAME: Gogon
RACE: Stout Halfling
CLASS: Monk (eventually Way of the Ascendant Dragon)
BACKGROUND: Hermit
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good
SHEET: https://ddb.ac/characters/39575718/ClujC8
BACKSTORY: Gogon's clan of halflings was a strange one, living in the wilderness and training as warriors. When he was young, Gogon heard tale of monk warriors who harnessed the power of dragons, and since then he has made it his goal to find and learn from these monks, and to return to his tribe as one of the strongest among them. In pursuit of this goal, he went into seclusion after his basic training, to prepare his mind, and to try to connect his spirit with that of the dragons.
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Would love to play! I really hope Viridi doesn’t die right away... Is it possible if she could take a healers kit, or get one quickly? Otherwise I can’t use the healer feat... Thanks!
When players get creative.
I was thinking about this too. Duncan needs a pole arm (glaive) for his main build to work. But I guess that’s the idea with ‘gold to buy permanent items’. So the first time we wont have it, but for items that are central to your build/character, you just make sure to buy them first. It’ll be interesting watching them get stronger through means other than just leveling :)
The one thing I really hope to see are some form of combat mapping. Since that’s the focus of this campaign, it really is useful to know precise locations.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Completely agree... That's why I tried to create a build that will use as little equipment as possible (since it is hard to come by) so hopefully, there will be more stuff to go around for the rest of the group, and/or we can get more 'rest' rewards.
(@Iancellot27 Let me know if I started with too much equipment... It's just a dungeoneer kit, jewelers tools, and an iron pot)
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
I completely cleared my equip. Until the DM says, I don’t know what we’d actually have.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
That's a good idea... I'll follow suit!
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
I gave myself a sling, padded, some clothing, and a small pouch filled with pebbles. Is that okay? I mean sling and padded were both things lancellot27 said.
When players get creative.
I am a bit worried about my melee fighter with only padded armor at the start :P
I assume this also means no spell casting focus for the magic type people. The start of this is gonna be rough. But that's the point eh? Learn and learn until we can beat it ~
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Yep! Any idea when we will start/be selected?
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Wow, that was faster interest than I anticipated. I think I'll get a group started right away, I'll set things up either tonight or tomorrow morning. I think I'll do first come, first served so the first 4 people who posted will get into this game, but I'm open to running it for more groups if we can put together another group of 4. I'll answer everyone's questions below, just look for your name:
@ThalaiDawncaller: No healer's kit at the start unfortunately, but you will likely be able to get one quickly.
@kevtr0n: As far as combat mapping goes, my stance as of now is to use theater of the mind and maybe a map for boss fights. I don't have a lot of experience in making maps for online play, I would usually just draw maps on a dry erase grid when I could do in person games. So if anyone has suggestions for good ways to make maps for this sort of setting I'm all ears.
@The_Mathemagician/kevtr0n/ThalaiDawncaller: For equipment, my general DMing style is to say that players just have any super common adventuring type item like you find in the dungeoneering/explorer's kits. For example if you think of a use for a rope or some ball bearings, we say that you have those. I don't personally see any reason to change that for this game, so I'm just going to go with that. Also I don't like keeping track of ammo so I also assume that everyone has as much ammo as they will need.
Spellcasters are allowed to start with a focus, I see it as on par to a martial character starting with a bad weapon. This might make spellcasters more powerful/less hindered at the beginning but I think martial characters will often have more opportunities to get stronger during runs.
My suggestion for equipment which I think people have figured out is just clear anything out and then add padded armor, a bad weapon (something that has a d4 damage die), and/or a spellcasting focus (all depending on your class). Use your best judgement and don't worry too much, I can check character sheets before we start.
@everyone: I didn't mention this in the original post but the new options from Tasha's Cauldron are good to use for this. Feel free to use optional class features and/or customized origin.
cool. so start with kit. and padded armor/simple club to start yeah? I'll go edit my sheet. If you create a campaign on here then we can join for you to easily check~ it'll also be good to have an OOC private message when you finally select who will be playing.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM: