I had an idea for a D&D campaign that seems pretty interesting imo. Its where the characters are playing an MMORPG like SAO or Elder Scrolls Online. Has anyone else had this idea and is it a good idea? Thanks
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my name is not Bryce
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It's not a bad idea. Arguably, you wouldn't need to do a lot to accommodate the concept. I mean, SAO and ESO are two very different beasts (SAO, for the uninitiated, is a fictional VRMMO: it's much more advanced than anything we have.) You might need rules for the real world, or maybe not, if you didn't plan to have any "skill rolls". You could do a lot of really interesting things with this, especially if there is something in the game that required the players to meet and plan in meat space. Otherwise, that it is an MMO would be meaningless.
I could see it working, but like Verenti said, you'd have to make it matter to the story. The classic "trapped in a game, have to beat it to escape" plot is the most obvious option. Or, of course, you could just ditch the video-game idea and run (for example) a campaign set in the Elder Scrolls world because it's a cool setting.
Otherwise...well, MMOs and video game RPGs in general have their roots in D&D. In a sense, they're just trying to replicate what we're doing at the table. It would be a bit of a step backwards to try to make D&D more like an MMO!
This would be an excellent opportunity to get some "portal fantasy" story beats into your campaign.
Imagine if you had a later session where your characters are flung through the planes, and wake up at a video game convention, realizing that the main event is actually the MMO they belong to. Would be a HUGE twist!
That is, unless you're making it very obvious they're in the game. Even if its obvious though, it would make the campaign interesting.
... Imagine if there was some sort of diabolical scheme by the CEO to add micro-transactions and stuff.
I've been considering this exact idea for a possible campaign set in an Aincrad-esque world. The VRMMO hook is really fun to play around with, especially if you add something like "real life" mechanics similar to desynchronization from Assassin's Creed.
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"Never walk away from home ahead of your axe and sword.
You can't feel a battle in your bones or foresee a fight."
- Havamal, The Sayings of Odin
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I had an idea for a D&D campaign that seems pretty interesting imo. Its where the characters are playing an MMORPG like SAO or Elder Scrolls Online. Has anyone else had this idea and is it a good idea? Thanks
my name is not Bryce
Actor
Certified Dark Sun enjoyer
usually on forum games and not contributing to conversations ¯\_ (ツ)_/
For every user who writes 5 paragraph essays as each of their posts: Remember to touch grass occasionally
It's not a bad idea. Arguably, you wouldn't need to do a lot to accommodate the concept. I mean, SAO and ESO are two very different beasts (SAO, for the uninitiated, is a fictional VRMMO: it's much more advanced than anything we have.) You might need rules for the real world, or maybe not, if you didn't plan to have any "skill rolls". You could do a lot of really interesting things with this, especially if there is something in the game that required the players to meet and plan in meat space. Otherwise, that it is an MMO would be meaningless.
Cool idea.
I could see it working, but like Verenti said, you'd have to make it matter to the story. The classic "trapped in a game, have to beat it to escape" plot is the most obvious option. Or, of course, you could just ditch the video-game idea and run (for example) a campaign set in the Elder Scrolls world because it's a cool setting.
Otherwise...well, MMOs and video game RPGs in general have their roots in D&D. In a sense, they're just trying to replicate what we're doing at the table. It would be a bit of a step backwards to try to make D&D more like an MMO!
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
This would be an excellent opportunity to get some "portal fantasy" story beats into your campaign.
Imagine if you had a later session where your characters are flung through the planes, and wake up at a video game convention, realizing that the main event is actually the MMO they belong to. Would be a HUGE twist!
That is, unless you're making it very obvious they're in the game.
Even if its obvious though, it would make the campaign interesting.
... Imagine if there was some sort of diabolical scheme by the CEO to add micro-transactions and stuff.
So much you can do with this theme.
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I've been considering this exact idea for a possible campaign set in an Aincrad-esque world. The VRMMO hook is really fun to play around with, especially if you add something like "real life" mechanics similar to desynchronization from Assassin's Creed.
"Never walk away from home ahead of your axe and sword.
You can't feel a battle in your bones or foresee a fight."
- Havamal, The Sayings of Odin