My group and I have recently finished a campaign and have started world-building for a new one (both 5e). We have nailed down a setting, but I have no clue how to run it. The setting is a post-apocalyptic version of our own, and now the world is in anarchy. Monsters out number civilized races, and humanoid settlements are moving within abandoned cities.Here are a few things we decided for the world.
Nature has reclaimed civilization.
There are no permanent settlements instead Safe Zones (small areas temporarily occupied by people) move around the remnants of cities.
Magic destroyed technology; though technology fueled by magic can exist.
The ruins of skyscrapers act as dungeons.
There is an Elemental Plane of Electricity.
Subway tunnels can work as the Underdark, or they are capable of possibly cross-planar travel.
Any DMing tips, world layout, or NPC help you can offer me will be greatly appreciated.
There's a book series with the first being called Half a King. I'd recommend you read that as it is set in similar circumstances but not necessarily what you might imagine. It's a very D&D friendly setting.
I have worked some more on the story, and I have made a few changes.
Instead of nomadic people, there are some small settlements, but there is a large abandoned city filled with monsters. The city full of skyscrapers (dungeons). One these houses a low CR construct that runs the city like a queen bee. The construct is a giant wasp with a powerful artifact stored in its body.
Monster and nonhumans were all once regular people, but they were transformed by what was in there hearts (vices, dreams, ideals, goals). Once a monster or nonhuman is killed it reverts back to its original form. I am trying to figure out how to use sanity to represent the mental impact this will have on PCs.
The aforementioned artifact is from the Far Realms, and it destroyed all nonmagical technology. The artifact has two functions: it can restore the world to how it used to be or make the world permanently magical. I am think that maybe for a post-main storyline that aberrations could invade, and the party could have to fight the invasion.
I feel like you need to fit a dragon type that fits the idea of your world. One that grows the plant life around things.
"As the group makes it way up the hill, the first thing you notice is an amazing creation. A man standing 6 feet tall carved from a tall bush. The branches wrap perfectly mimicking the intricate muscle pattern of a human. The eyes sit as sockets and if you were to get closer, you would see two beautiful flowers growing from within. The sun shines on this creation and you feel happy to know that someones spirits are high. Someone clearly made this as a testament perhaps to how nature has reclaimed our world.
As you continue up the hill you come across a another. This one female, she appears to be running. The odd thing you will notice about this one is that its growing...right in the middle of a concrete path. As you get closer still and begin to walk past you notice. A large weapon lay at her feet. Her left hand appears to be clawing at her own face. It almost looks like hair is coming out from between the branches. This strikes you as odd but perhaps some birds are making home in this one. Collecting hair and other items to form a nest. You continue on.
As you crest the hill and pear down the street...the sight takes hold. A pit falls from your chest and you now understand. In front of you, all of them facing at you. Hundreds of humanoid plant figures. Some of them with faces of terror. Some of them faces of pain. Most look as though they are trying to rip their own skin off. Then you see it. Down the street perched on top of a large house stands a beast. His skin as green as the trees and his eyes as purple as the healthiest lavender. A dragon. The dragon. His eyes meet yours and you are overwhelmed with sadness. You suddenly feel as though nature should win. This world isn't meant for you in this form. You stand still as the army of plants in front of you sit motionless. As if they are running to save you. Frozen in place you see the last glimpse of sunlight leave your vision. Your last thought as you start to feel the crawling on your skin. The sound of branches creaking around you..."I have strayed to far...I am tired".
You could easily put a hex map over the map of a current city, and use that as the base for your map, then fantasize it!
The world being a dangerous place with a safe area is classic hex crawl.
The West Marches campaign style works great too.
Oh, and even better yet, there is a TON of cheap MDF city ruins that you could buy that look like ruined sky scrappers and stuff. With a few cans of various colors of gray spray paint and those ruins you have 90% of the terrain you need! Maybe have a few trees growing in them!
Here are some links to information of a westmarches game, and a link or two to some MDF terrain sources.
hmm, this reminds me of a manga/anime called HunterXhunter during one of the arcs with monster people.
so the story goes like this, there is a queen ant who is like a giant intelligent ant and it eats human/oids to create their monster people. they have no recollection of who they were before and serve the queen. these monsters are also intelligent. maybe you should have a look-see of that. that might help your story
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2nd Generation D&D nerd 10 years of experience
Currently DM: 3.5 Steampunk, Skyrim setting 3.5
Currently Playing: three 3.5e games and two 5e D&D games!
Also, I highly recommend having at least a couple of permanent settlements, instead of all safe zones, because that'll make it easier to get the players around if they know they can map their progress based on a specific location. This seems like a really cool concept, however! Hope it goes well for you!
1: A powerful artifact from the pre-apocalyptic era has been discovered deep within a skyscraper dungeon. The players must navigate the treacherous ruins, fend off rival factions, and uncover the artifact's secrets before it falls into the wrong hands.
2. : Rumors abound of a gateway to the Elemental Plane of Electricity hidden within the heart of the city. The players must delve into the depths of the subway tunnels, confront elemental guardians, and harness the power of lightning to prevent a cataclysmic event.
3. : The leaders of several Safe Zones are vying for control over limited resources and territory. The players are tasked with mediating disputes, forging alliances, and uncovering plots to sabotage rival factions. Their decisions could shape the future of the region.
4.: A renowned alchemist seeks rare ingredients found only in the most dangerous corners of the post-apocalyptic world. The players must brave perilous wilderness, fend off monstrous creatures, and navigate ancient ruins to gather the ingredients needed for powerful potions or spells.
5. : A group of settlers has gone missing while exploring the ruins of a nearby city. The players are hired to track down the missing individuals, unravel the mystery of their disappearance, and confront the sinister force responsible.
6. : Legends speak of a hidden sanctuary untouched by the devastation of the apocalypse—a last bastion of civilization hidden within the wilderness. The players embark on a perilous journey to locate this fabled city, facing challenges both natural and supernatural along the way.
7. : A powerful magical artifact capable of restoring the world to its pre-apocalyptic state has been uncovered, but it is guarded by powerful monsters and ancient traps. The players must retrieve the artifact before a rival faction does, while also contending with the growing instability of the post-apocalyptic world.
Old thread, but I am so reminded of the animated movie, Wizards (1977).
NOTE: Not for kids. It's from the 1970's "adult animation" era, but it's nowhere close to the raunch of Bashki's prior work, Fritz the Cat. It's closer to his Lord of the Rings (1978) set in post-apocalypse Earth with more suggestive tones and silliness. Magic and monsters have returned to the world.
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Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
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My group and I have recently finished a campaign and have started world-building for a new one (both 5e). We have nailed down a setting, but I have no clue how to run it. The setting is a post-apocalyptic version of our own, and now the world is in anarchy. Monsters out number civilized races, and humanoid settlements are moving within abandoned cities.Here are a few things we decided for the world.
Any DMing tips, world layout, or NPC help you can offer me will be greatly appreciated.
There is a Quasi-elemental Plane of Lightning already in the D&D Multiverse.
Check out some of the material put out for the Rifts RPG as well. Good source to data mine.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time.
There's a book series with the first being called Half a King. I'd recommend you read that as it is set in similar circumstances but not necessarily what you might imagine. It's a very D&D friendly setting.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shattered_Sea
I have worked some more on the story, and I have made a few changes.
Instead of nomadic people, there are some small settlements, but there is a large abandoned city filled with monsters. The city full of skyscrapers (dungeons). One these houses a low CR construct that runs the city like a queen bee. The construct is a giant wasp with a powerful artifact stored in its body.
Monster and nonhumans were all once regular people, but they were transformed by what was in there hearts (vices, dreams, ideals, goals). Once a monster or nonhuman is killed it reverts back to its original form. I am trying to figure out how to use sanity to represent the mental impact this will have on PCs.
The aforementioned artifact is from the Far Realms, and it destroyed all nonmagical technology. The artifact has two functions: it can restore the world to how it used to be or make the world permanently magical. I am think that maybe for a post-main storyline that aberrations could invade, and the party could have to fight the invasion.
I feel like you need to fit a dragon type that fits the idea of your world. One that grows the plant life around things.
"As the group makes it way up the hill, the first thing you notice is an amazing creation. A man standing 6 feet tall carved from a tall bush. The branches wrap perfectly mimicking the intricate muscle pattern of a human. The eyes sit as sockets and if you were to get closer, you would see two beautiful flowers growing from within. The sun shines on this creation and you feel happy to know that someones spirits are high. Someone clearly made this as a testament perhaps to how nature has reclaimed our world.
As you continue up the hill you come across a another. This one female, she appears to be running. The odd thing you will notice about this one is that its growing...right in the middle of a concrete path. As you get closer still and begin to walk past you notice. A large weapon lay at her feet. Her left hand appears to be clawing at her own face. It almost looks like hair is coming out from between the branches. This strikes you as odd but perhaps some birds are making home in this one. Collecting hair and other items to form a nest. You continue on.
As you crest the hill and pear down the street...the sight takes hold. A pit falls from your chest and you now understand. In front of you, all of them facing at you. Hundreds of humanoid plant figures. Some of them with faces of terror. Some of them faces of pain. Most look as though they are trying to rip their own skin off. Then you see it. Down the street perched on top of a large house stands a beast. His skin as green as the trees and his eyes as purple as the healthiest lavender. A dragon. The dragon. His eyes meet yours and you are overwhelmed with sadness. You suddenly feel as though nature should win. This world isn't meant for you in this form. You stand still as the army of plants in front of you sit motionless. As if they are running to save you. Frozen in place you see the last glimpse of sunlight leave your vision. Your last thought as you start to feel the crawling on your skin. The sound of branches creaking around you..."I have strayed to far...I am tired".
MAX
Dungeon Master | Story Teller
Roll20 as Max
Twitch as MaxAnthem
Run it as a hex crawl!
You could easily put a hex map over the map of a current city, and use that as the base for your map, then fantasize it!
The world being a dangerous place with a safe area is classic hex crawl.
The West Marches campaign style works great too.
Oh, and even better yet, there is a TON of cheap MDF city ruins that you could buy that look like ruined sky scrappers and stuff. With a few cans of various colors of gray spray paint and those ruins you have 90% of the terrain you need! Maybe have a few trees growing in them!
Here are some links to information of a westmarches game, and a link or two to some MDF terrain sources.
Westmarches stuff:
https://www.reddit.com/r/itmejp/comments/2idf33/west_marches_resources/
http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/78/grand-experiments-west-marches/ (The blog of the guy who ran the original west marches!)
Ruins:
http://www.wargamestournaments.com/product/city-fast-32-ruined-buildings-set-28mm-terrain/ (This is 32 ruins of various sizes for not much money! Its a pretty good deal, and this alone would give you enough ruined city buildings to fill up a table!)
hmm, this reminds me of a manga/anime called HunterXhunter during one of the arcs with monster people.
so the story goes like this, there is a queen ant who is like a giant intelligent ant and it eats human/oids to create their monster people. they have no recollection of who they were before and serve the queen. these monsters are also intelligent. maybe you should have a look-see of that. that might help your story
2nd Generation D&D nerd 10 years of experience
Currently DM: 3.5 Steampunk, Skyrim setting 3.5
Currently Playing: three 3.5e games and two 5e D&D games!
I'm seconding making it more of a West Marches campaign style
http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/78/grand-experiments-west-marches/
https://muleabides.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/why-a-west-marches-campaign-needs-a-town-moving-into-the-dungeon-pt-1/
Also, I highly recommend having at least a couple of permanent settlements, instead of all safe zones, because that'll make it easier to get the players around if they know they can map their progress based on a specific location. This seems like a really cool concept, however! Hope it goes well for you!
1: A powerful artifact from the pre-apocalyptic era has been discovered deep within a skyscraper dungeon. The players must navigate the treacherous ruins, fend off rival factions, and uncover the artifact's secrets before it falls into the wrong hands.
2. : Rumors abound of a gateway to the Elemental Plane of Electricity hidden within the heart of the city. The players must delve into the depths of the subway tunnels, confront elemental guardians, and harness the power of lightning to prevent a cataclysmic event.
3. : The leaders of several Safe Zones are vying for control over limited resources and territory. The players are tasked with mediating disputes, forging alliances, and uncovering plots to sabotage rival factions. Their decisions could shape the future of the region.
4.: A renowned alchemist seeks rare ingredients found only in the most dangerous corners of the post-apocalyptic world. The players must brave perilous wilderness, fend off monstrous creatures, and navigate ancient ruins to gather the ingredients needed for powerful potions or spells.
5. : A group of settlers has gone missing while exploring the ruins of a nearby city. The players are hired to track down the missing individuals, unravel the mystery of their disappearance, and confront the sinister force responsible.
6. : Legends speak of a hidden sanctuary untouched by the devastation of the apocalypse—a last bastion of civilization hidden within the wilderness. The players embark on a perilous journey to locate this fabled city, facing challenges both natural and supernatural along the way.
7. : A powerful magical artifact capable of restoring the world to its pre-apocalyptic state has been uncovered, but it is guarded by powerful monsters and ancient traps. The players must retrieve the artifact before a rival faction does, while also contending with the growing instability of the post-apocalyptic world.
Old thread, but I am so reminded of the animated movie, Wizards (1977).
NOTE: Not for kids. It's from the 1970's "adult animation" era, but it's nowhere close to the raunch of Bashki's prior work, Fritz the Cat. It's closer to his Lord of the Rings (1978) set in post-apocalypse Earth with more suggestive tones and silliness. Magic and monsters have returned to the world.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.