tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post3602639493277574619..comments2024-03-25T22:48:31.750-04:00Comments on Dreams in the Lich House: Horror in Dungeons & DragonsJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031181424520125213noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-64945544501876354452011-01-16T20:10:55.500-05:002011-01-16T20:10:55.500-05:00@Beedo:
First off, great post. Sorta reminiscent ...@Beedo:<br />First off, great post. Sorta reminiscent of Ravenloft/GURPS Horror(2nd) tips in those books. But more succinct, 'cuz you're not paid per word! As to D&D horror: Night of the Walking Dead(for Ravenloft), and the Original Ravenloft adventure(sans ridiculous tomb monikers, optional soap opera ending, and Cyrus Belview!) is particularly good<br />imo.<br /><br />Monstrous Choices:<br />Used sparingly(for better effect, especially if PCs need to injure themselves/compromise their souls, brainscrews, etc...), I'd say, or it degenerates into 'What Abomination must we commit so our PCs survive THIS session... Hey, who's gonna go get the pizza?..."<br /><br />Vicarious Horror:<br />'A good technique to build dread is to have something horrible happen to the next guy, as a bit of foreshadowing.'-Totally agree, but then there's this: 'This is why NPC's are born; to die horribly and serve as a cautionary tale for the characters.', with which I respectfully do not concur. This causes a cannon fodder mentality towards non-party members and lessens the atmosphere. 'PFF, who cares, just some NPC!' For the death to have meaning, there must be a sense of loss; besides, killing 'Red Shirts' hardly impresses anyone, especially hardened 'adventurers'!. The PCs should believe(rightly), that they too can be cannibalized by the forces of entropy!, as under your 'Danger' heading, except there should be concrete examples from time to time. Otherwise, ya know, Script Immunity!<br /><br />Resource Pressure:<br />This is rarely, if ever accentuated in published materials that I've seen, kudos for mentioning!<br /><br />'if it's a long term or experienced group, is they might be jaded seeing another vampire': 'Another'[ONE should be an event!]? never understand this, how is a big fire(ice, gas, lightning,etc...) sleepy, treasure-hoarding, lizard that will surrender to save its life more fearsome than a soulless being with immense power, who cannot be destroyed save through violent means, and most horribly has semi-normal desires and an eternity to achieve them(Also, down two Levels/Hit Dice PER HIT!).(I want your body as a slave, your soul as a keepsake vs. gimme your gold and extraneous overclass debutantes!) But hey, I guess its cause Vampires isn't in the title. Ya know, ya run thru Dungeons and chop Dragons. Guess it's a good thing this isn't Vampires and Vaults! That's why I loved Ravenloft, even though the promise of horror being more important than ass-kicking was ludicrous with out-of-plane imports(a fact they realized in 3rd printing and encouraged Natives!)<br /><br />@C'Nor:<br />Good start, I'd say! The Decrepit Bishop who Collects The Archivist sounds like a Mongolian Metal band! The Archivist Who Collects the Decrepit Bishop sounds more 'normal' to me, which is why your version is better!velaranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15689908090884198784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-62192160649209847012011-01-16T12:50:02.552-05:002011-01-16T12:50:02.552-05:00Fantastic post; one I will reference while working...Fantastic post; one I will reference while working on my current Labyrinth Lord campaign. Looking forward to further developments. I just linked you at www.digitalorc.blogspot.comDigital Orchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00276516390269689741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-83696771948892752832011-01-15T17:45:44.833-05:002011-01-15T17:45:44.833-05:00Excellent post. I will be keeping this one close ...Excellent post. I will be keeping this one close at hand.Higgipediahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15898074416237354260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-60403212235581639532011-01-15T17:42:18.472-05:002011-01-15T17:42:18.472-05:00Found it. Link: http://rpgcharacters.wordpress.com...Found it. Link: http://rpgcharacters.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/labyrinth-lord-uniquely-undead/C'nor (Outermost_Toe)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01580315916281876117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-27368203563533118862011-01-15T17:38:03.772-05:002011-01-15T17:38:03.772-05:00True, though I did try to make it different - I...True, though I did try to make it different - I'm planning on using a table on A Character for Every Game if I can find it It gives a whole list of cool things to replace level drain with. Plus, I doubt that many vampires have names like "The Decrepit Bishop who Collects The Archivist".C'nor (Outermost_Toe)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01580315916281876117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-70934156294388606632011-01-15T13:22:19.455-05:002011-01-15T13:22:19.455-05:00Very thorough, I'm saving this in my commonpla...Very thorough, I'm saving this in my commonplace folder. Thanks.Telecanterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238356788092725244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-63689876130461066782011-01-15T12:22:44.231-05:002011-01-15T12:22:44.231-05:00Excellent post! You've given me lots of food ...Excellent post! You've given me lots of food for thought!Keith Sloanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07319879076978887933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-32319272052758454422011-01-15T09:45:50.908-05:002011-01-15T09:45:50.908-05:00C'nor - you're definitely hitting on some ...C'nor - you're definitely hitting on some standard themes there - the drained bodies build <b>atmosphere</b>, the vampire's level drain presents <b>danger</b>, and the risk of coming back is the <b>fate worse than death</b>. The only thing you might run into, if it's a long term or experienced group, is they might be jaded seeing another vampire.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18031181424520125213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-16327431154992761702011-01-15T03:32:24.185-05:002011-01-15T03:32:24.185-05:00Huh. I have a vampire that can infect them, return...Huh. I have a vampire that can infect them, return from the dead (Cloning itself at the same time if wants) (Though that's only if they don't actually manage to kill it right), turn NPCs (And the first person they find other than the inn-keeper/landlord/other job description, which I haven't decided on, is working for him, and will eventually have to be killed). And the rooms before his lair are filled with drained bodies hanging in midair, as well as tortured subjects in various states of decay and/or life. Does that meet the requirements?C'nor (Outermost_Toe)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01580315916281876117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-16463780139025905112011-01-15T00:50:00.936-05:002011-01-15T00:50:00.936-05:00sounds fantastic! I love a bit of horror in my fa...sounds fantastic! I love a bit of horror in my fantasy. The Basalt Keep will have some horror elements. I thought the whole cabin part of Death Frost Doom was one of the coolest, most atmospheric modules I've ever read.Xyanthonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07902260753434100101noreply@blogger.com