AnotherGuy
Hero
So a friend of mine who has played D&D since early 3.x days asked me to run Pleasure Prison of the B'thuvian Demon Whore. Well it took me a year but I decided to change it up from a duet to a 4 PC group and I redesigned the system (mashup of VtM/V5th Edition and 3.x with ideas from 5e - like Advantage but with a twist). Furthermore, I transplanted it to the Emirates of Ylaruam setting.
First session happened this past Friday and it worked like magic - I had Persian/Egyptian...music all lined up from YouTube to set the atmosphere. Social and exploration challenges dominated the game time as we teased out elements of the setting for authenticity.
When we did do combat, it was scary and lethal because of the new system.
The ambush from the bulette tearing out the desert ground had everyone scrambling away for safety but it was eventually put down after injuring 2 of the four characters.
The opportunistic manticore attack from the air was just enough to highlight the dangers of travelling within an open desert basin between the two mountain ranges allowing flying beasts such as manticores, wyverns and blue dragons to prowl on travellers, small groups and trading caravans. The defeated the manticore, having chased it away with some accurate arrow fire.
The 4 PCs were a/an
This session cemented for me, that I'm going to try and flesh out my system, which the players too are enjoying. I will likely not return to the D&D engine for my staple fantasy RPG once my high-level campaign is done.
First session happened this past Friday and it worked like magic - I had Persian/Egyptian...music all lined up from YouTube to set the atmosphere. Social and exploration challenges dominated the game time as we teased out elements of the setting for authenticity.
When we did do combat, it was scary and lethal because of the new system.
The ambush from the bulette tearing out the desert ground had everyone scrambling away for safety but it was eventually put down after injuring 2 of the four characters.
The opportunistic manticore attack from the air was just enough to highlight the dangers of travelling within an open desert basin between the two mountain ranges allowing flying beasts such as manticores, wyverns and blue dragons to prowl on travellers, small groups and trading caravans. The defeated the manticore, having chased it away with some accurate arrow fire.
The 4 PCs were a/an
- Barbarian hero from the Frozen Wastes of Sodjerford who was instrumental in his home country's reformation (the protagonist of the storyline);
- Sufi (mystic) academician and lecturer, from the religious learning centres of the city of Isfala. He had a touch of psychic powers;
- Musafir (wayfinder) who is a necessary companion for travellers and trade merchants that cross the desert basins of the Emirates, but they can also double up as bounty hunters for items, beasts and people who are lost within the nation's harsh deserts; and
- Alwaghadu (scoundrel), a swindler and opportunist, whose past is rich and checkered.
This session cemented for me, that I'm going to try and flesh out my system, which the players too are enjoying. I will likely not return to the D&D engine for my staple fantasy RPG once my high-level campaign is done.
Last edited: