Page 40 - Dungeon Master's Guide

DARK FANTASY MYSTERY
Vampires brood on the battlements of their accursed Who stole three legendary magic weapons and hid them
castles. Necromancers toil in dark dungeons to create away in a remote dungeon, leaving a cryptic clue to their
horrid servants made of dead flesh. Devils corrupt the location? Who placed the duke into a magical slumber,
innocent, and werewolves prowl the night. All of these and what can be done to awaken him? Who murdered
elements evoke horrific aspects of the fantasy genre. the guildmaster, and how did the killer get into the
If you want to put a horror spin on your campaign, guild's locked vault?
you have plenty of material to work with. The Monster A mystery-themed campaign puts the characters in
Manual is full of creatures that perfectly suit a storyline the role of investigators, perhaps traveling from town
of supernatural horror. The most important element of to town to crack tough cases the local authorities can't
such a campaign, though, isn't covered by the rules. A handle. Such a campaign emphasizes puzzles and
dark-fantasy setting requires an atmosphere of building problem-solving in addition to combat prowess.
dread, created through careful pacing and evocative A larger mystery might even set the stage for the
description. Your players contribute too; they have to whole campaign. Why did someone kill the characters'
be willing to embrace the mood you're trying to evoke. mentor, setting them on the path of adventure? Who
Whether you want to run a full-fledged dark-fantasy really controls the Cult of the Red Hand? In this case,
campaign or a single creepy adventure, you should the characters might uncover clues to the greater
discuss your plans with the players ahead of time to mystery only once in a while; individual adventures
make sure they're on board. Horror can be intense might be at best tangentially related to that theme. A
and personal, and not everyone is comfortable with diet of nothing but puzzles can become frustrating, so
such a game. be sure to mix up the kinds of encounters you present.
Novels and game products set in Ravenloft, the Novels in various D&D settings have explored the
Demiplane of Dread, explore dark-fantasy elements in a mystery genre with a fantasy twist. In particular, Murder
D&D context. in Cormyr (by Chet Williamson), Murder in Halruaa (by
Richard S. Meyers), and Spellstorm (by Ed Greenwood)
INTRIGUE are mysteries set in the Forgotten Realms. Murder
in Tarsis (by John Maddox Roberts) takes the same
The corrupt vizier schemes with the baron's oldest
approach in the Dragonlance setting.
daughter to assassinate the baron. A hobgoblin army
sends doppelganger spies to infiltrate the city before the
SWASHBUCKLING
invasion. At the embassy ball, the spy in the royal court
makes contact with his employer. Rapier-wielding sailors fight off boarding sahuagin.
Political intrigue, espionage, sabotage, and similar Ghouls lurk in derelict ships, waiting to devour treasure
cloak-and-dagger activities can provide the basis for hunters. Dashing rogues and charming paladins weave
an exciting D&D campaign. In this kind of game, the their way through palace intrigues and leap from
characters might care more about skill training and balconies onto waiting horses below.
making contacts than about attack spells and magic The swashbuckling adventures of pirates and
weapons. Roleplaying and social interaction take on musketeers suggest opportunities for a dynamic
greater importance than combat, and the party might go campaign. The characters typically spend more
for several sessions without seeing a monster. time in cities, royal courts, and seafaring vessels
Again, make sure your players know ahead of time than in dungeon delves, making interaction skills
that you want to run this kind of campaign. Otherwise, important (though not to the extent of a pure intrigue
a player might create a defense-focused dwarf paladin, campaign). Nevertheless, the heroes might end up in
only to find he is out of place among half-elf diplomats classic dungeon situations, such as searching storm
and tiefling spies. sewers beneath the palace to find the evil duke's
The Brimstone Angels novels by Erin M. Evans focus hidden chambers.
on intrigue in the Forgotten Realms setting, from the A good example of a swashbuckling rogue in the
backstabbing politics of the Nine Hells to the contested Forgotten Realms is Jack Ravenwild, who appears in
s_uccession of Cormyrean royalty. novels by Richard Baker (City of Ravens and Prince
of Ravens).

WAR
A hobgoblin army marches toward the city, leading
elephants and giants to batter down the stronghold's
walls and ramparts. Dragons wheel above a barbarian
horde, scattering enemies as the raging warriors
cut a swath through field and forest. Salamanders
muster at an efreeti's command, poised to assault an
astral fortress.