Expanding Lucid Dreaming [Archive] - Wizards Community

Expanding Lucid Dreaming [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Xeviat-DM
05-10-07, 02:49 AM I have need to expand the Lucid Dreaming skill, presented in Manual of the Planes. My players are about to enter a nightmare realm, modeled after Far Realm, which is the home of taint in the mini setting I have been running. I want the players to be able to develope special abilities in the dream world, and Lucid Dreaming is the way to do it.

But the current Lucid Dreaming skill doesn't have a whole lot of options. Has anyone expanded it? Anyone have any advice on the things I should let players do with it (such as fly, create weapons out of thin air, alter the terrain/gravity/lighting, shapechange, ect.)? The abilities won't be coming out of the dreamscape with them, so they can be worth more than other skills, but I don't want it to outstrip magic.

Thanks everyone. I'll post some ideas soon.
malykoth
05-10-07, 09:22 PM Heroes of Horror has a section about dreams and using dreams in adventures (or even as adventures). You might want to look it over for some ideas.
Xeviat-DM
05-11-07, 01:54 AM There's nothing about Lucid Dreaming in there. They do have rules for magic going wrong, but that only hurts casters and is unfair.
Taeldrin Laesrash
05-11-07, 09:07 AM I think Hyperconcious has rules for dealing with dreams. It's a psionic supplement, so I don't think it'll be what you want, though. Based on your descriptions, I think you should look at the various rules for Limbo-shaping (Or Chaos, or whatever); for example, the Chp. 4 PDF on this page. (http://www.planewalker.com/downloads/products/released.php)
lint trap
05-11-07, 02:16 PM There's nothing about Lucid Dreaming in there. They do have rules for magic going wrong, but that only hurts casters and is unfair.

There's still some good stuff in Heroes of Horror. I'd give all characters with Lucid Dreaming the benefits described in the Dreamtelling feat (p. 122). It adds a bit of divination to the mix without being too overpowering.
Weenie
05-12-07, 07:29 AM 1) Allow players to make Lucid Dreaming checks in place of any other skill checks when interacting with dreamscapes, dreamspawn, and dreamstuff. That covers all movement skills (Balance, Climb, Jump, Swim, Tumble, etc.) in a dreamscape, all interaction skills (Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate...) used against dreamspawn, etc.

2) Let Lucid Dreaming alter the environment the same way Wisdom checks do on Limbo, except instead of just setting local energy traits, you can form any type of environment you want, down to the last detail. The DCs should be adjusted ad hoc, depending on what's attempted.
Make the skill usable untrained (if it's not already), and make sure the players use the aid another action when attempting to LD something big.
hiryuu
05-12-07, 09:09 AM You could look at the way d20 Future's Cyberscape supplement uses Computer Use checks for the VRNet. The entirety of that chapter is here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20modern/we/20040914a

They could be adapted to work with individual dreamscapes instead of networks and websites ("nodes").
Xeviat-DM
05-13-07, 01:52 PM Thanks everyone. I'll be going through the sources that were posted.
Knute
05-14-07, 02:29 PM I just made dream walking a ritual spell for the wizard. He gets everyone in the same room gives them some drugs and leads them into sleep.

He gives them a little pouch with a unique rune on it.

When they 'wake up' they are on the edge of the dreamscape - all their stats etc... are mostly used as normal. The characters are drawn to the wizard, who has joined them, and they enter.

Once inside they can concentrate on the runes from the little pouches they were given and they find the pouches are filled with whatever the DM wants to give them.

Making it a ritual means you can do what you want with the power outside of the rules. Dream adventures are plenty dangerous but not more difficult because they use their own skills and all the magic is tied up in the ritual.

K
Adrez Nesnsid
06-14-07, 06:39 PM BUMP!!! :bump:
Aquarius Alodar
06-15-07, 04:48 PM *Gate flashes open*

*Ahem* Lucid Dreaming, hey? Well, Adamant Entertainment has got just the thing,*maybe* .....One moment please.

...... Ah, here it is. (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=4113&)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xeviat-DM 05-10-07, 02:49 AM	I have need to expand the Lucid Dreaming skill, presented in Manual of the Planes. My players are about to enter a nightmare realm, modeled after Far Realm, which is the home of taint in the mini setting I have been running. I want the players to be able to develope special abilities in the dream world, and Lucid Dreaming is the way to do it. But the current Lucid Dreaming skill doesn't have a whole lot of options. Has anyone expanded it? Anyone have any advice on the things I should let players do with it (such as fly, create weapons out of thin air, alter the terrain/gravity/lighting, shapechange, ect.)? The abilities won't be coming out of the dreamscape with them, so they can be worth more than other skills, but I don't want it to outstrip magic. Thanks everyone. I'll post some ideas soon.
malykoth 05-10-07, 09:22 PM	Heroes of Horror has a section about dreams and using dreams in adventures (or even as adventures). You might want to look it over for some ideas.
Xeviat-DM 05-11-07, 01:54 AM	There's nothing about Lucid Dreaming in there. They do have rules for magic going wrong, but that only hurts casters and is unfair.
Taeldrin Laesrash 05-11-07, 09:07 AM	I think Hyperconcious has rules for dealing with dreams. It's a psionic supplement, so I don't think it'll be what you want, though. Based on your descriptions, I think you should look at the various rules for Limbo-shaping (Or Chaos, or whatever); for example, the Chp. 4 PDF on this page. (http://www.planewalker.com/downloads/products/released.php)
lint trap 05-11-07, 02:16 PM	There's nothing about Lucid Dreaming in there. They do have rules for magic going wrong, but that only hurts casters and is unfair. There's still some good stuff in Heroes of Horror. I'd give all characters with Lucid Dreaming the benefits described in the Dreamtelling feat (p. 122). It adds a bit of divination to the mix without being too overpowering.
Weenie 05-12-07, 07:29 AM	1) Allow players to make Lucid Dreaming checks in place of any other skill checks when interacting with dreamscapes, dreamspawn, and dreamstuff. That covers all movement skills (Balance, Climb, Jump, Swim, Tumble, etc.) in a dreamscape, all interaction skills (Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate...) used against dreamspawn, etc. 2) Let Lucid Dreaming alter the environment the same way Wisdom checks do on Limbo, except instead of just setting local energy traits, you can form any type of environment you want, down to the last detail. The DCs should be adjusted ad hoc, depending on what's attempted. Make the skill usable untrained (if it's not already), and make sure the players use the aid another action when attempting to LD something big.
hiryuu 05-12-07, 09:09 AM	You could look at the way d20 Future's Cyberscape supplement uses Computer Use checks for the VRNet. The entirety of that chapter is here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20modern/we/20040914a They could be adapted to work with individual dreamscapes instead of networks and websites ("nodes").
Xeviat-DM 05-13-07, 01:52 PM	Thanks everyone. I'll be going through the sources that were posted.
Knute 05-14-07, 02:29 PM	I just made dream walking a ritual spell for the wizard. He gets everyone in the same room gives them some drugs and leads them into sleep. He gives them a little pouch with a unique rune on it. When they 'wake up' they are on the edge of the dreamscape - all their stats etc... are mostly used as normal. The characters are drawn to the wizard, who has joined them, and they enter. Once inside they can concentrate on the runes from the little pouches they were given and they find the pouches are filled with whatever the DM wants to give them. Making it a ritual means you can do what you want with the power outside of the rules. Dream adventures are plenty dangerous but not more difficult because they use their own skills and all the magic is tied up in the ritual. K
Adrez Nesnsid 06-14-07, 06:39 PM	BUMP!!! :bump:
Aquarius Alodar 06-15-07, 04:48 PM	Gate flashes open Ahem Lucid Dreaming, hey? Well, Adamant Entertainment has got just the thing,maybe .....One moment please. ...... Ah, here it is. (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=4113&)