[3.5]Replacing the abyss/hades/nine hells with a Disgaea-like netherworld? Perhaps... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

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#1 celestialkin Jan 28, 2009 3:38:47	[3.5]Replacing the abyss/hades/nine hells with a Disgaea-like netherworld? Perhaps working it into an adventure? This idea has been floating around in my head since before I even tried my hand at DMing, and now I finally want to ask what you all think about this. Please be as honest and critical as you please. I am not 100% sure how I would go about it, but I want to keep all this consistent with the current progress and events that have happened in my homebrewed multiverse so far, and if possible somehow make it something PCs can play a part in in some way (it seems a bit significant for simple PCs, though). Fluff concept so far: Show Basically, what I keep picturing in my head is a scene where all of a sudden an NPC (who will never be named) will pop into my multiverse from a vortex/gate similar to the one which first connected to the Farm Realm (hence making the Far Realm aware of the standard D&D multiverses). Said NPC will look a lot like, but isn't, a certain character from a certain game named Disgaea. He will then look around, begin laughing manically in a humorous way like the certain character I mentioned above, who he isn't, followed by what I picture to be an overview shot of my multiverse's greatwheel functioning normally, but then suddenly being rammed by a completely unknown plane which seems to have materialized out of nowhere. The greatwheel then proceeds to fall into disorder, as all the divine level powers (and equivalents) become utterly confused as to what is going on. Then, as the new plane begins to materialize into existence around the mysterious gate and the still laughing young looking NPC, who is again not that character you are probably thinking about, a somewhat succubus looking (although too young looking for such a race) teenage girl holding a trident walks out, followed by what seems to be a celestial deva with wings and a halo (again, apparently very young looking) and a handful of what seem to be blue penguins with pirate wooden legs, all of which seem to be confused as to what the heck/netherworld is going on.
#2 Dreamstryder Jan 29, 2009 14:52:44	A lot of what makes Disgaea Disgaea when invading another RPG is personality rather than actual mechanics, though mechanics that involve tremendous amounts of damage help (and since these beings are high CR anyway, you're probably there already). Evil: Disgaea vs D&D Disgaea "evil" is often about being selfish, NOT hating the world: just being highly selfish, wanting to appear intimidating, but having some ounce of weakness (compassion, hubris, fear) and trying to conceal this fact while acting upon it. Being mean is just a side-effect of getting what you want the quickest way possible; why go out of your way otherwise? There are only 2 differences: (1) D&D Alignment assumes compassion isn't universal, that many Evil creatures want to spread the hate out of the hatefulness of their own hearts (paraphrased from many an MM 3e entry: "They hate everyone"). Any holier-than-thou attitude is from being LAWFUL, not Good or Evil. (2) Resurrection isn't easy, so people take violence a lot more seriously than those who have a Netherworld Hospital. Violence is light-hearted in Disgaea and sometimes held-back, but D&D assumes half the world (or more) is pathologically insane, so I wouldn't worry about realism in this fantasy. Expect the angels to kick and shout a bit, too; some are more Lawful than Good and hence turn manipulative when they see a failing. Law & Chaos The Disgaean alternative to the Bloodwar leaves more ready room for intrigue and combat, I think: a highly stratified upper level with a semblance of etiquette and process-of-law frequented by bribes, throwing influence around, and breaking the rules when might allows. The rules catch you a break when you want it, and when they kick you in the shins, you kick back, harder. Best of both worlds; a war all the time would get tiring. Non-Epic You mean high levels or broad-sweeping changes? The 2 most dangerous places for the PCs that I see are the battlefield and the Netherworld, where nobody gives a squat about others but they have a hospital with a pay-to-cast staff. A lot can be done with delivering bribes, making off with a bribe instead, maneuvering the Dark Assembly in another demon's name so they aren't pounded by disapprovers. The trick is to escape before everyone realizes the sneaks. They only combat involves back-alley muggers and disapproving secretaries, who can be lower level.

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celestialkin

Jan 28, 2009 3:38:47

[3.5]Replacing the abyss/hades/nine hells with a Disgaea-like netherworld? Perhaps working it into an adventure?

This idea has been floating around in my head since before I even tried my hand at DMing, and now I finally want to ask what you all think about this. Please be as honest and critical as you please.

I am not 100% sure how I would go about it, but I want to keep all this consistent with the current progress and events that have happened in my homebrewed multiverse so far, and if possible somehow make it something PCs can play a part in in some way (it seems a bit significant for simple PCs, though).

Fluff concept so far:

Show

Basically, what I keep picturing in my head is a scene where all of a sudden an NPC (who will never be named) will pop into my multiverse from a vortex/gate similar to the one which first connected to the Farm Realm (hence making the Far Realm aware of the standard D&D multiverses). Said NPC will look a lot like, but isn't, a certain character from a certain game named Disgaea. He will then look around, begin laughing manically in a humorous way like the certain character I mentioned above, who he isn't, followed by what I picture to be an overview shot of my multiverse's greatwheel functioning normally, but then suddenly being rammed by a completely unknown plane which seems to have materialized out of nowhere.

The greatwheel then proceeds to fall into disorder, as all the divine level powers (and equivalents) become utterly confused as to what is going on.

Then, as the new plane begins to materialize into existence around the mysterious gate and the still laughing young looking NPC, who is again not that character you are probably thinking about, a somewhat succubus looking (although too young looking for such a race) teenage girl holding a trident walks out, followed by what seems to be a celestial deva with wings and a halo (again, apparently very young looking) and a handful of what seem to be blue penguins with pirate wooden legs, all of which seem to be confused as to what the heck/netherworld is going on.

Dreamstryder

Jan 29, 2009 14:52:44

A lot of what makes Disgaea Disgaea when invading another RPG is personality rather than actual mechanics, though mechanics that involve tremendous amounts of damage help (and since these beings are high CR anyway, you're probably there already).

Evil: Disgaea vs D&D
Disgaea "evil" is often about being selfish, NOT hating the world: just being highly selfish, wanting to appear intimidating, but having some ounce of weakness (compassion, hubris, fear) and trying to conceal this fact while acting upon it. Being mean is just a side-effect of getting what you want the quickest way possible; why go out of your way otherwise?

There are only 2 differences: (1) D&D Alignment assumes compassion isn't universal, that many Evil creatures want to spread the hate out of the hatefulness of their own hearts (paraphrased from many an MM 3e entry: "They hate everyone"). Any holier-than-thou attitude is from being LAWFUL, not Good or Evil. (2) Resurrection isn't easy, so people take violence a lot more seriously than those who have a Netherworld Hospital.

Violence is light-hearted in Disgaea and sometimes held-back, but D&D assumes half the world (or more) is pathologically insane, so I wouldn't worry about realism in this fantasy. Expect the angels to kick and shout a bit, too; some are more Lawful than Good and hence turn manipulative when they see a failing.

Law & Chaos
The Disgaean alternative to the Bloodwar leaves more ready room for intrigue and combat, I think: a highly stratified upper level with a semblance of etiquette and process-of-law frequented by bribes, throwing influence around, and breaking the rules when might allows. The rules catch you a break when you want it, and when they kick you in the shins, you kick back, harder. Best of both worlds; a war all the time would get tiring.

Non-Epic
You mean high levels or broad-sweeping changes? The 2 most dangerous places for the PCs that I see are the battlefield and the Netherworld, where nobody gives a squat about others but they have a hospital with a pay-to-cast staff. A lot can be done with delivering bribes, making off with a bribe instead, maneuvering the Dark Assembly in another demon's name so they aren't pounded by disapprovers. The trick is to escape before everyone realizes the sneaks. They only combat involves back-alley muggers and disapproving secretaries, who can be lower level.