Hellgate London DnD 4e - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Hellgate London DnD 4e

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
l3lasphemer
Jul 09, 2009 21:55:12 First off I know the game flopped bigtime, but I really enjoyed the backstory brought out in the 3 novels that were written. I also like the idea of having a DnD game set outside of the standard fantasy setting.

I was thinking about doing a full conversion for the classes, monsters & beasties and settings from start to finish, maybe following along the game's storyline. The novel series is set before the game, I think it would be a great start point going from the novels timeline.

Any thoughts? Input?

Thanks
#2
yellowdingo
Jul 10, 2009 7:48:22 The novels set the conditions of the Game. If you start the game with the events of the novels, the events will change. This changes the reality of any future games dependant on the novels.
Give it a try, but allow them to select one of the adventure paths through the novels. You will need to lay out Primary Fixed Events (events that wont be swayed by the actions of the PCs one way or another) on a timeline and play the PCs offagainst that timeline. If they manage to create change, there will be events that exert change. Torching a few buildings to flush out a nest of ugly - leads to a massive fire that draws the attention of the Law causing a regional distraction.
#3
l3lasphemer
Jul 13, 2009 18:00:31 Bump for more advice
#4
Ore
Jul 14, 2009 10:44:05
The novels set the conditions of the Game. If you start the game with the events of the novels, the events will change. This changes the reality of any future games dependant on the novels.
Give it a try, but allow them to select one of the adventure paths through the novels. You will need to lay out Primary Fixed Events (events that wont be swayed by the actions of the PCs one way or another) on a timeline and play the PCs offagainst that timeline. If they manage to create change, there will be events that exert change. Torching a few buildings to flush out a nest of ugly - leads to a massive fire that draws the attention of the Law causing a regional distraction.

I didn't get the impression that the OP was going to have a heart attack if the players didn't follow the game exactly. I think he was just stating where he wanted to start his story at which is a good place, imho.

Who cares if they change primary events? The game nazis aren't going to leap out of the internet to straggle him because his players changed things a bit in their table top setting.

:P
#5
umcorian
Jul 14, 2009 11:46:24
First off I know the game flopped bigtime, but I really enjoyed the backstory brought out in the 3 novels that were written. I also like the idea of having a DnD game set outside of the standard fantasy setting.

I was thinking about doing a full conversion for the classes, monsters & beasties and settings from start to finish, maybe following along the game's storyline. The novel series is set before the game, I think it would be a great start point going from the novels timeline.

Any thoughts? Input?

Thanks

It's a great idea, though a few thoughts on my end.

It would be *extremely* time consuming to do a full conversion of the classes to 4e, and preserve their feel. Some classes would be close - like Cabalists and Warlocks, but even a Warlock won't capture the exact feel, as Cabalists utilize demons as pets, not just sources of power.

Templars would be a nightmare - I can see them fitting the mold of 3-4 classes... a mix of Paladin/Fighter/Ranger and Avenger all in one, with still more unique powers that only technology can provide.

Have you considered d20 Modern or Future (or d20 Urban Arcana) as a base for the setting? I know not if you played much 3e or 3.5e, but I think the d20 system would work much better for your idea. Far easier to convert.
#6
l3lasphemer
Jul 14, 2009 18:14:35 Well I had first thought of the d20 modern, but my group doesn't own any of those sourcebooks, we are kind of wanting to stick with 4e because more than half of the group have never played 3.x.

I was thinking about keeping the classes from the Hellgate as the playable characters and using the powers in Hellgate as the available powers with a conversion to 4e ruleset. I do own the strategy guide for Hellgate so that will help alot. I didn't really want to associate the Hellgate classes with the DnD classes because to me it would take away the feel of the Hellgate classes.

The one thing that has me totally stumped though is races. Human of course, dwarf maybe. Others are really iffy because how exactly do you explain a Half-Orc in modern times?

I was thinking to give the players the choice on how they would battle the Demon, not rigidly following the plotlines in the books or the game, just really using the setting and classes (powers and equipment included).

More to come
#7
matthewswift
Jul 15, 2009 19:51:28 If you're fighting hell you'll do drastic things: as drastic as modifying your genetic makeup. (races are now an option)

have fun redoing the hellgate classes however...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 l3lasphemer Jul 09, 2009 21:55:12	First off I know the game flopped bigtime, but I really enjoyed the backstory brought out in the 3 novels that were written. I also like the idea of having a DnD game set outside of the standard fantasy setting. I was thinking about doing a full conversion for the classes, monsters & beasties and settings from start to finish, maybe following along the game's storyline. The novel series is set before the game, I think it would be a great start point going from the novels timeline. Any thoughts? Input? Thanks
#2 yellowdingo Jul 10, 2009 7:48:22	The novels set the conditions of the Game. If you start the game with the events of the novels, the events will change. This changes the reality of any future games dependant on the novels. Give it a try, but allow them to select one of the adventure paths through the novels. You will need to lay out Primary Fixed Events (events that wont be swayed by the actions of the PCs one way or another) on a timeline and play the PCs offagainst that timeline. If they manage to create change, there will be events that exert change. Torching a few buildings to flush out a nest of ugly - leads to a massive fire that draws the attention of the Law causing a regional distraction.
#3 l3lasphemer Jul 13, 2009 18:00:31	Bump for more advice
#4 Ore Jul 14, 2009 10:44:05	The novels set the conditions of the Game. If you start the game with the events of the novels, the events will change. This changes the reality of any future games dependant on the novels. Give it a try, but allow them to select one of the adventure paths through the novels. You will need to lay out Primary Fixed Events (events that wont be swayed by the actions of the PCs one way or another) on a timeline and play the PCs offagainst that timeline. If they manage to create change, there will be events that exert change. Torching a few buildings to flush out a nest of ugly - leads to a massive fire that draws the attention of the Law causing a regional distraction. I didn't get the impression that the OP was going to have a heart attack if the players didn't follow the game exactly. I think he was just stating where he wanted to start his story at which is a good place, imho. Who cares if they change primary events? The game nazis aren't going to leap out of the internet to straggle him because his players changed things a bit in their table top setting. :P
#5 umcorian Jul 14, 2009 11:46:24	First off I know the game flopped bigtime, but I really enjoyed the backstory brought out in the 3 novels that were written. I also like the idea of having a DnD game set outside of the standard fantasy setting. I was thinking about doing a full conversion for the classes, monsters & beasties and settings from start to finish, maybe following along the game's storyline. The novel series is set before the game, I think it would be a great start point going from the novels timeline. Any thoughts? Input? Thanks It's a great idea, though a few thoughts on my end. It would be extremely time consuming to do a full conversion of the classes to 4e, and preserve their feel. Some classes would be close - like Cabalists and Warlocks, but even a Warlock won't capture the exact feel, as Cabalists utilize demons as pets, not just sources of power. Templars would be a nightmare - I can see them fitting the mold of 3-4 classes... a mix of Paladin/Fighter/Ranger and Avenger all in one, with still more unique powers that only technology can provide. Have you considered d20 Modern or Future (or d20 Urban Arcana) as a base for the setting? I know not if you played much 3e or 3.5e, but I think the d20 system would work much better for your idea. Far easier to convert.
#6 l3lasphemer Jul 14, 2009 18:14:35	Well I had first thought of the d20 modern, but my group doesn't own any of those sourcebooks, we are kind of wanting to stick with 4e because more than half of the group have never played 3.x. I was thinking about keeping the classes from the Hellgate as the playable characters and using the powers in Hellgate as the available powers with a conversion to 4e ruleset. I do own the strategy guide for Hellgate so that will help alot. I didn't really want to associate the Hellgate classes with the DnD classes because to me it would take away the feel of the Hellgate classes. The one thing that has me totally stumped though is races. Human of course, dwarf maybe. Others are really iffy because how exactly do you explain a Half-Orc in modern times? I was thinking to give the players the choice on how they would battle the Demon, not rigidly following the plotlines in the books or the game, just really using the setting and classes (powers and equipment included). More to come
#7 matthewswift Jul 15, 2009 19:51:28	If you're fighting hell you'll do drastic things: as drastic as modifying your genetic makeup. (races are now an option) have fun redoing the hellgate classes however...