Themed parties*

[Echobeats]

*No, I'm not talking about "1960s style" or "Dress as your favourite D&D race" :P

It strikes me that most D&D adventuring parties are a ragtag bunch of misfits, largely because each player builds whatever they feel like, the only restriction being to make sure each role and important skill is covered. This is why it's so hard to think of ways to get them together other than "You all meet in a tavern".

So I wondered about a game where each party member has to have a particular thing in common, and seeing what adventure plots might fall out of that. For example:-

Same power source

Every PC must use the same power source. Multiclassing/hybriding into classes that use other power sources is allowed.

Divine

A temple of [insert god here] is robbed of a precious treasure. The High Priest sends an Avenger, an Invoker, a Paladin and a Cleric to recover it.

Primal

Something from another plane is trying to break through, endangering the natural world. A Druid (or Seeker), a Warden, a Shaman and a Barbarian realise it's up to them to stop it.

Arcane

An enormous source of untapped arcane power, located on another continent, is discovered by the Order's scryers. A wizard, a swordmage, an artificer and a sorceror are sent to seize it ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

I'm sure you can think of similar ideas for Psionic and Martial power.

Origin

Everyone has the same origin (being a race that wouldn't normally have that origin, but having a theme that makes you that origin nonetheless, is allowed).

Fey

The party consists of an Eladrin, a Hamadryad, a Pixie, a Satyr and a Wilden. They are sent on a mission by a powerful Lady of the Feywild.

Others

This could potentially work for Immortal and Elemental origins as well, though there are fewer races, so themes would probably be needed. You could have a couple of Genasi (with different elemental manifestations), and two or three characters of other races with Elemental themes, like Chaosmade, Earthforger and Windlord. Or, for an uneasy alliance between the Astral and Elemental planes, team a Deva, a Shardmind and a Githyanki* up with a Genasi and a Githzerai*.

*OK, they don't have the origin, but they're native to the area: it's good enough.

Half-breeds

Everyone is mixed-race, and shunned by both sides. A Half-Elf, a Half-Orc, a Mul and a Tiefling find acceptance in each other's company. (OK, the Tiefling is stretching it a little, but there isn't really anything else.)

What else can you guys think of, and how would your idea fit into an adventure?

[tcrudisi]

For my current D&D campaign, we decided to do this. We all sat down and tried to think of what thing we would have in common. Same power source, same role, etc. We eventually settled on "same race". And then we chose Pixie. It's the best decision this group has ever made.

The DM for this group just runs pre-made modules, so I can't really say how its impacted the game play from that perspective, but I can say this: it absolutely rocks both for RP and for the hilarity that ensues.

[ghost_warlock]

Not to say that the concept couldn't work (don't most groups experiment with these kind of themed parties at some point?), but part of the reason "ragtag bunch of misfits" works is because the differences help cover the gaps in each others' abilities. Parties of all the same races/power sources will have largely the same good ability scores and skill training.

For instance, almost all divine classes focus on some combination of Str, Con, Wis, and/or Cha. The occasional avenger that puts Dex or Int secondary is really the only exception. The skills they have trained are largely the same as well (again, with a little variability with the avenger).

Of course, that isn't to say that this can't be done. Some power sources will definitely have an easier time covering the bases than others, though.

With all the splat available to the power source, I don't think anyone would bat an eye at a party made up entirely of arcane characters. Honestly, divine probably wouldn't have too much trouble with it, either, with a little planning. Martial would mostly suffer from a lack of a martial controller and the additional hoops involved in getting training in knowledge skills (primal would face similar problems with knowledge skills as well). It'd be just this side of impossible for a shadow party to get through a standard game, though. :smalleek:

As for racial themes, it would mostly depend on the races chosen. Some have a lot more options available than others. For instance, I ran a game a while back where the only races available were bubgear, gnoll, goblin, hobgoblin, kobold (before they got their expanded write up in Into the Unknown), and kenku - suffice to say the party had a somewhat rough time...although that probably had just as much to do with me being a jerk DM and not letting them choose any leader classes! :smalltongue:

[shamgar001]

If a themed party doesn't cover everything, the DM could just houserule to accommodate. I was planning a campaign in which all characters would be warforged at one point, and I had decided to just let them pick their own ability score bonuses. Something similar could be done with skills.

[Tegu8788]

I'm in a game right now that's misfits, some of whom know each other, but we are all have the shape changer keyword. It started as a joke, but we ended up with a Druid, a henokagia (?) bard, and themed slayer, barbarian, fighter, and warlord. While there is little cohesion, skills are somewhat covered, the RP is pretty fun.

[Echobeats]

I'm in a game right now that's misfits, some of whom know each other, but we are all have the shape changer keyword. It started as a joke, but we ended up with a Druid, a henokagia (?) bard, and themed slayer, barbarian, fighter, and warlord. While there is little cohesion, skills are somewhat covered, the RP is pretty fun.

Hengeyokai?

That's a cool concept. What themes do the last four have? I can think of Werewolf, Werebear and Wererat – what am I missing?

P.S. Hengeyokai make great Monks. I had so much fun with "shift your speed and attack each enemy you go past" with a speed of 8 (7 natural plus 1 from a feat). And that was at Level 5.

[Tegu8788]

I believe they are all Werebears and Werewolves. We are paragon, so they just go hybrid when they do. I've been having a lot of fun as a rooftop sniper, as the only ranged character in the group.

[Adoendithas]

If there were a ranged Defender ("YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"-style magic) that would make for an interesting party. Very effective, at least until their enemies get close up.

[ghost_warlock]

Arcane can do ranged defenders just fine. Both the swordmage and a paladin|warlock hybrid can be surprisingly effective ranged defenders. With the right feats, powers, and equipment the paladin|warlock doesn't even need to sacrifice his warlock striking to do so.

Furthermore, with the right items/feats it's not really hard to push a wizard or psion's AC & NADs up to the point you'd think they were wearing plate+heavy shield. Obviously, neither are really defenders (still low hp and no mark nor mark violation) but they can definitely use their controller abilities (particularly immobilization and forced movement+daze/stun) to keep monsters away from the party and/or nullify monster attacks in much the same way a shielding swordmage's aegis does.

[Arkhosia]

Elusive Party
Races: Gnomes, Halflings, Dwarves(?), Goblins, Kobolds.
Classes: Wizard (Illusionist?), Warlock (Fey pact), Rogue (Aerial/ Artful Dodger), Fighter (Swashbuckler Style!), Avenger, Bard.
Themes: Unseelie Agent, Unwelcome Guest.

A party of a Gnome Illusionist wizard, Halfling fey warlock, Kobold avenger, and a Dwarf bard!

[dariathalon]

I was in an all-small party for a short time. I think we had a halfling, goblin, gnome... and something else (don't remember what the last one was, maybe another gnome). There are a few other races that could be picked up as well, svirfneblin, kobolds, pixies (okay tiny, but still fits in I think), etc. There is enough variation there that you could create an okay party, I think. Ours worked well enough.

[Dimers]

I'd like to see an all-revenant party, but I sure haven't played one!

[BlckDv]

I've done it before for short one-offs; and I'm about to do it in a big way. Next game should be The End of my massive campaign which began July 2009, as the party is in the chamber where Vecna will recorporiate with all their McGuffins in a row for the final battle to strip him of godhood and reduce him to a crazy powerful Lich again (the party could not find his Phylactery to prevent his lichself from reforming, having had to elect to learn either a prophecy to strip an ascended god of its power or one about Vecna's phylactery much earlier in the game).

So, we've been talking about the next campaign, and we want something shorter but also very coherent so folks feel like the party is a natural fit without several sessions of "getting to know you."

With the input of the players we will be making a multi-layered theme. All the PCs must be members of one extended family, no more than two NPC "links" to another PC, so you could be the Father of another PC's sister-in-law (Brother to Sister-in-law to PC), but not the brother of a PC's Uncle's Wife (Father, Uncle, Aunt (in-law), PC). Trust me, it is easier with a diagram on paper than as text.

We have a tacit understanding that marriage relationships of NPCs must be fertile race pairings (world assumption that races that cannot crossbreed find long term pairing, even for non-hetero couples, as alien as most humans find bestiality), so no having a Dragonborn marry your Elf's brother. But this still allows for some racial variation but an even stronger RP bond than same race provides. I did provide the player's with my master cross-breeding chart when they voiced an interest in this, so they would not be surprised at my vetoing any specific crossbreed (and they all laughed at my not-so-hidden nod to my dislike of Halflings, as HalflingxTiefling=Cambion).

They also voted to all belong to the same organization. They have not yet selected which organization to join, but the idea is that they are power-source inspired, but with a little given. The Monastic Order for example allows any Divine class as well as Monk or Psion. White Lotus Grad Students is shockingly Arcane classes, Avengers and Clerics [Ioun or Corellon only]. Royal Guard: Special Investigations allows Martial, Wizard, and Cleric [restricted to Official Gods of the state]. Etc. This lets them be a coherent team from the gate, while providing some ability to cover gaps in ability scores or skills to be a well rounded team. It also will let me plan for good thematic adventures, as I can focus on Far Realm threats in a high-Psi party, a cult or religious schism for the Monastics, political rivals in the Royal Guard, etc.

I was kind of surprised how seriously the party wanted to go with the theme elements, I had hoped to talk them into some loose race or organizational link, but as soon as I brought up the idea they wanted to know how strong they could make the theme limits, and this is what we have.

Edit: Clarified wording to show that non-hetero/reproductive coupling is allowed among NPCs (anything is allowed for PCs), if players want to explore those options.

[Felhammer]

I think themed parties can work really well, so long as everyone is on board with the idea.

I've played in games where players are united by an Organization and racial theme (bestial races, goblinoids, kobolds, etc.). I've always wanted to do power source theme though as it sounds quite exciting.

[Epinephrine]

I've always wanted to be in or DM a "themed party," but unfortunately, most people I play with want to optimise somewhat, and thus end up picking races, themes, and backgrounds that make their character perform better. Then you have to figure out what kind of back story you can have the kludges the bunch together. Would be so much easier if they at least had some similar aims.

[ghost_warlock]

Is it still considered a theme party if all the characters are human?

What if they all have, say, the noble theme?

What if winter was coming? :smalltongue:

[Arkhosia]

Is it still considered a theme party if all the characters are human?

What if they all have, say, the noble theme?

What if winter was coming? :smalltongue:

Then each player must have ranks in either profession: kingslayer, preform (beheading), knowledge (betrayal), or craft (poison)

[Adoendithas]

Please explain the reference.

[Tegu8788]

Game of Thrones.

[VeliciaL]

Then each player must have ranks in either profession: kingslayer, preform (beheading), knowledge (betrayal), or craft (poison)

If they do not, they die at the end of the campaign. :smallamused:

[Felhammer]

Please explain the reference.

Game of Thrones TV show, which was inspired by A Song of Fire & Ice by George R.R. Martin.

[Ravian]

Is it still considered a theme party if all the characters are human?

What if they all have, say, the noble theme?

What if winter was coming? :smalltongue:

I had a party that was all human (well mostly human we had one eladrin). Mainly because I decided to do a whole magical medieval europe campaign (sort of inspired by another rp 7th sea) I added some variety by having nationality grant a different racial power (Italians got Second Chance, Russians got Incredible Toughness stuff like that)

[Nerocite]

Radiant Mafia is crazy effective, and can usually cover all the roles. Bonus points if they're an actual mafia.

[Arkhosia]

Wizards!
Everyone's either a wizard or wizard hybrid!
I can see it now... "You get a cantrip and you get a cantrip! Everybody gets a cantrip!".

[VeliciaL]

Radiant Mafia is crazy effective, and can usually cover all the roles. Bonus points if they're an actual mafia.

I'm picturing some sort of lawful evil god who likes to control everything from the shadows. The party shows up to *ahem* "correct" anyone who steps out of line. :smallamused:

[Felhammer]

Wizards!
Everyone's either a wizard or wizard hybrid!
I can see it now... "You get a cantrip and you get a cantrip! Everybody gets a cantrip!".

So... Harry Potter...?

[VeliciaL]

So... Harry Potter...?

You joke, but students at a magic school could make a fun adventure for this sort of party.

[Yomega]

Im working with my friends to make a party of hybrids that have an extreamly long adventuring day so far we have

Hybrid Vampire|Psion Gnome (surge acuision)
Hybrid Artificer|Warlord Pixie (Lazy lord/uses gnomes surges to heal party)
Hybrid Cavilier|Warlock Teifling (large starting surges melee basic specialist)
Hybrid Cleric|... ... (ritual caster and cleric utilitys to supliment surges in rituals)

[ghost_warlock]

Cleric|Invoker might work for the last slot.


Battle Cleric's Lore can give scale proficiency + the magic shield bonus so AC should be great for stomping up to monsters and blasting them with melee and close attacks.
With the magic shield bonus from BCL, feel free to dual-wield implements and/or weapons however you see fit - or just grab a two-handed weapliment.
Build Con/Wis for a ton of starting surges and high surge amounts.
You want radiant damage? You got tons of radiant damage.
Double-dip your "Power of..." domain feats between both classes.
Access to invoker controller powers - sometimes considered second only to the wizard's in overall power.
Covenant of Wrath should help boost your dpr so you're essentially an off-healer, off-controller, and off-striker - a great 4th- or 5th-man for the party.


You're unfortunately going to have to burn a feat to get rituals, but you were going to have to do that anyway as a hybrid.

[Felhammer]

You joke, but students at a magic school could make a fun adventure for this sort of party.

I agree, it could be quite fun! You'd have to be a Hybrid or allow more than just Wizards to pull it off but I think it would be great fun!

[ghost_warlock]

Or, everyone could just take the Wizard's Apprentice theme. Done! :smalltongue:

[Tegu8788]

Defender: Swordmage|Wizard
Leader: Artificer|Wizard
Striker: Wizard
Striker: Wizard
Controller: Wizard