The D&D equivalent of Burn Notice

[MadBear]

Burn Notice was one of my favorite shows while I was in college. It dawns on me that it's also the perfect intro to a mid-level game. You have a bunch of fairly powerful characters dropped off in a kingdom, but cut off from the crowns protection. Now penniless they need to figure out what to do next.

So, what classes do you see them being? What stats? What equipment would you give them?

[Tiadoppler]

Burn Notice was one of my favorite shows while I was in college. It dawns on me that it's also the perfect intro to a mid-level game. You have a bunch of fairly powerful characters dropped off in a kingdom, but cut off from the crowns protection. Now penniless they need to figure out what to do next.

So, what classes do you see them being? What stats? What equipment would you give them?

First: I love this idea.

Second: I'd place this as a low-level campaign personally, with slow level advancement too. Level 2-8? Much more effective than low-level gangs who prey on commoners, but not able to go toe-to-toe with any group of soldiers without significant tricks/escape routes/home field advantage/allies.

Third: An all-nonmagical party? Rogues and fighters only? Specialists in deception and sabotage screams rogue to me.

[Gydian]

Yes. Definitely yes. Maybe the players had some really nice magic items and than they lose them in the first session.

[Daithi]

Michael Westen -- Paladin
Fiona Glenanne -- Assassin
Sam Axe -- Fighter

[Zonugal]

If we're good starting at (and for the most part staying at) 5th level, maybe we do something like:

Michael Westen -- 'Mastermind' Rogue 4/Monk 1
Fiona Glenanne -- 'Thief' Rogue 4/Fighter 1
Sam Axe -- 'Hunter' Spell-less Ranger 4/Rogue 1
Madeline Westen -- Commoner 1
Jesse Porter -- 'Inquisitive' Rogue 4/Fighter 1

And naturally...

"Dead" Larry Sizemore -- 'Assassin' Rogue 4/Fighter 1

[LordEntrails]

Mid level, imo. I always like the idea since I encountered in in the A series, Against the Slavers.

No starting equipment, or nothing more than what you get at 1st level. Time to start over and figure it out!

[Akolyte01]

Remember to have the party encounter an affable BAD GUY from their past they must reluctantly work with, but know is going to try and double cross them, only for the bad guy to be unceremoniously killed by the BIGGER bad guy to show what a cut throat dude he is.

[Matrix_Walker]

Just gotta say... I love everything about this thread!

[ZorroGames]

Is Burn Notice some kind of TV show or movie? I can google it to get a grasp on what you are talking about if it is.

So confused...

[DAP90]

I did something like this once. I had all the characters start as outlaws (in the historical sense where they had no protection from the law) and had a large brand on the side of their neck to mark them as such. They weren’t prisoners and were essentially free to wander, own weapons, etc., however interacting with locals could get tricky and interacting with authority definitely was. Each PC came up with the reason why they got branded. Most took an unfairly convicted backstory; political rivals, etc. One character had gone to prison to hide from a death cult.

[Tetrasodium]

Burn Notice was one of my favorite shows while I was in college. It dawns on me that it's also the perfect intro to a mid-level game. You have a bunch of fairly powerful characters dropped off in a kingdom, but cut off from the crowns protection. Now penniless they need to figure out what to do next.

So, what classes do you see them being? What stats? What equipment would you give them?

I've read about people doing this kind of thing with an A-team type group of elite karrnathi (intelligent) undead after being court-martialed for a crime they didn't commit, escaped from military prison and, while still on the run, working as soldiers of fortune souped up zombie, demilich, spirit/wight/etc type band of horrors.

[thompur]

Is Burn Notice some kind of TV show or movie? I can google it to get a grasp on what you are talking about if it is.

So confused...

Yes, it's a t.v. show that originally ran on the USA network. Really good show!

[ZorroGames]

Yes, it's a t.v. show that originally ran on the USA network. Really good show!

Looked it up.

As I learned early in my career, “I can neither confirm or deny anything.”

:smallwink: :smallbiggrin: :smallconfused: :smalltongue:

[furby076]

Fiona has gotta be fire genasi. She should also be artificer to make bombs. So should michael

[MadBear]

If we're good starting at (and for the most part staying at) 5th level, maybe we do something like:

Michael Westen -- 'Mastermind' Rogue 4/Monk 1
Fiona Glenanne -- 'Thief' Rogue 4/Fighter 1
Sam Axe -- 'Hunter' Spell-less Ranger 4/Rogue 1
Madeline Westen -- Commoner 1
Jesse Porter -- 'Inquisitive' Rogue 4/Fighter 1

And naturally...

"Dead" Larry Sizemore -- 'Assassin' Rogue 4/Fighter 1

I like this as a literal translation from the show. It also makes sense that they're all basically Rogues who have decent persuasion/deception with their other skills being a bit more niche.

The only thing that Sam is really missing is there isn't really a good way to represent all his "contacts" in basically every agency around. And Madeline, should have stupid high mental stats for a commoner (considering she usually pieces together what Michael is doing/what is happening despite not being part of the team).

[Rogerdodger557]

I like this as a literal translation from the show. It also makes sense that they're all basically Rogues who have decent persuasion/deception with their other skills being a bit more niche.

The only thing that Sam is really missing is there isn't really a good way to represent all his "contacts" in basically every agency around. And Madeline, should have stupid high mental stats for a commoner (considering she usually pieces together what Michael is doing/what is happening despite not being part of the team).

Sam's contacts is through his background feature. Probably Faction Agent.

[MadBear]

Sam's contacts is through his background feature. Probably Faction Agent.

probably right. But considering he has major connections in every major government branch, that's one amazing background feature.