Help me DM a Harry Potter Campain

[Asmotherion]

Anyone who has already done so willing to share adjustments to Spells and Classes to Fit the Harry Potter Universe, I would be greatful if he/she would be willing to share with me. I have already decided that it's going to be run in 5e and a basic idea of the mimicking Mechanics, but no final Version:

So far, I have:

Wands=Spellcasting Focci.

Wizards=Probably any spellcasting class. The campain will start at level 3, so all classes who are at least capable of casting Cantrips are avalable. The rest will probably be banned.

Animagus=Druids or Transmutation Wizard. Still working on it. I think I envision a System that encourages multiclassing/dipping rather than staying pure Wizard; In the end, very few Wizards could do everything after all, and specialisation/focus in one thing meant you lost versality.

Dark Arts=My first thought was Necromancy; I am working on a second model that won't be based on a school of magic, but rather on certain spells that would be judged "lethal", "dangerous" or generally forbidden, such as the "Dominate X" line, "Finger of Death" and "Feeblemind" (Which could represent the 3 unforgivable curses).

Tranfiguration=Transmutation. Probably the easyest to figure out.

Jinx-Hex-Curse= When talking about offensive, combat oriented spells, it seems to be more of a calculator of the potency/level of the spell rather than it's school of magic/descriptor of it's actual effect... potentially a bit of both, since it's always in the concept of an "offensive, combat orriented spell". That said, I think a Jinx is mostly representative of an offensive Cantrip, a Hex of an offensive spell up to level 2, wile a Curse of a spell of level 3 and above. The average Wizard is unabel to cast spells above level 5, so there is no other ratting.

The Deathly Hallows= The first two are quite straight forward; A Wand of the War Mage+3 and a Cloack of Invisibility. The Resurection Stone could give the "Speak with Dead" spell at-will, requireing no corpse and no material component other than the stone itself; It would also have no limitations as to how often you could speak to a specific deceised.

Horcruxes= Refluffed Lich/Phylactery. The Phylactery can manifest a Simulacrum of the original Caster, if fed magic by bonding with an attuned user (Wizard), tricked into using it over some time.

Obscurus= Refluffed Hags.

Dragons=Half Dragon Wyverns (Personal Touch)

Intelligent Dragons=Sorcerers (Some can take a Dragon form as their Animagus Form; Others have a Dragon Patronus. Part of a specific bloodline/origin. Personal Touch for the Campain.).

Now, I'm thinking about Races; The campain I'm going to play will take part at Hogwarts, so I think restricting to Humans only is logical. However, I think about making avalable some "half" races (represented by the actual phb races) who will be able to blend in human society without raising too much suspicion, kinda like Haggrid was a Half-Giant but nobody was sure about it.

Any further ideas will be appreciated.

[KorvinStarmast]

Help me DM a Harry Potter Campain

First step: when the PC's enter town, at the gate they see a tall pike with the head of Dobby the house elf mounted on it. That sets the proper tone.

Second step: forget the D&D 5e magic system completely, since the HP world uses Wand Based Magic.

Third step: think real hard about who the Muggles are. Friends, neutral, or enemies?

Fourth step: figure out how to fit 5e Warlocks into the setting.

[Pex]

If you want to invoke the magic of Harry Potter don't use D&D. There is a Harry Potter RPG online somewhere. Google it. If you don't mind magic not being exactly like Harry Potter but close enough, consistent, and with defined rules, try Ars Magica.

[RedMage125]

I second Pex's statement.

As much as I like D&D, it is woefully inadequate to represent a Harry Potter world.

[strangebloke]

Sounds like a lot of work. I'd just use FATE for it, since most HP enthusiasts have some knowledge of writing and that's the best system for an RP-heavy group who mostly have a writing background.


-Magic is universally at will, as opposed to dnd where only cantrips and evocations are at will.
-top-tier guys aren't more tough, just more skilled.
-HP magic can't do most of the stuff dnd magic can, and to an extent, vice versa.
-Complete difference in tone and genre. No martials, no loot, no dungeons. Everyone has access to the same abilities, so no classes.

If you forced me to do this, I'd roll it as a "Everyone's a Warlock" campaign with absolutely everything refluffed and I'd keep it pretty short so the dissonance wouldn't build up.

[Asmotherion]

Help me DM a Harry Potter Campain

First step: when the PC's enter town, at the gate they see a tall pike with the head of Dobby the house elf mounted on it. That sets the proper tone.

Second step: forget the D&D 5e magic system completely, since the HP world uses Wand Based Magic.

Third step: think real hard about who the Muggles are. Friends, neutral, or enemies?

Fourth step: figure out how to fit 5e Warlocks into the setting.
On step 1: The campain is going to be following an alternate universe, with an other Chosen One etc. They are going to play from year 1 to 7 at Hogwarts. I'll try to alternate some factors so they won't be able to metagame everything.

On step 2: More about it on my repply to Pex.

On step 3: I won't be foccusing on Muggles too much, or rather, they'll have to deside that on their own. The campain will follow an alternative storyline of the books, but not everyone will be sorted to Griffindor; This means their world views may change the outcome, and a potential different followup campain may come up after that. I still have time to figure this though.

On step 4: I alredy have thought about that. I'll give a full explaination bellow.

If you want to invoke the magic of Harry Potter don't use D&D. There is a Harry Potter RPG online somewhere. Google it. If you don't mind magic not being exactly like Harry Potter but close enough, consistent, and with defined rules, try Ars Magica.
I actually like the mechanical implications of 5e on a D&D campain. I know I'll need to reskin or even improvise some spells, but eventually I think it'll be worth my wile. I'll take a look, but mostly for inspiration purposes.

I think I can patch up Wand Magic with some easy Rules;

-Everyone knows Prestidigitation, and can cast it without a wand. That's practically the "inborn magic" everyone uses, like what you do as a child.
-Using the Short rest=10 minutes/Long rest=1hour variant should be enough. Limiting it only to spell slots though. With a generic damaging cantrip for duels, and the Shield spell, that's mostly what we see in amounds of "spell spamming".

Now, a Warlock can be someone who has studied the Dark Arts; He has more potent curses, and (using the Short Rest variant) has learned, probably from a Dark Master, studying Dark Lore, Otherwordly Lore, or Hidden Lore. This focus in his studies however limits his width of knowlage in more spells, as well as expands his power in short yet powerful bursts.

A Cleric can represent someone who specialises in the Patronus (in the form of Spirit Guardians) and Healing Magic.

A Druid Can be someone who learns to become an Animagus, a Magi-Zoologist or a Herbologist.

A Sorcerer can be someone who has a hybreed genealogy (Half Giant for example or Half Goblin) and is able to perform some Wandless Magic (spells that do not list a material component in their D&D entry).

Bards can be researchers of diferent types of magic, Masters of none, but Jacks of all trades. College of Lore fits the setting perfectly.

[Unoriginal]

D&D and Harry Potter are too different to be mixed like that and give any satisfying results. The Magic will either be nothing like in HP, or impossible to emulate with D&D paradigms.

Also, the HP novels are about a bunch of teens solving year-long mysteries. Not really the pace for D&D.

[GreyBlack]

Step one: take a deep breath.

Step two: start laughing.

In all seriousness, I highly doubt that you can mirror HP in 5e without SIGNIFICANT homebrew.

My big question here: What is the place of mundane classes? The HP world is specifically designed to say that the magical becomes mundane, so what role do the mundane classes even play?

What roles will these mundanes play? Will they even play a role?

For that matter, what role do the different spellcasters play? How are these different spellcasting mechanics represented in the HP world?

Who represent these different spellcasters? Can you represent all of the spellcasters in HP onto one of the classes? Does 5e spellcasting model HP spellcasting well? Or does it require something else?

I would argue against a campaign to represent HP. That said, a game based on the idea of HP (i.e. a magical academy where a bunch of kids are learning their adventuring craft) might work very well if you think about it like that.

[Anonymouswizard]

Sounds like a lot of work. I'd just use FATE for it, since most HP enthusiasts have some knowledge of writing and that's the best system for an RP-heavy group who mostly have a writing background.

I'm agreeing here, as do the writers of Fate. One of the example characters in Fate Accelerated (Abigail Zhao) is a student at knockoff American Hogwarts. I'd also say that Fate Accelerated is the correct choice over Fate Core (although Core would work), as each of the main characters has roughly the same capabilities but they way they use them differ (e.g. Hermione has peak Clever, while Neville has Careful). It actually works really well, characters who are better at magic have more Stunts but less Refresh.


Outside of Fate I'd recommend houseruled Ars Magica or Mage (either Ascension or Awakening). Both have magic much closer to HP than D&D does, although they would still require houseruling because it can just be more versatile. Any edition of D&D would be dead last, based on the fact I'd have to remove the magic system entirely instead of adding one in or houseruling it.

Savage Worlds might also be interesting, especially with the no Power Points variant, but it'll require a lot of homebrew Powers.

[Iados]

D&D and HP are way too different to capture the Hogwarts vibe with D&D mechanics. If you really want an HP campaign, try this:

http://hproleplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Second-Edition-Harry-Potter-and-the-Tabletop-RPG.pdf

[Pex]

I actually like the mechanical implications of 5e on a D&D campain. I know I'll need to reskin or even improvise some spells, but eventually I think it'll be worth my wile. I'll take a look, but mostly for inspiration purposes.

I think I can patch up Wand Magic with some easy Rules;

-Everyone knows Prestidigitation, and can cast it without a wand. That's practically the "inborn magic" everyone uses, like what you do as a child.
-Using the Short rest=10 minutes/Long rest=1hour variant should be enough. Limiting it only to spell slots though. With a generic damaging cantrip for duels, and the Shield spell, that's mostly what we see in amounds of "spell spamming".

Now, a Warlock can be someone who has studied the Dark Arts; He has more potent curses, and (using the Short Rest variant) has learned, probably from a Dark Master, studying Dark Lore, Otherwordly Lore, or Hidden Lore. This focus in his studies however limits his width of knowlage in more spells, as well as expands his power in short yet powerful bursts.

A Cleric can represent someone who specialises in the Patronus (in the form of Spirit Guardians) and Healing Magic.

A Druid Can be someone who learns to become an Animagus, a Magi-Zoologist or a Herbologist.

A Sorcerer can be someone who has a hybreed genealogy (Half Giant for example or Half Goblin) and is able to perform some Wandless Magic (spells that do not list a material component in their D&D entry).

Bards can be researchers of diferent types of magic, Masters of none, but Jacks of all trades. College of Lore fits the setting perfectly.

That's good for re-flavor texting everything to fit a Harry Potter theme, but you're not going to have the magic and need to be ok with that. First years learn Windguardium Leviosa. Levitate is a 2nd level spell. Yet the one who learns Expecto Patronum (Spirit Guardians) cannot cast Levitate by 5E rules, and it's not because they're saying it wrong as LeviosA instead of LeviOsa.

[Rusvul]

I'd agree that D&D isn't the best system for this. If you're intent on using it, though, you might try homebrewing something like the Generic Spellcaster class in 3.5's Unearthed Arcana book. The idea is you're a spontaneous spellcaster (fits) and you can choose to learn either every arcane spell or every divine spell (corresponding to the type of spellcaster you are). You can also choose to take class features from other casters, even if it's a class feature from a class that's thematically different from yours. To adapt it to Harry Potter, you might allow your players to choose class features like Wild Shape (animagus), Channel Divinity: Turn Undead (patronus charms), things like that. It'd require some effort, but you could probably do it.

I'd also use the spell points variant in the DMG. Spell slots don't seem very Harry Potter to me.

[the_brazenburn]

Personally, I'd be fine with running it.

Seriously, I don't have a problem with slight differences in mechanics if it will accomplish the storyline. I'd advise having the characters being mostly sorcerers or wizards, with a few warlocks mixed in here and there.

As far as martial classes go, they could be Squibs or Muggles without much magical potential (Hagrid is clearly a Beastmaster with the Magic Initiate feat). They could also be people who just don't want to use magic for whatever reason (Sirius mostly uses a knife in book 3, because he didn't have a wand and couldn't use one without revealing himself).

As far as "unlimited spells" go, I feel like Sorcerer fits best because of the greater number of cantrips. It's also stated that some people just can't perform powerful spells without training, like the Patronus Charm or Unforgivables. I'd recommend that you include something along the lines of unlimited ritual casting (maybe with a shorter time) within controlled conditions like a classroom.

Good luck with your campaign!

[Samba Mentality]

I don’t know if this is what you want, but there is a Harry Potter-themed rpg called, aptly, “Harry Potter and the Tabletop RPG”. It is really well made, in my opinion.

[Vogie]

Required nod to the fanfiction of "Harry Potter & the Natural 20"

In all seriousness, it can be done, but you have to rethink how you look at D&D spells.

In the Potterverse, there are no spell schools, and magic largely falls into curses & charms, neither of which have the same meaning as they do in D&D.

Charms are anything that is beneficial and used on yourself, stuff or allies, and have nothing to do with the "charm" effect. Curses encompass anything detrimental, and used on others in a combat sense. Dark Magic is not explicitly combined to one school, but anything that isn't easily reversible or excessively detrimental... For example, Shatter would not be a Dark Magic spell, even though it's an offensive spell, as its effects can easily be healed or mended.

In addition, anyone who is a magic user (not a muggle or squib) can use any spell, and there are no spell levels. Mechanically, it's as though every spell is a ritual, all casters are ritual casters, but without the 10 minute added time and it'd be a bit insane if you just dropped the average murderhobo into it. Everything has a Verbal & Somatic component, and in most cases a wand will work as a combination Druidic, Arcane, & Divine focus.

Most spells require concentration, and have varying degrees of effectiveness based on the caster's intent.


Avada Kedavra’s a curse that needs a powerful bit of magic behind it – you could all get your wands out now and point them at me and say the words, and I doubt I’d get so much as a nose-bleed.


Now, what you can do is use the mechanical delineation between the classes to indicate the attitude of each player towards their magic.

A "Wizard" is one who actively hunts down magic spells to add to their repertoire, can have an almost limitless and shows mastery by creating "new" spells & effects themselves. Dumbledore, Hermoine, the Weasley Twins & Snape would fit this category.
A "Sorcerer" is one who specializes in a certain collection of spells, and shows their mastery by using those spells in unique ways. Gilderoy Lockhart's overpowered memory charms & Movie!Sirius rocking the wordless Stunning Charms would both fit this category.
A "Bard" is one who also specializes in magic spells, but with a leaning towards utility and helping others - mechanically Bardic inspiration acts much like Help actions. Ron, Newt & many of the professors at Hogwarts fall into this category.
A "Warlock" would be one who specializes in using a limited amount of spells repeatedly in most situations, but those spells seem stronger than normal, due to a reason outside themselves. Harry & Voldemort are two different versions of this category.
A "Druid" would be Animagi and those focusing on transmutation or controlling effects. James, McGonagall & Peter would fit this category
A "Ranger", "Cleric" or "Paladin" would be those who mix magic with both knowledge and their physical presence to get things done. Hagrid, most Aurors and various Death Eaters would fall into this category.