[3.5]Any Swat Kats fans? My attempt to convert Bride of the Pastmaster to a adventure

[newbDM]

I have wanted time and again to convert great cartoon episodes into D&D adventures, or even into full campaigns. I am not sure how it's supposed to be done, but I think I am going to just try my hand at it to see if I can "figure things as I go".

For people unfamiliar with this episode, or simply have not seen it in a long time, you can find it here:
Part #1
Part #2

Anyway, I am thinking that for now this will all be broken down into four sections as follows:

1. Characters/NPCs from the episode Bride of the Pastmaster I will try to convert into D&D 3.5 NPCs using 3.5 mechanics.
2. Locations from the episode Bride of the Pastmaster.
3. Items from the episode Bride of the Pastmaster.
4. The story broken down into basic "scenes", with a basic idea of what happens/can possibly happen in said scene (the DM needs to have a good imagination, and the ability to think on his/her feet for this).

1. NPCs

Main NPCs:








Queen Calista

Queen Calista is the beautiful queen of Megalith City and (I am assuming) the kingdom she rules from there. She is kind and gentle, and sweet (especially to the PC who will catch her fancy), but also quite though and more than capable to hold her own in a battle when needed.

She is not very effective in melee combat, but she seems to a good tactictioner when leading her soldiers in battle (I base this on the first scenes of the show, and the fact that she has kept the Passmaster at bay so long on her own). She has a magical amulet she uses to aid her troops in battle (see the items section below).

I will be stating her as a 15th level Catfolk (from Races of the Wild, and another supplement before that I believe) aristocrat.


Note:
If you use Optional Scene #1A, then she has a striking physical, personality, and vocal similarity to an attractive young NPCs from the PCs' "normal" time period.

However, in this case you might need to make her something besides a Catfolk to suit your needs and campaign.





The Pastmaster

Your cliche evil wizard-like BBEG with an ego much larger than his very short stature, and who is borderline insane (in the annoying way).

For some reason he is obsessed with capturing Queen Calista in order to force her to marry him. At first you'd think he simply wants her kingdom, but later on (specifically in the scene where Queen Calista nearly marries him to save her kingdom and people, but the Pastmaster stops just because she no longer consents) you realize he is actually obsessed with her for some reason (then again, Queen Calista is a looker...).

For "normal" campaigns I'd suggest stating him up around an appropriate level/CR wizard who specializes in conjuration, and has somehow come across both a incantation/ritual (see UA or d20srd.com HERE) which allows him to both summon "evil creatures from the past" and craft voodoo-like dolls to control them (see items section below), and a pocket watch which allows him to open gates/rifts through time (see items section below).

He seems to be deformed, or somewhat warped by the powerful temporal magic he toys with. Among other things, his left arm seems to be skeletal, but still posses skin around it. His eyes are opaque black, and his left eye posses no iris.

Since my games are low-magic, I am simply going to stat him up as a rogue/expert (specializing in knowledge history and knowledge Magic/spellcraft) who managed to unearth the above mentioned magic items/artifacts.

Again, he is a Catfolk.



Minions:




The Three Evil Cyclopeses

These evil monsters were summoned from further in the past by the Pastmaster, and were controlled by him with evil clay voodoo dolls the conjured with the aid of the same book he used to summon them (see items section below).

I am going to use the Cyclopes stats from Shinning South for these guys. Since they are CR8 this means my PCs will need to be around that level.

However, if you do not have Shinning South you can simply refluff one of the giants from the Monster Manual if needed.







The Red Dragons

These creatures have also been summoned and controlled by the Pastmaster using his book.

For stats I'd say there is one large or huge red dragon, and a two small or medium ones from the Mosnter Manuals. Put as many to your liking, though.





Royal Soldiers

These are Queen Calista's soldiers, who she leads into battle in Scene #x.

These are all Catfolk warriors, with their captain/leader a higher level fighter.



2. Locations



The Pastmaster's Tower

This is the Pastmaster's stronghold. A cliche crumbling evil tower, in a place that is always covered in darkness, and a time-portal filling the sky above the tower. The local grass, trees, and shrubbery are all dead. Thunder and lightning are roaring.




3. Items




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4. Scenes

Optional Scene 1A

Spoiler

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This is the canon version of the story, which happened in the above episode.

Here the PCs begin the game by having a mini adventure/combat in their home time period with a nameless quickly defeated badie.

Once the battle is over they decide to head home (or simply move on if your PCs have no home base), but on the way back get sucked into a strange vortex after struggling not to get pulled in (I'd have them roll fake pointless strength checks).


Note:

1. In this version of the first scenes/beginning of the adventure the PCs are from your campaign's "current"/"modern" time, and Megalith City and all it's NPCs are from a period in your world's past.
   
2. I imagine that this scene could be used to bring PCs back in time from both a standard D&D game, or even a D20 Modern game if you choose.
   
   If you are running a D20 Modern campaign, and the PCs have something like the Swat Kat's modded jet you are golden for this. However, balance might be a slight issue, but that is what DMs are for!
   
   If the PCs have some other form of future tech, then I guess that/those could take the place of the jet in this game.

Optional Scene 1B

For my campaign world I will simply have this be a place/kingdom PCs can wonder into. I figure D&D is already fantasy, so it should fit in well.

Plus, I like the idea of a kingdom filled with cat girls!



Scene 2 part.1:

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"Listen to my spellbook's rhymes...

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...come to me from mythic times...

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...for I am the Pastmaster!

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In this scene you see the Pastmaster for the first time as he is summoning the first monster the PCs will face.

The scene opens with a shot of the Pastmaster's cliche crumbling evil tower, with the time-portal spinning and thundering in the background.

The scene jumps to the a mysterious figure (who's head you can not see, merely his torso and right hand in a cupping pose) who is chanting an incantation. During the chant a ball of sparking magical energy forms in his palm, which once the chant ends he violently shoots forth into a (what is that birdbath looking thing in fantasy movies called), irrupting in a violent explosion.

During the last few second you can see the figure (The Pastmaster), as he arches backwards in victory/success.



Scene 2 part.2

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You then see the form of a one-eyed monster appear in the cauldron-like container before the Pastmaster walks towards his window, looks upon Megalith City, and starts ranting about how Megalith City and it's queen will "soon fall before me" before breaking into laughter..


The scene then pans upward into the time-portal.

Spoiler

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Optional Scene 3

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If you chose the time travel route (Optional Scene 1A), then the scene reappears on the other side of the vortex/gate/port in your game's "modern" times as the PCs are finally losing the struggle and getting sucked into the vortex.


If you chose Optional Scene 1b, then skip to Scene 4.


Scene 4

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The story fades in again with the Pastmaster holding a clay figure out of his window towards a real-life giant cyclopes, who then screams and gestures in rage as the Pastmaster flaunts his new power over him.


The camera pans to the right towards a vast forest between the Pastmaster's tower and the kingdom of Queen Calista. The scene/game now focuses on the adventuring party who have recently entered these woods (if you are taking the from the future route this is when the fall (or crash) in).

Something gets the attention of one or more PCs (a spot check to see a shiny sword sticking from a stone in the distance). As one or more PCs go to investigate this item one might have time to try pulling it out, but are soon interrupted by a wave of soldiers charging towards them shouting either "Get the Pastmaster's minions!" (If you took Optional Scene 1B) or "Destroy the sorcerers!" (If you took Optional Scene 1A, since they just saw the PCs "come from the skies").

The PCs should be able to easily deal with these soldiers (the Royal Soldiers mentioned under the NPCs section), and should be able to easily defeat them without killing anyone due to them being mostly lv.1 warriors. However, the PCs will quickly notice that These woods are crawling with them!".

Note:
Alternatively, if you feel Queen Calista would be understanding of dead soldiers given the mistake, you can make this an even and intense battle.

Spoiler

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Midway through the battle Queen Calista will make her appearance, and the battle will momentarily stop as the her and the PCs converse (from a distance).

*If the PCs came using the future version, then she will first ask "What be this magic?"

**At this point the PCs may attempt a diplomacy check with her to explain their side of the story. Her initial attitude towards the PCs is Hostile.

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edit:

Well, it is kind of late (or should I say early?) here, so I need some rest. Will hopefully continue this today. Was hoping to get it done in one go, but it seems to be more work than I figured.

Any thoughts or opinions so far?


p.s. I plan on doing actual stat-blocks near the end.

[slexlollar89]

The pastmaster always seemed like a lich to me... maybe bend the rues and make him a warlock lich. He uses that book all the time, but he does have his own magic which is mostly blasty blasts.

That said great idea, I used to watch this show when it was on Cartoon Network all the time... you are a better DM than I for running such a grand undertaking.

just my 2 cp... good luck!

[Ghal Marak]

WOOOOO!!! Totaly awesome! I LOVE Swat Kats! It still comes on every day at 12:00 on Boomerang. Too bad the series got canned when it did. I support this undertaking, and will try to help where I can. I think I'll take a look at the items and post what I think is a good match.

[Lappy9000]

Swatkats. Seriously. Swatkats.

You're nuts. The good kind of nuts.

[Ghal Marak]

You're nuts. The good kind of nuts.

Like Pecan?

Anyway, Items I've seen that actualy matter:

Wurm's Spine, the Queen's Amulet, the Sword-in-Stone, Soup??, Gloveatrix (SP?), Past Master's Wedding ring?, and the Summoning Pool. Maybe the suits they wear, maybe not.

[newbDM]

The pastmaster always seemed like a lich to me... maybe bend the rues and make him a warlock lich. He uses that book all the time, but he does have his own magic which is mostly blasty blasts.

That said great idea, I used to watch this show when it was on Cartoon Network all the time... you are a better DM than I for running such a grand undertaking.

just my 2 cp... good luck!

Hmm. The lich is a great idea.

What about explaining it that his watch caused his lichdom, and keeps him from aging/dying? Maybe to help him cope with the temporal energies, paradox's, etc?


And thank you for those kind words. It means a lot to hear that!

WOOOOO!!! Totaly awesome! I LOVE Swat Kats! It still comes on every day at 12:00 on Boomerang. Too bad the series got canned when it did.

Same here. That was when I was inspired for this was watching Boomerang and surfing this forum at the same time, and I just knew I had to try it.

And I also feel bad it got canned when it did, and so unfairly. The owner of the company even stated he felt such cartoons "taught children to kill each other", and that it had "moral" shows like the Flintstones and such to fall back on.

I support this undertaking, and will try to help where I can. I think I'll take a look at the items and post what I think is a good match.

Wow. You have no idea how much I would appreciate that!

It would be greatly appreciated.

Right now I just got home a 2:00am, and need to go to classes again at 8:00am, so it will take me a bit longer to get back to this (maybe a few days even), so even just getting help with the items would be great. .

You're nuts. The good kind of nuts.

Why, shucks, thank you!

May I sig this? Best/nicest thing I have been told on these forums.

And here I thought this would be mocked and/or ignored.

Like Pecan?

Anyway, Items I've seen that actualy matter:

Wurm's Spine, the Queen's Amulet, the Sword-in-Stone, Soup??, Gloveatrix (SP?), Past Master's Wedding ring?, and the Summoning Pool. Maybe the suits they wear, maybe not.

Thanks for noting them all!

Some thoughts:
1. The suits the swatcats ware are obviously futuristic. I imagine they would only be incorporated if the DM was bring the PCs from a D20 Modern or D20 Future time period, or from their already going on game from those ages? Or in such cases, it could simply be that the PCs' gear from those ages/system fill the Swatkats' suits and gloves, so the DM doen't need to stat them up specially?

2. The sea worm's spine gave me an idea. I had not even considered mentioning it, but since this seems like it would make for a very small/quick adventure as is, I am thinking of perhaps making it into another (optional) scene.

What do you think of this?:

• If the DM chose Optional Scene 1A, then the PCs simply gained this spike during the initial quick battle in the future age at the start of the adventure.
  
• If the DM chose Optional Scene 1B, then another Optional Scene is available. Basically, in this scene, and this take on the adventure/plot the Pastmaster does not attack and kidnap the queen the same night (hence ending the adventure within 24 hours), but instead he conducts multiple assaults on the kingdom and the PCs over a long period of time, with the last scenes from the episode becoming the "final battle". And in this way, you can extend this whole thing into an entire adventure/campaign, with things such as the Pastmaster summoning a horde of orcs to assault Megalith City for one scene/gaming session, him summoning a specter/ghost creature to infiltrate the during the cover of night (you all know the cliche plot I am going for here) in another, and so on. This would allow the PCs to need to settle down in the city/kingdom, and again you cna make a whole campaign out of it.
  
  Using this scenario, in one of those battles/attacks the PCs gain the worm's spine in a sea battle where the PCs need to save a ship (which they are probably on) from being devoured by a sea worm like that in the Swatkats episode. Perhaps to make it more faithful to the episodes plot the ship is a cargo ship heading for Megalith city, which due to the current crises (the Pastmaster's attacks) it is desperately needed by the people?

[Ghal Marak]

Thanks for noting them all!

No problem.

Some thoughts:
1. The suits the swatcats ware are obviously futuristic. I imagine they would only be incorporated if the DM was bring the PCs from a D20 Modern or D20 Future time period, or from their already going on game from those ages? Or in such cases, it could simply be that the PCs' gear from those ages/system fill the Swatkats' suits and gloves, so the DM doen't need to stat them up specially?

True, that would work for the suits, but the gloves might need to be statted out. I mean, they do so much stuff. But the only things the gloves do in this episode is: Act as a Grapnel Hook, Shoot nets, and shoot a rope (Lasso?). Maybe that d20 Future Gadgets book has some gadgets to build it.

2. The sea worm's spine gave me an idea. I had not even considered mentioning it, but since this seems like it would make for a very small/quick adventure as is, I am thinking of perhaps making it into another (optional) scene.

What do you think of this?:

• If the DM chose Optional Scene 1A, then the PCs simply gained this spike during the initial quick battle in the future age at the start of the adventure.
  
• If the DM chose Optional Scene 1B, then another Optional Scene is available. Basically, in this scene, and this take on the adventure/plot the Pastmaster does not attack and kidnap the queen the same night (hence ending the adventure within 24 hours), but instead he conducts multiple assaults on the kingdom and the PCs over a long period of time, with the last scenes from the episode becoming the "final battle". And in this way, you can extend this whole thing into an entire adventure/campaign, with things such as the Pastmaster summoning a horde of orcs to assault Megalith City for one scene/gaming session, him summoning a specter/ghost creature to infiltrate the during the cover of night (you all know the cliche plot I am going for here) in another, and so on. This would allow the PCs to need to settle down in the city/kingdom, and again you cna make a whole campaign out of it.
  
  Using this scenario, in one of those battles/attacks the PCs gain the worm's spine in a sea battle where the PCs need to save a ship (which they are probably on) from being devoured by a sea worm like that in the Swatkats episode. Perhaps to make it more faithful to the episodes plot the ship is a cargo ship heading for Megalith city, which due to the current crises (the Pastmaster's attacks) it is desperately needed by the people?

That would work very well. One thing to remember though is that if they do come from the future, is that it is far enough into the future that standard projectile weapons have been replaced by lasers (with the exemption of missiles and other unique weapons). Though that is only a problem if one happens to smuggle a pistol or something through the time portal.

I'd like to see more importance placed on the Spine too, since once the Queen shoots it out of T-Bone's hand it's never seen again. They could have done more with it. Oh well. I think it aught to be clasified as a spear too, since it would make more sense that way, and the cartoons no-blood rule limited it's use to a quarterstaff.

[Bayar]

Hmm. The lich is a great idea.

What about explaining it that his watch caused his lichdom, and keeps him from aging/dying? Maybe to help him cope with the temporal energies, paradox's, etc?

I'm SO going to have a lich BBEG that has a pocket watch as his phylactery.

[newbDM]

I just want to say that I plan on finishing this.

It is just that due to college, and the fact that I often jump from project to project whenever I get "an idea" I haven't been able to get back to it. Been thinking quite a bit about this, though. Still very trilled by this thing and the thought of running it.

I am currently formatting and finishing my houserules in the Homebrew board, and depending how late it is by the time I finish I might get some more of this done by tonight. Already have a few screencaps reading for filling with info.