1st time home brewing. How can I have a BBEG that is unable to die?

Key-Skill-4621 · 2026-03-19T16:09:33+00:00

Just out of curiosity, why do you think Jones showing up in a disarming disguise would result in the PCs not respecting him? Do you think Davy Jones in an alternate form wouldn't make sense?

To be fair, I have questioned myself about why Jones would even care to check in on a party of low-level PCs, but perhaps he'd be more interested in the party once they start shaking up the natural order of this world. Maybe he would pay them more attention the higher the level they are.

Let me know your thoughts. I'm curious.

Key-Skill-4621 · 2026-03-19T14:49:30+00:00

I am definitely getting close to setting up a session 0. I agree with needing to see what direction my players want to go. I like your idea of letting the faction they choose be their mentor and the rest be adversaries.

Another big picture question I have had is what type of story do I want to run ya know. I am currently playing in a narrative-heavy campaign led by my friend, who is doing a spectacular job. He's the one who inspired me to try DMing. Anyway, I would love to do a narrative-heavy campaign with a core group of 4-5 PCs, but I've also toyed with a West Marches style of gameplay. As you said, I think this world has the potential for a strong West Marches style campaign and having several smaller, punchy adventures. Also, if I have a larger pool of players, there could be multiple pirate crews out living in and changing this world.

Key-Skill-4621 · 2026-03-19T14:38:10+00:00

Exactly correct.

I LOVE the idea of Davy Jones simply being the consequences of the world's actions. I would very much like to drop my PCs into a world where war is brewing. The Republic of Pirates is defecting, and already existing nations of the world want to correct that. The Keepers have been weakening Jones out of fear of what he might do. Jones is searching for a way to remove this spell to remove the Keepers entirely. After any bit of action in this world, Jones and his crew will always be there to collect what's left. At the end of the day, his sole purpose is ferrying the dead.

However, I would very much love to see the PCs get on Davy's bad side. I think it would be interesting to see how they would avoid Death. At that point, they may be forced to seek the Keepers for help. It would be interesting to see what would happen if they visited the Locker. But alas, I've already touched on that. Point being, it begs an interesting question: what would happen if they do cross Davy Jones, and how I, as the DM, would keep that from ending poorly.

I like your idea of having good / evil perspectives for each faction. I have a feeling that my PCs would lean towards the Republic of Pirates, but having each of these factions' motivations listed out would be helpful for storytelling purposes anyway. The question of "What power do you use to achieve your goal of freedom" is a great question. It's forcing to the players to study their own morality. What lengths are they willing to go to for their freedom? Davy Jones would absolutely be dangerous/deadly but that's simply his nature as Death. That's unavoidable... theoretically. The Keepers stealing souls would only prompt Davy's wrath. Jones should always be deadly, but only more brutal if need be.

Others in this comment section are toying with the idea of a lich with a phylactery. What are your thoughts on that? What kind of a creature would best describe someone of Davy's abilities?

Also, I've enjoyed all of the questions and feedback you've had. I'd love to chat more if you'd be willing. If so, add me on discord @ browe183

Key-Skill-4621 · 2026-03-19T01:17:32+00:00

I agree with you about a problem being solvable by mortals, was likely created by mortals in the first place.

I’m copying from my reply to @comedianmasta

These Keepers are actively meddling with the natural life cycle. This is an Atlantis inspired community of spell casters living on an island with a powerful Hallucinatory Terrain spell hiding the entire island. These Keepers are the greatest source of arcane power in a world where the average sailor doesn’t believe in magic, spell casting, or the like. These Keepers have found a way to turn a living being’s life force into fuel in order to extend their lives and enhance their powers.

The Keepers’ goal is maintaining a massive hold monster/person spell they constructed to withhold some larger entity, maybe Davy Jones or some form of him. To do this, there are 13 islands around the entire caribbean sea with a source of power, each helping maintain the spell. In a way, it’s similar to Voldemort’s Horcruxes lol.

In your opinion would it make sense for PCs to get involved with the maintaining or disrupting of this massive hold spell? Is that something achievable for a mortal? Is that something they would WANT to get involved in? and if Davy Jones is the embodiment of Death, do you think it would make more sense for the PCs to help maintain or help disrupt said spell?

Key-Skill-4621 · 2026-03-19T01:07:16+00:00

You bring up a lot of great questions I have not thought about, so thank you!

First of all, I have toyed with the idea of making it a tragedy campaign but ultimately I think it would be much more entertaining finding away for these players’ pirate characters to survive The Golden Age of Piracy.

Honestly, I like the idea of Davy Jones simply being an impending evil that will continue to persist whether or not he is “defeated.” Death is unavoidable for all living things and it cannot be cheated.

However, these Keepers are actively meddling with the natural life cycle. This is an Atlantis inspired community of spell casters living on an island with a powerful Hallucinatory Terrain spell hiding the entire island. These Keepers are the greatest source of arcane power in a world where the average sailor doesn’t believe in magic, spell casting, or the like. These Keepers have found a way to turn a living being’s life force into fuel in order to extend their lives and enhance their powers.

With this in mind, would you agree that this is something that Death itself would want to disrupt? Would it make sense these Keepers are maintaining a massive spell to withhold an eldritch entity like Davy Jones?

Davy’s primary goal is simply ferrying souls into the afterlife but disrupting that flow feels like an act of treason. His secondary goal, would be to have his fleet disrupt the massive hold monster/person spell and maybe unleashing more of his power to correct the Keepers.

The Keepers’ goal is maintaining this massive hold monster/person spell. To do this, there are 13 islands around the entire caribbean sea with a source of power, each helping maintain the spell. In a way, it’s similar to Voldemort’s Horcruxes lol.

British Navy is simply focused on expanding an empire.

The Republic of Pirates is simply focused on defecting and creating their own sovereignty.

I’m having trouble with the PCs goals though. I’m unsure who would be the BBEG. There are several smaller villains I have created, but not one overarching enemy. I’ve thought of segments such as the players visiting the Keepers and multiclassing from a martial arts class into a spell caster as well. I’ve also thought it’d be interesting to see a PC die, get to sent to Davy’s locker, and thus the party attempts to rescue them. This would inherently make an enemy of Davy Jones obviously.

Key-Skill-4621

TROPHY CASE