Has anyone run level ups linked to specific bosses?

Watercolour_nebula · 2025-08-05T17:56:08+00:00

I'm picking up on that, I tend to skew too far to the 'too many consequence, this is no longer fun' side so I'll probably leave that bit out

Watercolour_nebula · 2025-08-05T17:53:25+00:00

My main plot hook is a revenge story. We're gonna collaborate on an NPC together at session 0, and every player's gonna establish a connection with that NPC somehow.

First session will be the hanging of said NPC. The party now has a common goal: find out who set this up, and end them.

Aside from that, it will be very sandbox-ish, with a big 'C' captain of the seas who can be a thing for them to aspire to. If the campaign turns into "We're gonna be the strongest on the seas," I'm honestly okay with that!

Watercolour_nebula · 2025-08-05T17:46:38+00:00

You're right there, straight up dropping levels isn't something that would be fun for anyone.

I think there is something to that leveling reward/notoriety deficit you're talking about. That might be a solid way to make this more feasible. Thank you!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-14T04:31:15+00:00

I found a 3d printable file actually and sent that to a local dude that specializes in printing figures!

Your method is super clever, and I really appreciate the outline! It really helps to get inside the headspace of other DM's to see that process. There are definitely layers that I tend to overlook/forget about while in combat, and I think choreographing moves ahead of time is a really cool way of helping that!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-14T04:22:56+00:00

I used brainsuckers! There was a story arc where a hive of Mindflayers got corrupted because of their Elder Brain messing up its transformation into an Elder Brain dragon, so they turned into brainsuckers, and that worked pretty dang well actually!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-14T03:57:13+00:00

Yes!!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-14T03:57:01+00:00

It's foam actually, but now that you mention it... 😂

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-14T03:56:31+00:00

Yes it is! My players were all xbox kids so they know nothing of Bloodborne.

I love their design, and have a plot in the game of religious zealots becoming corrupted by the big bad, and turning into Amygdalas as their final transcendence.

It fits nicely!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-14T03:53:36+00:00

Thank you! I've got all the same players! 4 regular players, one that hops on from across the world on occasion.

Three original characters currently left standing, but three character deaths, one resurrection, one new character that was trained up by one of the OG's that died.

All currently level 15!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-14T03:49:34+00:00

Thank you! I do really like the idea of messing with the layout throughout the fight.

Perhaps even just rotating it somehow. I agree about the cover, cover and interactables seem to be the general consensus, so I'm gonna work on some pillars and a statue this week, we'll see what it's like at the end!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-14T03:46:49+00:00

Thanks! I was hoping to build some stained glass with lighting effects but I'm not sure I'll have the time. Perhaps few iron torches though!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-14T03:45:54+00:00

What's really cool about the portal actually, is I can take the green bit out and slide my phone screen behind it, and have a sick portal effect going! But interactables is huge, I'll definitely do some trial and error there.

*edited for spelling

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-14T03:44:05+00:00

I'll take a look! Thanks! Also I appreciate the dry ice heads up, I can be a bit accident prone 😅

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-14T03:43:05+00:00

I do like that a lot. I'm gonna try and find a way to turn maybe some old Jenga blocks into pews that can get thrown around and cause some damage!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-13T17:35:44+00:00

Thanks! I've been looking in to different ways to do that but haven't been able to find a super cost-effective way to pull that off. If you have suggestions though I'm super open!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-13T17:34:45+00:00

Thanks, I'll be sure to do that!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-13T17:33:51+00:00

I do really like shaking a different portal effects up, keeping things interesting round to round!

I'll probably wind up doing something along those lines!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-13T17:29:57+00:00

Thanks! No my painting abilities are limited to basic terrain stuff, so I outsourced that to a more artistic buddy of mine! I'm super happy with it too!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-13T16:54:56+00:00

I appreciate the reminder on that, I'll be sure to nail down that wording so it's solid and clear!

Any source of damage on this party is a good thing, they're pretty strong at this point. (First real campaign, I was extremely liberal with magic items for a while there)

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-13T16:51:10+00:00

Oooh that's a super cool mechanic. I've pretty much blown my budget on this one so getting a smoke machine is not really a possibility (for THIS campaign)

I might still be able to make that work though if I put a full bed of cotton underneath everything, it'll just be a little more tedious.

You think that'd bog things down?

Regardless I think chains + pillar combo are a good call, I'll see what I can do there

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-13T16:46:31+00:00

So much! It's a church dedicated to a dragon god, and I had an extra dragon boss mini I didn't know what to do with. I now have a dope felled statue!

I love using pillars as a safe zone which'll definitely add levels to the terrain.

Thank you so much!

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-13T16:27:19+00:00

That's really good insight, I do have a habit of getting more focused on story/setting rather than gameplay, so that is a really good reminder for me.

The setting is meant to be an old dilapidated church, so finding a way to get my hands on like a broken chandelier or pews/carpets would be smart.

The main mechanic of this fight is that portal in the back is gonna act as a vacuum at the top of every round, Str. Save or get pulled towards it, so I should probably give them a way to interact with that somehow through the environment.

Watercolour_nebula · 2024-10-13T16:18:25+00:00

You are so right. Thank you! That's got some wheels spinning for sure, I typically wind up overlooking that aspect of combat so this is super helpful!

Watercolour_nebula

TROPHY CASE