So context. I used to DM for my friends a while back but I've been struggling with creating a game I'm happy running for a few years now. It's not the end of the world, we do TCGs instead but part of me wants to get back into running tabletop games.So I started DMing with DnD 5e but for my own reasons I stopped running the system. The only other system I'm really confident running is Mutants and Masterminds 3e.Lately I've been seeing videos from some of the old school types talking about the nature of dungeons, and I've also been reading Dungeon Meshi, and I've had the itch to try making a mega dungeon for a game. Thing is, I don't wanna run 5e, I'm not confident trying to run an older version of the game, I don't have access to the books for OSR. What I do have is Mutants and Masterminds.So my friend and I were talking about this, and he suggested exploring the idea of running a dungeon crawl in M&M. Now to me that sounds a bit absurd, they're so tonally dissonant I can't really imagine it, so I thought I'd bring it to you guys. If your GM came up to you and said "I'm running a dungeon crawl in M&M", what would your thoughts be? Does it sounds a good idea? How would you do it? What would you emphasise, what would you ignore?Thanks in advance /tg/, I hope with your advice I can get myself out of this nogame slump I've been in
>>97407130None of this ever happened.None of what you claim you're planning is real.Much like every single "wOrLdBuIlDiNg" thread since ever, this is just the sad /tg/ version of a WHOA DUDE WHAT IF stoner moment for unironic nogames.
>>97407169I won't lie, the slump is real, and there's a good chance I won't get around to planning it, running it, etc. Just thought maybe the right comment might be the kick up the ass I need. If you think I'm taking up a thread for nothing good then please report it
Alright, I'll bite.I've never touched M&M, so elaborate on the tonal dissonance, assuming a difference being fantasy versus sci fi, but the actual dungeoning can be skinned to fit.
>>97407130Yes it has been done. It has a very different feel to it. Think more Conan, King Arthur, Merlin rather than a bunch of new adventures.
>>97407188Well Mutants and Masterminds is inherently a superhero centric d20 system. It's meant to be a high powered system where you're on par with any of that marvel/dc tier stuff powerwise. The recommended starting level allows you to make characters that are on par with top end superheroes. Compare that to the old school dungeon crawl, where it's a game of resources, a game of strategy. You stick the Hulk and Iron Man in a AD&D dungeon, I'm not crazy on supers to begin with but I don't see them losing a fight against a dragon, or having to worry about the worry of locked doors and chests, of having to fight in the dark, just superheroes seem too high powered for a typical down to earth dungeon.I like M&M for its flexibility in character creation, you can make some cool shit in there, and the way it's all flavoured you can technically run anything with it. I just don't know if the mechanics that allow for epic superhero battles are fitting for a dungeon that's meant to wear you down over time, like there is a injury system to slow them down but I just don't know if I trust that it'll scale well for the more down-to-earth fantasy exploration thing I wanna try running next
>>97407210Holy shit, I did not know this existed, thank you! Which version is it for? And any idea how it handles as a system?
>>97407219Probably 2nd edition. It has advice on powers, items etc that would be helpful for any sword and sorcery m&m game.I played one game where we converted our D&D characters to M&M. I personally liked it. Especially thjngs like exerting yourself for more powers felt thematic. However D&D is designed around resource managment like spells, HP, healing etc. M&M is easier to break, and has very different design goals. A lot of the powers from M&M are pretty weird in a fantasy setting.I'd play a mega dungeon with M&M. But I would go in expecting something more like a conan comic in a badass mega dungeon than a gritty slog. Mega dungeons are best when they have differ factions opposed to each other and maybe the characters have to choose a side.
>>97407262I haven't read a lot of Conan but I love the Arnold movie, enjoyed Red Sonja, I reckon this could be good!So I should definitely make sure to incorporate human factions with interests in the dungeon. It's the sort of "missing the forest for the trees" thing I would miss, monsters are fine but I need to make sure I include human interests.As far as powers go, most can be flavoured as magic. The only one I can think of off top of my head I'd have a problem with would be 3e's immortality powers. Are there any glaring ones I'm missing? Like I said, been too long since I last ran a game, a touch rusty on the old memory
