So I had the idea to convert Hamlet into a 1 player campaign. Gertrude would be a devil or something and Hamlet Sr. would be controlled by an ice devil(?) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dvati. Yorick is a spectral bard who guides Hamlet, an eldritch knight, through the campaign. Hamlet struggles against Young Fortinbrass , a paladin, who is intent on ridding Demark of its devilish aristocracy, much to Hamlet's chargin. I'd change all the names around to make it more fantastic, and it think it would be fun to play a fighter/necromancer Hamlet. Thoughts? Suggestions?
My thoughts are that you'll have to be willing to allow for the possibility of Hamlet surviving. You shouldn't make the poison in Laertes' sword an auto-kill. Maybe the save is really high; something the PC has to roll an 18+ to survive.
I don't remember who it was, but someone actually did d20 conversions of a number of the Bard's plays...ah, here you go: LPJ Design. Although it appears that Hamlet wasn't one of them. However, he did do MacBeth, so it might be worth the $3 at RPGnow to see how he went about converting things.
Looking at the reviews...Most of them seem to be rated 2 stars, so take them for reference, perhaps.
-Ben.
My thoughts are that you'll have to be willing to allow for the possibility of Hamlet surviving. You shouldn't make the poison in Laertes' sword an auto-kill. Maybe the save is really high; something the PC has to roll an 18+ to survive.
I don't think Hamlet should survive, but I don't think the poison should be instant kill either. I'd have it start killing Hamlet, but have enough time for Hamlet to murder Claudius. However, if Gertrude is a devil, won't normal poisons not affect her? I need some way around this!
I don't remember who it was, but someone actually did d20 conversions of a number of the Bard's plays...ah, here you go: LPJ Design. Although it appears that Hamlet wasn't one of them. However, he did do MacBeth, so it might be worth the $3 at RPGnow to see how he went about converting things.
Looking at the reviews...Most of them seem to be rated 2 stars, so take them for reference, perhaps.
-Ben.
Thanks! I checked them out but they didn't really help. Just statblocks and random plots.
I don't think Hamlet should survive, but I don't think the poison should be instant kill either. I'd have it start killing Hamlet, but have enough time for Hamlet to murder Claudius. However, if Gertrude is a devil, won't normal poisons not affect her? I need some way around this!
Well, it is supposed to be a rare poison of surprising potency. If you were the king of a country with plenty of devils/undead (I assume), and you really wanted this guy poisoned, wouldn't you get one that's designed to affect things immune to poison too, or at least mix in holy water too?
EDIT: Now that I think of it, putting a mixture of poison and holy water in makes sense, now that I think of it more. After all, Hamlet might of went and made himself undead/made a deal with a devil some time in his pursuit of vengeance. It's just covering all your bases.
Also, if Gertrude's a devil, wouldn't that make our favorite Dane a half-fiend?
I have a problem with Hamlet being fated to die.
You said you were changing all of the names.
That means your lone player won't know he's acting a role instead of playing a character.
He'll be under the misguided notion that he can succeed in exposing his father's killer, getting revenge, and then living happily ever after.
I mean, after a near successful campaign you're locking yourself into some very ham-fisted railroading:
DM: So, he hits you with his poisoned blade.
PC: Wait! You didn't even role to hit! And I've got protection from normal weapons on. Plus I've buffed my AC to 47!
DM: Yeah, well, he hits you. Now you're poisoned and dying.
PC: WTF? I've got iron body on and that makes me immune to poison. Besides my body is made of iron, how does it even get in? What about a save?
DM: Its a rare and special poison. No save. You still have d4 + CON rounds to act before you die.
PC: Well, my first action for the round is to leave this game.
Yeah, terms of the duel could be no magic, but what necromancer/fighter is going to agree to that when facing a straight fighter type?
The overarching point is:
You can't roll for Laertes to hit, because he might not. You have to have him hit.
You can't let the PC roll a save vs. poison because he might actually save.
That sticks in my craw and I strongly (and I mean with the fiery intensity of a thousand white-hot suns) advise against forcing Hamlet to die.
Well, to be fair Laertes is probably going to land at least one blow. Make it deal 1d4 Con damage per turn, no Con damage if you make a fort. save that turn. Of course, after the PC gets hit it's probably going to be a good time to have Laertes get mortally wounded so you don't have to deal with the whole blade-switching.
Besides, if Laertes doesn't hit or Hamlet's immune to poison at the time, Shakespeare won't rise from his grave and force you to kill him off. He'll just end up ruling Denmark instead of Fortinbras.
I don't think Hamlet should survive, but I don't think the poison should be instant kill either. I'd have it start killing Hamlet, but have enough time for Hamlet to murder Claudius. However, if Gertrude is a devil, won't normal poisons not affect her? I need some way around this!Well, it is supposed to be a rare poison of surprising potency. If you were the king of a country with plenty of devils/undead (I assume), and you really wanted this guy poisoned, wouldn't you get one that's designed to affect things immune to poison too, or at least mix in holy water too?
EDIT: Now that I think of it, putting a mixture of poison and holy water in makes sense, now that I think of it more. After all, Hamlet might of went and made himself undead/made a deal with a devil some time in his pursuit of vengeance. It's just covering all your bases.
Also, if Gertrude's a devil, wouldn't that make our favorite Dane a half-fiend?
Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! HAmlet is a cambion but only slowly realizes this. He only unlocks his true heritage in the final fight! Brilliant!
I have a problem with Hamlet being fated to die.
You said you were changing all of the names.
That means your lone player won't know he's acting a role instead of playing a character.
He'll be under the misguided notion that he can succeed in exposing his father's killer, getting revenge, and then living happily ever after.I mean, after a near successful campaign you're locking yourself into some very ham-fisted railroading:
DM: So, he hits you with his poisoned blade.
PC: Wait! You didn't even role to hit! And I've got protection from normal weapons on. Plus I've buffed my AC to 47!
DM: Yeah, well, he hits you. Now you're poisoned and dying.
PC: WTF? I've got iron body on and that makes me immune to poison. Besides my body is made of iron, how does it even get in? What about a save?
DM: Its a rare and special poison. No save. You still have d4 + CON rounds to act before you die.
PC: Well, my first action for the round is to leave this game.Yeah, terms of the duel could be no magic, but what necromancer/fighter is going to agree to that when facing a straight fighter type?
The overarching point is:
You can't roll for Laertes to hit, because he might not. You have to have him hit.
You can't let the PC roll a save vs. poison because he might actually save.That sticks in my craw and I strongly (and I mean with the fiery intensity of a thousand white-hot suns) advise against forcing Hamlet to die.
I understand your point and in fact agree with you now. However, essentially all of the play is about dying so I feel a lot of significance would be lost if Hamlet in fact lived. However, the prospect of a cambion Hamlet becoming king of an entire country is an intriguing concept.