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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Haffrung on February 14, 2018, 03:39:47 PM

Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Haffrung on February 14, 2018, 03:39:47 PM
I'm picking up the DCC RPG, and rather than buy a bunch of DCC modules, I'm thinking of buying the Hubris campaign setting instead. Anyone having any experiencing running a DCC Hubris campaign? From the reviews I've seen, it certainly looks cool and evocative. I'm just not sure how it plays at the table.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: under_score on February 14, 2018, 04:03:36 PM
Hubris is pretty great.  I definitely recommend it if you like a kind of gonzo swords & sorcery setting.

The book adds some new races/classes.  They're a mixed a bag but some decent options.  There are some new spells, patrons, monsters, equipment.  And a couple adventures.  But where Hubris really shines is the setting.  It's presented in such a unique way.  The world is divided into 10 regions that are pretty terrain specific.  The Blighted Sands, Bogwood Swamps, Weeping Forest of Forgotten Memories, etc.  Each region gets a few paragraphs general description, a few important locations (including rumors/adventure hooks), and then a table for terrain features and a table of encounters.  These tables are fantastic, full of evocative descriptions.  Although I haven't run Hubris on it's own yet, I've ported a lot from its terrain and encounter tables into other games.
The other great part of the book is its chapter on GM tools.  This is a bunch of tables for generating various stuff.  NPCs, city districts, taverns and inns, grave digging, diseases, camping mishaps, bandit gangs, and more.  It's one of the most idea jammed books I've ever read and was definitely made to be useful at the table.  Whether you actually run Hubris or some other setting with a heavy metal influence, there's a ton to use out of this book.

Edit: I should point out two negatives.  First, the author chose not to use the standard DCC monster stat format.  This is just annoying.  There's no reason to reinvent it.  Secondly, the pdf bookmark links cause the pdf to go to 100% zoom, instead of fitting page.  Since this is a book full of useful tables, you'll probably be bouncing around a lot.  Having to rezoom to page level every time is obnoxious.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Haffrung on February 14, 2018, 04:51:14 PM
Quote from: under_score;1025490It's one of the most idea jammed books I've ever read and was definitely made to be useful at the table.  Whether you actually run Hubris or some other setting with a heavy metal influence, there's a ton to use out of this book.

Thanks. That's what I wanted to hear.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Just Another Snake Cult on February 15, 2018, 09:19:16 PM
It's worth it for the Murder Machine character class alone.

I also second the remarks about it being designed to be "Useful at the table".  I highly approve of that style of RPG supplement design.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Kuroth on February 16, 2018, 04:25:44 AM
Thanks for the input on Hubris!  I stopped by the site here looking for Dungeon Crawl ideas.  I saw this third party item over at Goodman and wondered about it.  So, I'll place it on my short list of things to get.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Larsdangly on February 16, 2018, 10:55:09 AM
Does this thing exist as a hard copy book or only a pdf? I don't do pdf's...

Edit: I got off my ass and figured out it does. Sorry for that nonsense.

A random semi-related question: Has anyone published a module for DCC that people would say fits the definition of a 'megadungeon'?
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Haffrung on February 16, 2018, 11:10:46 AM
Quote from: Larsdangly;1025739A random semi-related question: Has anyone published a module for DCC that people would say fits the definition of a 'megadungeon'?

I was going to ask the same thing. Or not even a megadungeon - just a 2+ level dungeon. Almost all the modules I've come across for DCC are 0-2 level with a mix of outdoors and small complexes. For a game named Dungeon Crawl Classics, there don't seem to be a lot of dungeons.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: under_score on February 16, 2018, 12:03:25 PM
Quote from: Larsdangly;1025739A random semi-related question: Has anyone published a module for DCC that people would say fits the definition of a 'megadungeon'?

No DCC megadungeons yet, unfortunately.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Larsdangly on February 16, 2018, 01:23:01 PM
Weird. There are something like a couple dozen truly massive megadungeons put out for OSR games over the last decade, and multi-level dungeons beyond count. And there are pages and pages of third party materials for DCC. How has no one gotten up the gumption to create a 100+room megadungeon for this game? Is there something about the system that would make it unplayable? I've played DCC a few times but never got an understanding what it would be like to use it for a really proper dungeon crawl.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: bat on February 16, 2018, 01:32:01 PM
As others have said, Hubris is awesome, a lot of great ideas there.

As far as a DCC megadungeon. This would be awesome to see, it seems a little tricky as the magic alone can cause problems with extended stays away from resources to build back up. The megadungeon would need to be really gonzo and have an abundance of resources in addition to the usual pitfalls, traps and monsters.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Kuroth on February 16, 2018, 08:43:02 PM
Quote from: Haffrung;1025740I was going to ask the same thing. Or not even a megadungeon - just a 2+ level dungeon. Almost all the modules I've come across for DCC are 0-2 level with a mix of outdoors and small complexes. For a game named Dungeon Crawl Classics, there don't seem to be a lot of dungeons.

Journey to the Center of Aereth combined with The Lost City of Barako.  Journey to the Center of Aereth is an underground exploration adventure, which may lead to  The Lost City of Barako, if you like.  They seem very nice together, though I haven't had the chance to play them.  Both are writen by Harley Stroh. Journey is a rather high, for Dungeon Crawl, 4th level adventure. Journey is a fairly large dungeon adventure, from an AD&D point of view.  They are over at Goodman.

Veins of the Earth is published under Lamentations of the Flame Princess, but is intended for all such games, as all Lamentations adventure and campaign items.  I was cautious about this one because for the online hype, and I thought it may be overly creativity for its own sake. Not a bad thing for a thing to read, but its usefulness was something I questioned.  With a hard-copy to read over,  I can say it is a pretty useful guide for underground adventures.  I don't care for a couple of the Pariahs of the Earth (adversaries/monsters/things to be avoided), which I wouldn't use at all, but the chapter on generating veins (as subterra is described) is pretty great.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Larsdangly on February 16, 2018, 09:09:33 PM
Thanks; great advice!
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: RPGPundit on February 21, 2018, 05:36:40 AM
I've never even heard of this setting. Any details?
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Haffrung on February 21, 2018, 08:34:05 AM
Quote from: RPGPundit;1026343I've never even heard of this setting. Any details?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp2yTOFIuk0
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Haffrung on February 21, 2018, 08:35:36 AM
Quote from: RPGPundit;1026343I've never even heard of this setting. Any details?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp2yTOFIuk0
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: under_score on February 21, 2018, 08:56:54 AM
Quote from: RPGPundit;1026343I've never even heard of this setting. Any details?

It's a gonzo, dark, weird, nightmare, Heavy Metal setting for DCC.  It's got a few things in common with Vornheim, both aesthetically and in its structure, developing the setting through random tables more than strictly keyed information.  I put more information in post #2, and the link Haffrung posted for Questing Beast's review is pretty informative.  Given your tastes in DCC, I think it'd be right up your alley.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Simlasa on February 22, 2018, 02:47:48 AM
Hubris appeals to me in a way similar to The Arduin Grimoire, it's a big wild bag-o-tricks. I might never use it as a whole, but will definitely get ideas and inspiration and use out of its many bits.
Title: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: RPGPundit on February 26, 2018, 02:12:05 AM
Huh. Well, on the one hand it looks good, like a lot of material, and a lot of stuff that would probably be good material.
On the other, I get the sense that it takes itself very serious, and that it has a kind of 'obsessed with how dark I am' sort of vibe.
Not sure how accurate that perception is based just on what I saw of the youtube review and the DTRPG thing.
Title: Re: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: dfsafsvssdf on December 02, 2020, 01:13:02 PM
Quote from: RPGPundit on February 21, 2018, 05:36:40 AM
I've never even heard of this setting. Any details?
What's up you racist, misogynistic, homophobic piece of human filth.
Title: Re: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: oggsmash on December 02, 2020, 03:45:14 PM
 Anyone with the print book, or does everyone who has it have the pdf?  I have been interested in that book for a while, and the wife is on my case about an x-mas list, so if it is printed to a readable quality I will put that on the list for her.
Title: Re: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Slambo on December 03, 2020, 01:51:05 PM
Quote from: RPGPundit on February 26, 2018, 02:12:05 AM
Huh. Well, on the one hand it looks good, like a lot of material, and a lot of stuff that would probably be good material.
On the other, I get the sense that it takes itself very serious, and that it has a kind of 'obsessed with how dark I am' sort of vibe.
Not sure how accurate that perception is based just on what I saw of the youtube review and the DTRPG thing.

It does not take itself super seriously. I mean one of the Desert encounters is Tenacious D, for all intents and purposes. Jack Black's band if you didnt know.. its more of a dark comedy-ish setting.
Title: Re: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Libramarian on December 04, 2020, 12:19:21 AM
Quote from: Slambo on December 03, 2020, 01:51:05 PM
Quote from: RPGPundit on February 26, 2018, 02:12:05 AM
Huh. Well, on the one hand it looks good, like a lot of material, and a lot of stuff that would probably be good material.
On the other, I get the sense that it takes itself very serious, and that it has a kind of 'obsessed with how dark I am' sort of vibe.
Not sure how accurate that perception is based just on what I saw of the youtube review and the DTRPG thing.

It does not take itself super seriously. I mean one of the Desert encounters is Tenacious D, for all intents and purposes. Jack Black's band if you didnt know.. its more of a dark comedy-ish setting.
Annnnnd that's too far in the other direction.
Title: Re: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Slambo on December 04, 2020, 01:23:44 PM
Quote from: Libramarian on December 04, 2020, 12:19:21 AM
Quote from: Slambo on December 03, 2020, 01:51:05 PM
Quote from: RPGPundit on February 26, 2018, 02:12:05 AM
Huh. Well, on the one hand it looks good, like a lot of material, and a lot of stuff that would probably be good material.
On the other, I get the sense that it takes itself very serious, and that it has a kind of 'obsessed with how dark I am' sort of vibe.
Not sure how accurate that perception is based just on what I saw of the youtube review and the DTRPG thing.

It does not take itself super seriously. I mean one of the Desert encounters is Tenacious D, for all intents and purposes. Jack Black's band if you didnt know.. its more of a dark comedy-ish setting.
Annnnnd that's too far in the other direction.

The actual line is attached to the post, its not that bad.
Title: Re: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Two Crows on December 20, 2020, 05:06:41 PM
Quote from: Larsdangly on February 16, 2018, 10:55:09 AM
Does this thing exist as a hard copy book or only a pdf? I don't do pdf's...

Edit: I got off my ass and figured out it does. Sorry for that nonsense.

A random semi-related question: Has anyone published a module for DCC that people would say fits the definition of a 'megadungeon'?

I don't think "Mega Dungeons" would work very well in DCC. 
It's a High-Stakes/High Consequences/High Death Rate sort of game.

Every character level is a BIG increase in power, and they stop at 10th.

Lastly, there are more adventures for the game than you can shake a stick at.  Many of them are through fanzine-type publications (like CRAWL!) or other 3rd parties (see "Purple Sorcerer Games"). 

The also have a lot of great settings that shake up genre (Transylvanian Adventures, The UnAmerican Survival Guide, Tales of the Fallen Empire).

For a bigger sort of dungeon/adventure, you could try the Sunken City Omnibus.
Title: Re: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Eirikrautha on December 20, 2020, 05:31:05 PM
Quote from: Two Crows on December 20, 2020, 05:06:41 PM
I don't think "Mega Dungeons" would work very well in DCC. 

There's something hysterical about a game called Dungeon Crawl Classics that wouldn't work very well with ... big dungeons.
Title: Re: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Two Crows on December 20, 2020, 05:40:19 PM
Quote from: Eirikrautha on December 20, 2020, 05:31:05 PM
Quote from: Two Crows on December 20, 2020, 05:06:41 PM
I don't think "Mega Dungeons" would work very well in DCC. 

There's something hysterical about a game called Dungeon Crawl Classics that wouldn't work very well with ... big dungeons.

Why?

It's not like they named it; "Really Big Dungeon Really Long Dungeon Crawl Game".

;D
Title: Re: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: rocksfalleverybodydies on December 21, 2020, 07:30:12 PM
Quote from: Two Crows on December 20, 2020, 05:40:19 PM
Quote from: Eirikrautha on December 20, 2020, 05:31:05 PM
Quote from: Two Crows on December 20, 2020, 05:06:41 PM
I don't think "Mega Dungeons" would work very well in DCC. 

There's something hysterical about a game called Dungeon Crawl Classics that wouldn't work very well with ... big dungeons.

Why?

It's not like they named it; "Really Big Dungeon Really Long Dungeon Crawl Game".

;D

Something named that brazenly specific appeals to my 'buy' meter.
Title: Re: Dungeon Crawl Classics Hubris setting - opinions?
Post by: Two Crows on December 21, 2020, 08:45:54 PM
Sounds like we need a KickStarter, ASAP.