this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2023
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Running a player controlled godling (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by [email protected] to c/dnd
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I'd like to give my party the ability to control an unstable godling in combat. Do you have any suggestions on how to make this fun?

I have four party members. I'm thinking that on the godlings turn, each party member will be able to declare a target enemy and an ability to activate. If more than half of the party members declare the same target, then the target is selected, ditto for the attack. If they fail to meet that bar, something random will happen to a random target (including the party).

They'll probably be fighting 7ish clerics and cultists, and the godling will probably have two-ish attacks.

Edit: Any suggestions on how to make the control more fun for the players? I want a strong element of chaos, but more than half of the attacks should be controlled by the party.

Here's the context: My party has gotten involved with an almost-extinct god that has been revived. It's an unstable bundle of power that throws off random miracles. It has manifested a set of curse/boons for each party member. The godling had a portfolio of growth, but it'll probably get rebirth/reincarnation.

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[–] Slade357 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Hmm, I don't mind your idea at all but it is hard to implement so I see your trouble. Some folks have given good options but I'll offer a different way to do it. I'd have one attack per player since it is a god, let him wreck house. Maybe increase the number of enemies to accommodate the attacks. Since this is a god regaining their power and their trying to control it I'd have two DCs for their check each round. First DC is if they listen and should be passed most of the time maybe 10 or 15. If they don't then it might be bad for the party but otherwise they attack the target as intended. The second DC should be failed most of the time, maybe 20 or 25. If they fail this DC the the god still acts as ordered but releases a chaos burst as it does. I personally always use the d10000 list of chaos burst, its fun.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

it is hard to implement so I see your trouble

Yeah. I have that problem a lot. Combat in D&D turns into a grind, so I've been trying stuff to spice it up. The whole godling subplot came from wanting to give each PC a boon/curse pairing that would give them more options in combat. It's mostly different ways to grant advantage or disadvantage, so it worked within the existing rules.

I’d have one attack per player since it is a god, let him wreck house. Maybe increase the number of enemies to accommodate the attacks.

That makes a lot of sense.

The chaos burst is a good idea. It's a well understood way to add some randomness.