What is Lovecraftian Horror and Urban Folklore in a Dungeons Dragons One-Shot?

When planning a Dungeons Dragons (DD) one-shot with a Lovecraftian urban folklore horror theme, it's important to ensure your players are prepared for a unique and challenging experience. Unlike a typical DD adventure, a Lovecraftian campaign often involves poor outcomes for characters and players should be fully aware that their characters are at risk of death, madness, or failure to complete the mission. This distinct atmosphere sets it apart from other DD adventures and can be both exhilarating and alarming for new players.

Setting the Stage for a Lovecraftian Experience

Choosing an appropriate setting is crucial for a Lovecraftian horror campaign. While The Forgotten Realms has a rich tapestry of lore, it's not the only choice. An urban setting, such as a secluded town in the mountains, can offer a similar, yet distinct, atmosphere of isolation and danger.

Isolation and the Maintained Setting

The town you've chosen should be isolated, having become a ghost town due to a great battle, ruins, or an untouched, pristine state. Your choice will depend on what you believe would unsettle your players more - the remnants of a conflict or a seemingly untouched nightmare. Regardless of the condition, the key is that the setting should be eerie and unsettling to heighten the sense of impending doom.

The Supernatural Force and Monster(forms)

The core of your campaign involves a supernatural force that has taken over the mines. This force can be linked to a Lovecraftian entity like the Sorrow Sworn, which consists of various forms representing different emotions. Each emotion has a twisted form: the Angry with two heads constantly at odds, the Hungry with a salivating mouth, and a modified Gibbering Mouther feeding off psychic energy. These forms are designed to symbolize and amplify the emotional distress of the characters.

Adding Depth with Backstories and Mechanics

To truly immerse your players, consider their characters' backstories. Providing even a few sentences about their character's past, anyone important in their life, and their current goals can add layers of complexity. For example, a player might have a brother who went missing in the town, leaving behind notes that reflect increasing madness. Another might have their family killed, causing them to constantly see their faces or hear their voices in the walls.

Player Mechanics for Survival and Recovery

Designing a mechanic to help players recover from madness if they leave the town is a great way to keep the campaign engaging. However, if you want to make it more challenging, perhaps once the players enter, they cannot leave, ensuring the madness persists no matter what actions they take.

Increasing Intensity with Checks and Hallucinations

To make the experience more immersive, incorporate intelligence and wisdom checks to track hallucinations. Increased hallucinations can make the monsters more real and the players more unstable. Players can also be given the option to leave the town and recover from the madness, which can serve as a harder reset for future sessions.

Conclusion

Creating a Lovecraftian urban folklore horror theme for a DD one-shot is a thrilling and immersive experience. It's important to set the right expectations with your players to ensure they are prepared for the unique challenges that come with such a theme. Whether you use a mining town, sewers, or an abandoned hospital, the key is to create an eerie and unsettling setting where the players face not just physical danger, but mental turmoil as well. With the right element of preparation and creativity, your one-shot can be a memorable and heart-pounding journey for your players.