How To Use Graveyards

[@BanditsKeep]

Very inspirational! I’m inspired to create an adventure where a chaotic artifact is buried with someone in a lawfully sanctified cemetery and the people are horrified as their long past families rise seeking flesh!

[@DDHomebrew]

Great idea! An artifact would have to power of overcome the power of sanctification. You'd then think about these long dead family members: would they be mindless zombies, controlled by the artifact? Would they have their own goals and desires? Or here's another idea: what if they rise up and appear normal, and begin operating in the town as "a long lost cousin". Sort of like Barnabas Collins in the Dark Shadows show. They could still be working for the power of the artifact, or have their own goals. I used to love to use "chaos" as a power, because it isn't so much good and evil as a disruptor. Things have to be shaken up once in a while.

[@SonOfSofaman]

I've used graveyards in my games before, but they've always been cliche and generic. That ends now. I hadn't ever considered all the possibilities. Thanks for the treasure trove of ideas!

[@SonOfSofaman]

I really like the concept of sanctification. My evil necromancer BBEG is gonna be so disappointed!

[@DDHomebrew]

Glad I could help Joel! I love graveyards and wanted to demonstrate how you can create ones that will surprise and interest your players.

[@DDHomebrew]

I just feel this is the concept that allows for graveyards in a world where the undead are an actual force to be reckoned with.

[@mattnerdy7236]

Hey Kevin, great advice and video! That scene from the good the bad and the ugly, that's perfect Kevin. Haven't ever thought about graveyards that much. I know people are just dying to get in! Really like the templates you provided in your video. Reminded me of the old DMG's. All that information creates thought and inspiration. At D&D Beyond they have a survey. I went Grandpa Simpson on them, asking for certain pillars of math and gave a few examples of what am talking about. Told them things about there still being room on the current armor list for all the old armor and that speed factor has changed to light and heavy, that I could see the math in the game. Hope the right person comes across my survey. Thanks Kevin you have a wonderful day!

[@DDHomebrew]

Glad as always that you liked the video Matt! I wondered who would notice that clip: I just feel that the search for gold hidden in a grave by neutral mercenaries was a perfect fit for the world of D&D! And I hope that the people at D&D Beyond answer your questions: think of the vast amount of data and story ideas contained in the lore and rules of earlier editions that could be included in today's game. I've been looking back on the old Monster Compendiums and Fiend Folio and thinking about all those "lost" creatures that could be repurposed for 5e. Yes some were silly, but a lot were a lot of fun.

[@mattnerdy7236]

@@DDHomebrew The survey is anonymous, was just trying to blow somebody's mind. I want better tools for converting those old school monsters, armor, weapons, spells, etc..

[@DDHomebrew]

@@mattnerdy7236 Keep pushing this Matt! You may not get any response, but maybe someone else out there will see this and provide those tools. You can always hope!

[@graemebennett7648]

For some reason KZbin stopped sending me upload notifications for your videos! Looks like I've got some content to catch up on 🤘

[@DDHomebrew]

Glad you're back Graeme!

[@Giles29]

While you often think of Undead when dealing with a graveyard, that doesn't necessarily have to be the encounter there. Mourners or curious visitors might also make for an interesting encounter. Some other monster might take up residence because no one goes to the graveyard.

[@DDHomebrew]

Great ideas here! Mourners might have revenge in mind or just a tale about the deceased that leads to an adventure. Or if a graveyard is abandoned you could have living things hide out there. Maybe using an elaborate mausoleum as a hideout.

[@Giles29]

@@DDHomebrew The Scooby-Doo hoax is another idea, where living people fake a haunting to cover up a crime.

[@DDHomebrew]

@@Giles29 And in a world where there really are ghosts this would be extra effective. Of course, if there were long slumbering ghosts here, could they be roused by these hoaxters using the legend for criminal gain? Hmmm.

[@BigCowProductions]

Whoo!

[@DDHomebrew]

Hope you like it!