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The average Dungeons & Dragons The campaign is set in a standard fantasy world that combines medieval Europe with the works of Tolkien. DMs looking to create a different type of campaign can look to the Metroid inspirational series, combining elements of sci-fi and horror, and trapping players in a labyrinthine dungeon filled with enemies beyond their comprehension.
the Metroid The series follows intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran, who often performs dangerous missions that involve exploring strange alien worlds and taking on vicious space pirates in combat. Metroid is one of the most acclaimed Nintendo franchises, with games like Super Metroid and Metroid Prime considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time. Despite this, the Metroid the series was not a sales heavyweight, and Samus Aran went into long periods of hibernation. 2021 might have finally changed Samus’ fortunes, as Terror Metroid was a big commercial success on Nintendo Switch. If the next Metroid Prime 4 is a hit too, so fans will likely see more of Samus in the future.
The dark sci-fi worlds of Metroid the series may seem not to be confused with a D&D campaign, but there have been attempts to introduce futuristic elements into D&D in the past. Ravenloft’s return in 2021 introduced the perfect way to create a Metroid-inspired D&D campaign, as players may find themselves drawn into the realm of Mother Brain and must fight their way through.
DMs can create HR Giger-style dread realm in Metroid-inspired D&D
the Metroid The series takes place in a sci-fi universe, but this one is neither friendly nor sociable, like those seen in Star trek Where Star wars. The main games rarely show Samus interacting with other people. Instead, they involve claustrophobic dungeon designs, endless waves of alien monsters, and remnants of lost civilizations. A Metroid-inspired D&D countryside would not have bustling alien canteens. These are games about surviving in an alien environment and slowly getting stronger, in order to face bigger threats. The adventure would make gamers claustrophobic and cut off from help as they are unwanted visitors to a strange land.
The sci-fi set of a Metroid D&D campaign would also risk giving players cutting edge technology or a way out of their predicament. One way to get around this is to put the game in a location that once had a high-tech civilization, but has fallen into disrepair, leaving behind only rusted hardware and decaying buildings. The Ravenloft campaign setting would also be a good place to use such a location. Ravenloft has standalone “Domains of Dread”, each with their own horror theme and ruled by a powerful Dark Lord. It is not easy to leave an area of dread, as many of them are protected by barriers that prevent people from escaping. Usually the only way to leave a Dread Realm is to defeat the Dark Lord (which is no easy task) or find hidden means of escape.
A Metroid-inspired D&D The campaign could have HR Giger’s artwork as a horror theme, with Mother Brain being his Dark Lord. The first example most people will think of for a Giger /Metroid inspiration is there Extraterrestrial franchise, because it was one of the main inspirations for Metroid. There is another video game better suited for this purpose. HR Giger’s illustrations were used in a game called Black seed, where a real-world main character could step into a horrific sci-fi world through their mirror. The world of darkness in Black seed is filled with dead cities, alien tech, and hideous life forms that are barely possible to communicate with, making it the perfect fit for a realm of dread.
Go on a Metroidvania D&D adventure
the Metroid is the origin of the video game subgenre Metroidvania. The key part of the Metroidvania style is to contain the frame in one place. The player is unable to explore all areas of the game from the start, as some of them are locked behind keys or require a special ability to bypass an environmental hazard. The setting is essentially a large progression puzzle, which gives the player the freedom to tackle it. The keys to progression are often held by bosses, which means they all must be defeated to complete the game.
A Metroid-inspired D&D The campaign is easy to adapt to this format, as the game would take place in a massive dungeon, with its own environmental biomes and monsters to explore. Players are immersed in a dead alien civilization, the only inhabitants of which are killer machines, genetically engineered animal life forms, and horrific alien monsters who want to dissect the party. There should be dedicated safe areas for players to rest in, such as areas where the security technology is still working, and where they can lock themselves into a room. The goal is to go to each of the areas of the dungeon in order to defeat the boss, acquire a new item or knowledge, and become stronger in the process.
It should be explained at the outset that there is a device that will allow the group to escape their predicament and that finding it may be their goal. It’s also the perfect opportunity for audience DM linguists to create a foreign language (or at least words within the language) and use them as the basis for puzzles, with players slowly discovering their meaning. The only problem with this style of campaign is that there wouldn’t be a lot of D&D role-playing opportunities, as players are unlikely to find a city, and most enemies are extraterrestrial life forms that cannot be reasoned with. A Metroid would be better suited to groups who enjoy the combat and exploration aspects of D&D, especially those looking to inject body horror or alien enemies into their game.
Adapt Metroid monsters to Dungeons & Dragons 5th
Part of the fun of tailoring a D&D campaign in an unknown setting adapts enemies and items to the new world. In one Metroid campaign, healing potions can become sci-fi medical kits, and stat-enhancing magical items (like Gauntlets of Ogre Power) can be body horror implants. When it comes to the Metroid enemies: there are similar monsters in D&D which can serve as a basis for adaptation. Mother Brain may be the kingdom’s Elder Brain Dark Lord, who is too strong for the party to fight head-on, but they may be able to defeat in puzzle form, shutting down the machines she relies on. to survive . EMMI robots from Terror Metroid can be iron golems that mercilessly pursue the group through parts of the dungeon, forcing them to rely on stealth until they are strong enough to face one in combat. Ridley can be a golden or red dragon of an appropriate size for the group level, blasting them from afar with his flaming breath or going into a close encounter with his claws and tail.
The standard D&D the monsters players face can still be those of the Monster Manual. It’s just up to the DM to change their appearance to match the scenery, rather than creating brand new creatures from scratch. It’s easy to turn goblins and kobolds into warped lab experiments, skeletons to mixtures Terminator-style androids and giant bats present the Skree of Metroid. There are a lot of officials Dungeons & Dragons ready-to-use monsters whose description and behavior can easily be changed to suit a Metroid countryside.
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