My own adaptation of the Paths to Immortality to 5E rules
by LoZompatoreI am planning a very high-level campaign, up to Immortality, with 5E rules and I am trying to figure out how to adapt BECMI Quest to Immortality to 5E rules.
What follows is my best attempt so far. It is not play tested and it is a very streamlined and modified version of the original Master Set and WotI rules. See if you like the revised rules, if they can be useful to your own campaign and let me know if you have any suggestions to improve them.
Approach:
Instead of creating extra levels above 20 for each class I just go with the simpler solution that max level per single class is 20, but there is no actual cap on the total level that can be reached by a character (i.e. the character may reach a level way above 20 through multiclassing). I removed the absolute cap at level 20 to give room to the tasks to be completed during the Paths to Immortality, which I would like to mix within a broader "standard" epic level campaign.
5E Epic Boons can still be gained, but I assumed that they are granted by Immortals upon completion of specific parts of the Petition + Path to Immortality, with the hope to give some purpose to both the Epic Boons and the tasks of the Paths through some intermediate rewards that progressively detach the candidates from the realms of mortals.
To give some flavor I assumed that each Sphere may grant up to 9 of the 26 Epic Boons available (with some superpositions, as some Boons can be granted by multiple Spheres) and that a very successful candidate to Immortality may gain up to 8 Epic Boons.
Immortality is reached once all tasks required by the Path are successful. I introduced a minimum level in order to reach Immortality but there is no limit on the maximum level at which the character must transcend the mortal realm. Anyway, what I envisioned below should provide Immortality shortly after level 30.
For the sake of playability, I removed from both Petition and Path to Immortality all single-player quests. I do not think I will ever have enough spare time to separately DM a single player for 12 levels (or even for a few sessions), while the main campaign is in stand-by. D&D is a group game, after all. For the same reasons I tried to rephrase the various tasks in a way that the whole group can take part to the action, with the understanding that the successful completion of the task will affect only the relevant candidate to Immortality.
About the Testimony part of the four Paths, I tried to streamline the whole thing. For each Sphere, the candidate must recruit 6 mid-level characters of various classes to act as witnesses to the tasks of the Path. I removed all references about the witnesses of some Paths being the PCs of other players because I find it too cumbersome to manage in game terms (big level difference, the recruited character is meant to obey the candidate's orders, and so on).
Level progression of the witnesses is not important for the completion of the Testimony task, but level progression of the candidate is: a new witness cannot be recruited before a new experience level is gained by the candidate. At least a witness must be present in all tasks of the candidate and if the witness dies or leaves the candidate must recruit a new suitable replacement (once the next experience level is reached) which may not be an easy task and would delay the whole progression to Immortality; it is definitely better for the candidate to take care of the witness.
About the Petition part I removed all tests that refer to a good alignment such as honor or purity of heart. The possibility to change this specific type of tests is also discussed in the Master Set. As I feel that not all Immortals are honorable or pure of heart, even outside the Sphere of Entropy, I modified the tests by giving them a more neutral stance i.e. the tests are designed to assess if the potential candidate, is able to focus and reach a given goal, in the meantime remaining trutworthy to the entity who assigned the task.
Here is the description in detail of the house rules I envisioned:
1) Petition:
There is no definite location to contact the Immortals. Instead, the Immortals will contact the most promising PCs themselves once they are at least of a combined level of 18. This happens at the end of a major quest on the Prime Plane the PCs resolved successfully.
What happens is the following: following a major menace to the balance of the Prime (triggered by Entropy or by another Sphere - see for example WotI, which is triggered by Energy) the Immortals who take interest in the menace will observe the actions of the mortals and place tests for potential candidates as the events unfold.
The tests are on par of side quests or minor encounters happening during the main campaign and can be handled by the whole group of adventurers; the Immortals will assess the success of the test based on the behavior of the single characters. Similar tests may be placed in the campaign by more than one Immortal. Main events of the campaign itself may represent a test for some Immortals, based on their portfolios.
For the whole duration of the tests all mortal candidates do not know they are under scrutiny by the Immortals.
The tests are aimed to assess if the candidate has the potential to become a worthy Immortal, and they are organized to check the following qualities of the character:
- Obedience (is the potential candidate compliant to a goal sent by a recognized authority even if it is against any short-term personal gain?)
- Initiative (if the potential candidate is compliant, is the candidate able to arrange a personal plan to reach the goal?)
- Leadership (if the plan is ready, is the potential candidate able to persuade others to follow the plan and lead them?)
- Resourcefulness (if the plan is in motion, can the potential candidate find a way to overcome all unexpected obstacles?)
- Persistence (if the task fails due to adversities, is the potential candidate able to provide a suitable plan B to reach the goal?)
- Trustworthiness (is the potential candidate focused on the goal, avoding to be swayed to different objectives?)
- Ambition (is the potential candidate ambitious enough to complete the task without stopping at intermediate, lesser goals and rewards?)
The last of the trials should happen by the time the potential candidates reach level 20, so that Epic Boons can be granted.
Let us assume that the Immortals involved are already favorably disposed towards the candidates (otherwise they will not show up nor place the tests) and of the same alignment of the mortals.
If less than 5 tests are successful the Immortal loses interest on the potential candidate and the mortal will never know that a major chance to reach Immortality was lost (the Immortal does not even bother showing up to explain where and when the mortals failed on their tests).
If 5, 6 or 7 tests are successful the potential candidate is contacted through dreams by the relevant Immortal.
The Immortal will briefly speak about the possibility to reach Immortality and will ask the potential candidate to provide a suitable gift to a specified location within a given deadline, as a sign of acceptance by the mortal of the new role as an official candidate in one of the four Paths, under the patronage of the Immortal.
The potential candidate is free to refuse, to skip the deadline and avoid showing up. In this case nothing happens, and the Immortal loses interest in the mortal. If the mortal shows up with a suitable gift, then an Epic Boon will be granted by the Immortal (2 Epic Boons are granted if all 7 tests during the trial were successful) and the mortal will be informed about the details of the specific Path to Immortality to follow.
From this moment on the mortal will be an official candidate to Immortality and the Immortal will become the candidate's sponsor.
2) Epic Boons granted by Sphere:
Of the 26 Epic Boons, each Sphere will grant up to 9.
An extraordinarily successful Petition will grant 2 and the completion of the whole Path to Immortality will grant 6, for a maximum of 8 Epic Boons gained by a mortal before reaching Immortality.
Matter:
Dimensional Travel
Fortitude
Immortality
Invincibility
Peerless Aim
Perfect Health
Resilience
Skill Proficiency
Unfettered
Energy:
Dimensional Travel
High Magic
Magic Resistance
Planar Travel
Quick Casting
Spell Mastery
Spell Recall
Stormborn
Fire Soul
Time:
Combat Prowess
Fate
Immortality
Luck
Quick Casting
Recovery
Speed
Spell Recall
Undetectability
Thought:
Irresistible Offense
Magic Resistance
Night Spirit
Peerles Aim
Skill Proficiency
Stormborn
Truesight
Undetectability
Unfettered
Entropy (NPCs only):
In principle all 26 Boons can be suitable for selection (the limit of 8 Boons to the single candidate, applies, anyway); this is to provide for a varied ranges of foes and because it is hinted in the Immortal Set that the number of Entropic Immortals may equal the sum of the Immortals of the four Spheres (as if there is an Entropic subgroup contrasting each Sphere). Selection below is just a suggestion based on useful abilities in combat against the PCs and on suitably "dark" powers.
Combat Prowess
High Magic
Invincibility
Irresistible Offense
Peerless Aim
Perfect Health
Night Spirit
Stormborn
Undetectability
3) Paths to Immortality:
Due to multiclassing there is a minimum level of a given class type that needs to be reached for each Path.
In the following, class types are broadly defined as follows:
- Martial classes: Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue
- Magical classes: Sorcerer, Wizard, Warlock, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Artificer
Matter (Polymath Path; Element: Earth; Scope: Withstand destruction and decay; Opposes: Time):
- The candidate must reach at least a total experience level of 30.
- The candidate must multiclass in at least 4 classes, of which at least 2 Martial classes and at least 2 Magical classes, and reach at least level 4 on each of them.
- Recruit 6 Henchmen of levels 8-12, all of different races and main classes, 3 of which with a main Martial class and 3 of which with a main Magical class. The Henchmen may be either persuaded, bribed, hired, captivated, defeated in a non-lethal duel or in another contest in order for their service to be granted, but the same method cannot be used twice. The candidate must gain at least a new experience level before a new Henchman can be recruited. If a Henchman dies or leaves it must be replaced or resurrected after at least an extra level of experience is gained by the candidate. Henchmen will gain new experience levels only in their main class and at half the candidate rate (i.e., 1 level every 2 levels of the candidate). An Epic Boon is granted the first time the 3rd and 6th Henchman are recruited.
- Quest for a legendary magical object of the Sphere of Matter. This quest must be taken first with respect to the other two quests about artifacts (see below). At least 4 levels of experience in a new class must be gained in the quest and a single Henchman must follow the candidate for the whole duration of the quest. An Epic Boon is granted at the end of the quest.
- Quest for a lesser artifact of the Sphere of Matter. This quest can be taken only after the quest for the legendary object is achieved (see above) and before the quest for the greater artifact (see below). At least 4 levels of experience in a new class must be gained in the quest and a single Henchman must follow the candidate for the whole duration of the quest. An Epic Boon is granted at the end of the quest.
- Quest for a greater artifact of the Sphere of Matter. This quest can be taken only after the quests for the legendary object and for the lesser artifact (see above). At least 4 levels of experience in a new class must be gained in the quest and a single Henchman must follow the candidate for the whole duration of the quest. An Epic Boon is granted at the end of the quest.
- Build a monument to the glory of the deeds of the candidate, to be improved in a suitable grandiose way each time a quest for one of the items of the Sphere of Matter is completed (see below). Once completed the monument will be exposed to some kind of menace that may lead to its destruction; the candidate must find a way to neutralize the menace. An Epic Boon is granted once the menace is neutralized.
Energy (Paragon Path; Element: Fire; Scope: Create more energy and activity; Opposes: Thought):
- The candidate must reach at least a total experience level of 30.
- The candidate must reach level 20 on a single Magical class.
- Recruit 6 Apprentices of levels 8-12, all of them with a main Magical class. The Apprentices must be recruited by either defeating them in a non-lethal magical duel or magical contest, or by captivating them through some impressive feat of magic. At least an Apprentice must be defeated in a non-lethal magical duel, at least one must be defeated in another kind of magical contest and at least one must be captivated through feats of magic. The candidate must gain at least a new experience level before a new Apprentice can be recruited. If an Apprentice dies or leaves it must be replaced or resurrected after at least an extra level of experience is gained by the candidate. Apprentices will gain new experience levels only in their main class and at half the candidate rate (i.e., 1 level every 2 levels of the candidate). An Epic Boon is granted the first time the 3rd and 6th Apprentice are recruited.
- Quest for a lesser artifact of the Sphere of Energy. A single Assistant must must follow the candidate for the whole duration of the quest. An Epic Boon is granted once the artifact is gained.
- Create an entirely new legendary magical item, whose creation will include at least an "impossible" ingredient to be found. The help of at least 3 Apprentices is needed in the process since the beginning of this endeavor. The creation process will be at risk of disruption at least once and the candidate must find a way to neutralize the menace. An Epic Boon is granted once the magical item is created.
- Modify the surrounding lands for 100 miles radius in a unique way. The help of all 6 Apprentices is necessary since the beginning of this endeavor. The project will be at risk of destruction at least once and the candidate must find a way to neutralize the menace. An Epic Boon is granted once the project is completed.
- Be recognized as superior in a formal (and ultimately non-lethal) duel by at least 3 rivals with the same main class of the candidate, each of them with a combined total level in Magical classes of 25 or higher. A single Apprentice must follow the candidate in each duel but cannot attack the rival. An Epic Boon is granted after the 3rd rival is defeated.
Time (Dynast Path; Element: Water; Scope: Promote change and maintain the flow of time; Opposes: Matter):
- The candidate must reach at least a total experience level of 30.
- The candidate must reach at least level 20 on a class of his choice, and at least level 5 on two other classes, one of which must be of the Magical type and the other of the Martial type.
- Recruit 6 Counselors of levels 8-12, all of different main classes, 3 of them with a main Magical class and 3 of them with a main Martial class. Counselors may be either persuaded, bribed, hired, captivated, defeated in a non-lethal duel or in another contest in order for their service to be granted; the same recruiting method can be used more than once. The candidate must gain at least a new experience level before a new Counselor can be recruited. If a Counselor dies or leaves it must be replaced or resurrected after at least an extra level of experience is gained by the candidate. Counselors will gain new experience levels only in their main class and at half the candidate's rate (i.e., 1 level every 2 levels of the candidate). An Epic Boon is granted the first time the 3rd and 6th Counselors are recruited.
- Quest for a major artifact of the Sphere of Time that grants (unreliable) time travel. A single Counselor must follow the candidate in this quest. An Epic Boon is granted once the artifact is gained.
- Create and rule successfully a dominion for 20 years (*), with a population of at least 50'000 people (of any race and class) and a designed heir (either by blood or by adoption) by the 20th year (*). The dominion will be at risk of destruction at least once during this timeframe, and the candidate must find a way to neutralize the menace. An Epic Boon is granted at the end of the 20th year (*) if the above conditions are met, the capital is still under the candidate's rule and the population is on average not rebellious.
(*) = Or 1/2 of the adult life of the candidate based on the average lifespan of the candidate's race, if more practical from the point of view of the campaign. - Design and build a new capital for the land. The task is considered completed after 10 years (*) of construction if the settlement has at least 1'500 people. All 6 Counselors must be involved in the design and building of the settlement. The project will be at risk of disruption at least once during its construction and the candidate must find a way to neutralize the menace. An Epic Boon is granted at the end of the 10th year if all the above conditions are met.
- Use the time travel artifact to reach to 3 separate periods in the possible futures of the setting (they may not correspond to the real future of the timeline), to help in incognito the different descendants of the dynasty to overcome a menace - different each time - that will pose the dynasty at risk of survival. A single Counselor must follow the candidate in the time travel (the Counselor can be different for each travel). An Epic Boon is granted once all menaces are neutralized, and the candidate returns to the original timeline.
(*) = Or 1/4 of the adult life of the candidate based on the average lifespan of the candidate's race, if more practical from the point of view of the campaign.
Thought (Epic Hero Path; Element: Air; Scope: Undestand all of existence; Opposes: Energy):
- The candidate must reach at least a total experience level of 30.
- The candidate must reach level 20 on a single Martial class.
- Recruit 6 Successors of levels 8-12, all of them with a main Martial class. The Successors must be recruited by either defeating them in a non-lethal martial duel or similar non-magical contest, or by captivating them through some impressive feat of heroism. At least a Successor must be defeated in a non-lethal martial duel, at least one must be defeated in another kind of non-magical contest and at least one must be captivated through feats of heroism. The candidate must gain at least a new experience level before a new Successor can be recruited. If a Successor dies or leaves it must be replaced or resurrected after at least an extra level of experience is gained by the candidate. Successors will gain new experience levels only in their main class and at half the candidate's rate (i.e., 1 level every 2 levels of the candidate). An Epic Boon is granted the first time the 3rd and 6th Successors are recruited.
- Create a new legendary weapon (by collecting the required ingredients and finding the necessary magical specialists). The help of at least 3 Successors is needed in the process since the beginning of this endeavor. The creation process will be at risk of disruption at least once and the candidate must find a way to neutralize the menace. An Epic Boon is granted once the weapon is created.
- Quest for a major artifact of the Sphere of Thought. The legendary weapon created by the candidate must be used to gain the artifact. A single Successor must follow the candidate in this quest. An Epic Boon is granted once the legendary weapon is gained.
- Detect and destroy an artifact of the Sphere of Entropy. The legendary weapon created by the candidate must be used to destroy the artifact. A single Successor must follow the candidate in this quest. An Epic Boon is granted once the artifact is destroyed.
- Reach an important position in a non-magical organization of at least 100 people of at least level 1; this important position must be granted by some form of recognized mortal authority (a king, an high priest, a council, etc.), it must be acknowledged by the whole organization and it must be held for at least 5 years (*). All the Successors must successfully enter this organization as well and a Successor who will inherit the legendary weapon must be designed by the candidate. A menace disrupting the unity of the organization and/or questioning the position of the candidate and of the designed Successor will happen during these 5 years (*), and the candidate must find a way to neutralize the menace. An Epic Boon is granted once all conditions are met.
(*) = Or 1/8 of the adult life of the candidate based on the average lifespan of the candidate's race, if more practical from the point of view of the campaign.
Hope you find it useful!
;)