Rainbow Shrine

Level 6 One-shot Adventure
Based on the "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon" series.

This one-shot and any possible future sessions will not feature darker themes. If you expect killing, murder, blood and gore. This is not the oneshot for you. Your character should have a "I want to do good"-mindset.

Game Tone & Setting
Heroic
Light-hearted
Chaotic

Rules
2024 DnD Rules (all official 2014 rules of official sources allowed)
Note: Druid(s) might have some wild shape limitations.

Character Options
This setting is in a world is exclusively inhabited by Pokémon. If you are familiar with the 'Pokémon Mystery Dungeon' series then you'll have a headstart. You can choose a Pokemon of any generation excluding:

  • Fakemon

  • Legendaries*

  • Mythicals*

  • Mega-Evolutions

  • Dynamax/Gigantamax

  • Ultrabeast

  • Gimmick pokemon*
    (some exceptions allowed)

How to translate to a 5e character sheet?

You should choose a race that closely reflects your Pokémon character.
The DM can provide assistance. But if you are unsure, you can always default to: Human.

Examples:

  • Playing the Fire-type Charmander, you could select Dragonborn or Human race.
    Your size will be adjusted to Small.

  • Playing the Psychic-type Gothitelle, you could select Tiefling or Human race.

  • Playing the Ground-type Sandshrew, you could select Dwarf or Human race.
    Your size will be adjusted to Small.

Specific background features might be ignored if they do not fit the setting.
And there's only four languages:

- Pokémon
- PokéSign Language (Only available if it makes sense for your Pokémon)
- Unown (Only available for Legendary or Mythical Pokémon)
- Human (Un-selectable)

Do the Pokémon have weapons?

You can choose to go into two routes here. You can re-flavor your 5e weapons as your Pokémon's natural attacks, or have them use weaponry. NPCs and Enemy Pokémon will probably not use any weapons in their flavored attacks.

What about a backstory?

Fill in your character sheet as any other.
Your character should embody a heroic/good mindset.
And your character should have atleast one major flaw.

Examples:

  • Playing Charmander, who wants to become a famed treasure hunter.
    Discover the world's secrets! But... He's very afraid of water...

  • Playing Gothitelle, sure you'll help people when they need it...
    But you do expect a good pay...otherwise you'll do the bare minimum.

  • Playing Sandshrew, You will prove yourself to be the hero of Kaleido!
    HAHA! But you are way too stubborn to turndown ANY fight...

Unique rules:

  • Attacks and Spells can be re-flavored to the player's own interpretation.
    Fire bolt can become Ember, Scorching Ray can be be Flamethrower etc.

  • Despite that 'magic' exists in the setting, most 'powers' are Pokémon's unique abilities, Spell-slots are effectively a Pokémon's Power-Points. For example: Counterspell will be re-flavored as Interrupt or Magic Coat.

  • Items such as potions will be re-flavored into Berries, Juice, or Tonics.
    But still use standard 2024 5e rules.

  • This adventure will not have a focus on deadly danger or player deaths. This is a lighthearted Pokémon setting after all... Meaning all Pokémon are much more resilient by nature, meaning that dropping to 0 HP does not mean death. However that doesn't exclude the possibility of death, if you throw yourself off a cliff without thinking? Well... there's not much the DM can do then...

So... What about death and 0 hitpoints?
What it mostly means is the following:

  • When a player character drops to 0 hitpoints, they'll go into a 'DOWNED' state,
    which is similar to the DYING condition (Max's custom rules)

  • If they fail their saves as standard rules, that Pokémon is considered 'FAINTED'.
    They will be completely unconscious for the next eight hours, afterwards they'll awaken with 1 HP and 3 levels of EXHAUSTED (Max's custom rules)

    Healing doesn't work on the target, only the item: Reviver Seeds will function.
    Which will heal them to 1 hit-point, removing all levels of exhaustion.

  • When an Non-rageblighted NPC Pokémon drops to 0 hitpoints, they'll initially go into 'DEFEATED' state. (If a rageblighted NPC drops to 0 hitpoints, they'll instantly faint)

  • In that state, they won't be able to attack, take actions or move, yet they can talk.
    If they receive any healing, they'll be able to move, taking 1 level of EXHAUSTED
    However if they take ANY more damage from any source, they'll enter the FAINTED state immediately.

    Note: Yes, technically while in the FAINTED, you can still attack them. Which will give them more levels of Exhaustion, if the exhaustion would reach ten, then yes. You would have killed that Pokémon. Please do note that this is not in the nature of this one-shot nor this setting.

    Enemy Pokémon will find no point into attacking a fainted target any further. But they might capture them, or drag them out of territory. There might be a few exceptions to this, but those will not appear in this oneshot.