House of the Dragon in D&D: Part 2 - Martial Characters
With Season 1 of House of the Dragon coming to a close on HBO, let’s look at how we can build a D&D Campaign in the rich world that George R. R. Martin has created for us. Whether you’re a fan of the book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, the two HBO Series, Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, or all of the above, you know how special and complex that world is. In Part 1, we discussed options for building out a world deep in fantasy and political intrigue. In Part 2, we’ll break down some Character options, specifically dealing with the Martial Classes.
SESSION ZERO
For those that don’t know, a Session Zero is a designated prep session for your Players before you start your campaign. I prefer to have a conversation with the whole party before splitting up and having a individual conversation with each player. Let’s go over some key points to add into your Session Zero plans. Make sure to emphasize key aspects of your campaign.
What House/Organizations do you belong to?
What Role do you play in it/them?
What is your ambition?
What secrets do you carry?
What Religion do you follow, if any?
MARTIAL CLASSES
House Targaryen
There’s no question that any of the Martial Classes would fit into the world built in A Song of Ice and Fire. Barbarians, Fighters, Monks, Rangers, Rogues, and I’m including Bards, have been trained in various ways throughout the land. I thought I’d name a few organizations or type that would be good options for backstory.
House Knight or Soldier: Every House has Knights and Soldiers. They could act as personal bodyguards, city watch, or militia when at war. They might earn their prowess on the Battlefield or in the many tournaments that pop up in Westeros. Fighters would be a perfect Class for this option.
Mercenary: The world needs soldiers of fortune. They could be part of a large force, like the Second Sons, who are bought by the highest bidder. They could also be a small band patrolling a particular forest, like the Brotherhood Without Banners. Even still, they can make it on their own as a trained assassin or protector like Bronn. Many Classes could fit into this option, like Fighter, Bard, Monk, Ranger, Rogue, or even Barbarian.
Dragon Riders: If you’re a Targaryen in their hey day, then this could be a possibility. I immediately think of a Drakewarden Ranger, but any other class would fit as long as you have a high Animal Handling skill.
Dothraki: Yes, they almost never cross the Narrow Sea, but there could be an exception or two. Create a Barbarian good at handling horses, and you’d be set. Fighters with high Dexterity would work well too. Strap them on a horse with a shortbow, and watch them excel on an open field. The sickle gets no love in D&D, so I would sub the d4 slashing damage for the same d6 as a shortsword.
Wildling: Playing as a member of the Free Folk north of the Wall (if there is a wall in your campaign) would be fun. They’ve displayed many fighting styles, and they’ve been known to be more in touch with some magic options. I’d encourage that when looking at Subclasses like Paths of the Ancestral Guardian, Storm Herald, Totem Warrior, or Wild Magic for Barbarian. Perhaps an Arcane Archer, Eldritch Knight or Psi Warrior for Fighter. There are some fun Subclasses for Monk, Ranger and Rogue that would work as well. And I can’t help but picture a Bard playing a flute made of bone.
WEAPONS
House Stark
One of the most important aspects of someone known for fighting in Westeros is their weapon. Remember that if you’re famous or infamous, the name of your weapon probably is as well. I’d encourage throwing out weak stats in D&D 5e for ones that make more sense in this particular world. We’ve all seen how impactful a sickle is on horseback in the hands of a Dothraki warrior, or what a Prince of Dorne could do if he’s wielding a spear.
Also remember that there are weapons with rare properties. Anything made of Dragon Glass could be given some magical effects. And of course, we have to mention Valyrian Steel! Yes, weapons forged with the metal are both rare and powerful. My suggestion would be to make them a +2 or +3 weapon and also give them some other magical properties.
Finally, certain smiths are prominent in Westeros and across the Narrow Sea. If the player has enough coin, the right connections, or kill the right person, finding a master-crafted +1 weapon might not be as difficult as it would seem.
CONCLUSION
So those are my recommendations for any Players that would like to have a Martial Class in a campaign set in George R. R. Martin’s world. Although I listed quite a few options, there are plenty of others that would work as well. I hope this article sparked your creativity, and you’re able to create some amazing characters. I’d love to see any more suggestions down in the comments below. Coming up in Part 3, we’ll go over Character Classes that fit in a Magic or Religious System!
