IC: D&D 4e Arena-style PvP w/ Possible Side-Stories?
Kind of a broad idea here that I had been having, but figured I'd toss the idea out to the masses in general to see if it would be something others could be interested in.
System --
Dungeons and Dragons 4e
Concept --
Characters start out as established 2nd level adventurers who are attracted to this %GENERIC FIGHTING ARENA&% for reasons they define during character generation. Certain rules are defined during character gen and limits placed around potential magical items allowed. Fights are done 1v1 in the typical PbP fashion with the moderator stepping in for the intro, and fight rewards. EXP is given to both sides on win/loss, and constant records are kept as the matches progress.
Eventually, as and if the game grows, possible Westmarches style adventure adaptations can occur on the site where adventurers just say "Hey, we want to take a break and just go do stuff, like take this mission billet that says this group needs assistance clearing an abandoned manor of it's kobold infestation." Easy to run side-plots that don't interfere much with the main idea of the game, but allow for possible carrot-on-a-stick bonuses to be brought back into the PvP world.
Execution
Maps would be done using the code tags to create ASCII boards, and player turns would have them indicating their actions, a brief RP description, any rolls, and updating the ASCII board with their new movement, or any AOE attacks.
Other arena games exist, but I didn't see any currently running for DnD 4e yet -- The system works perfectly for this kind of 'squares and lines' setup, and the ASCII maps can be altered quickly and easily to allow for some flavor to exist between them.
The idea of persistent record keeping and the opportunities for personal glory, testing out character ideas and playing the field to either be a super dominant arch wizard / sorcerer, or to play that super flavorful Eladrin Barbarian all the way through the levels that you've always wanted to try and get to a table.
AFK can be announced and a 'pause' put on matches for when you know you'll be away for a time. Any non-announced vacation from the game would be given a kind of 'count out' situation where they're given a set number of days before the match is auto-forfeited.
But Why?
DnD 4e is known as that system that made combat first, and story/RP second. The combat, though, is terribly fun and with the different abilities available, it's almost like a video game into itself that you can interact with at your own pace. It could be a fun opportunity to explore some of the system's lesser used classes and skills, and give players the opportunity to really flex some of their descriptive combat RP muscles!
Definitely post below if you have any ideas to throw into the mix, or if it's something that you'd be seriously interested in!