Phish D&D Campaign

Eric Rice

Eric Rice

— 3 min read
Phish D&D Campaign
Image by Taylor Wallace, GQ magazine

I love using ChatGPT do brainstorm random stuff, especially Dungeons & Dragons campaigns out of random things. I've done this with Nine Inch Nails "The Fragile", Hamlet (but cyberpunk), and most recently, Phish. It's an amusement, what can I say? So without further ado...

That sounds like an incredible and trippy campaign! Phish’s music is full of strange characters, surreal storytelling, and vast musical landscapes—perfect for a psychedelic D&D adventure. Here’s a campaign concept inspired by their complete works:

D&D Campaign: "Gamehendge Rising"

A Mythic Journey Through the Land of Lizards and Laughter

Campaign Setting:

The world of Gamehendge, a land of magic, music, and mystery, torn between chaos and order. At the heart of this world lies the mystical tome known as The Helping Friendly Book, a source of untold knowledge and power, currently in the hands of the despotic Wilson, King of Prussia.

The land is home to many factions, including:

  • The Lizard People, an ancient race awaiting a hero.
  • The Famous Mockingbird, a mystical creature that can steal and return knowledge.
  • The Unit Monster, an unpredictable, chaos-born entity.
  • Colonel Forbin, an aging warrior who once tried to retrieve the book but failed.

The balance of Gamehendge is at stake. The players arrive at a time when forces beyond their control are shifting, and they must decide: do they restore balance, embrace chaos, or carve their own legend?

Adventure Hook:

The campaign begins with the players waking up on a raft floating down the river, with no memory of how they got there. A strange old man on the shore (Colonel Forbin) warns them that Wilson has begun unraveling the fabric of reality, and only they can stop him.

Their quest?

  • Retrieve The Helping Friendly Book before it’s too late.
  • Travel through different realms inspired by Phish songs.
  • Uncover the truth behind Gamehendge’s cyclical nature.

Key Locations:

  1. Gamehendge Proper – The land of the Lizards, where myths become real.
  2. Tela’s Grove – A sacred forest guarded by a mysterious enchantress.
  3. The Land of No Dogs Allowed – A strange city where magic falters, ruled by Harpua.
  4. The Maze – A nightmarish labyrinth said to be endless… unless one can “surrender to the flow.”
  5. The Divided Sky Peak – A holy mountain where seekers may commune with the divine.
  6. The Rift – A tear in reality where time and space collapse.

NPCs & Factions:

  • Wilson, King of Prussia (LE) – The tyrant ruler of Gamehendge, hoarder of knowledge.
  • Errand Wolfe (CG) – A rebel leader trying to overthrow Wilson.
  • The Famous Mockingbird (CN) – A trickster who may aid or betray the party.
  • Tela (NG) – Guardian of Gamehendge’s mystical balance.
  • The Sloth (CE) – An assassin sent to kill Wilson, but why?
  • Harpua (NE) – A cosmic force of destruction, hungry for chaos.

Thematic Mechanics & Encounters:

🎵 Musical Magic – Bardic inspiration takes on extra power when tied to certain rhythms or lyrics. The party may need to perform to unlock ancient secrets.

🌈 Jam-Based Combat – Certain enemies (like the Unit Monster) shift unpredictably, forcing players to adapt in real time, like an improvisational battle.

🌀 Surrender to the Flow – At certain key moments, players can choose to let go of control and let the story unfold, gaining insight into the nature of Gamehendge.

🐕 Harpua’s Curse – A recurring battle with the cosmic beast Harpua, who manifests at random times, warping reality with dark humor.

Finale: The Possum Paradox

As the players near the final confrontation, they discover they’ve been here before. Gamehendge is a repeating cycle, and their actions determine whether it continues, evolves, or ends forever.

  • Do they overthrow Wilson, only to risk becoming him?
  • Do they destroy The Helping Friendly Book and erase all knowledge of Gamehendge?
  • Do they escape the cycle, or embrace it?

Their choices resonate across every version of reality, shaping the future (or lack thereof) of Gamehendge.

Closing Notes:

This campaign can be run in a whimsical, psychedelic, or even darkly philosophical way, depending on how deep into Phish’s lore you want to go. Expect strange encounters, non-linear storytelling, and an unforgettable journey through a world inspired by one of the greatest jam bands of all time.

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