The dungeons in Persona: Awakening are quite unique compared to the other Persona games. For one, dungeons take place in Shared Dreams: Dreams shared by multiple people. Only those with a Persona can enter another's dream and share it. (These dungeons and dreams are based off the film Inception, my favorite movie of all time :D)
Dungeon exploration requires three different roles:
- The Subject
- The Dreamer
- The Sleeper(s)
The Subject is the person who's dream we are currently in. This person creates the "theme" of the dream and populates it with Sub Cons. (Sub Cons are Miniatures: People and Traps and such. They're based off the dreamer's subconscious.)
The Dreamer is the leader of the Persona group exploring the subject's dream. This person creates the area around the dream based off the subject's theme. (Pretty much controls making the map/tile placing. I'll generally be the Dreamer since i'm GM and can make maps easier. However I can freely allow a player to do so as well if they want to.)
The Sleepers are the rest of the people venturing inside the dream. These people interact with the dream world and with what the subject and dreamer created.
Dungeon Progression:
You may advance through the dream by entering another dream within the dream. Which means you must enter another sleeping person's dream while inside a current dream. You may enter another player's dream or another NPC's dream. (NPCs such as people trapped in the Dream Realm or other sleeping Sub Cons.)
There are rules when inside dreams, for example if you die within a dream, you'll be kicked back to the last dream you were in or wake up, having to start the dungeon all over again. It is also worth noting that whatever happens in the last dream affects the current one you're in. Sleeping in a falling van in the last dream? This could affect the current dream by changing gravity. Not everyone has to move on to the next dream, some people can stay behind as well. There is also a limit to how deep you can travel in the dream world. After the third dream you'll reach a Dead End...
Limbo:
Limbo is a massively shared dream space, without the dreamer. You'll reach Limbo after the third dream layer. This place is crawling with Shadows, thus being where you'll fight them.
Limbo is an alternate reality of the real world, where the Shadows live, and a completely different dungeon than the Dream Realm. When you reach Limbo, the entire group will automatically end up here as well even if you were split apart during the dreams.
Limbo is identical to the real world, yet Shadows walk the streets of Downfront instead of people...
Just what secrets does this realm hold?
Escaping Dungeons:
The Dream Realm and Limbo can be escaped through numerous ways. The most common way is by dying in the dream. Limbo also provides exits at different locations. A special gem can also be used that automatically wakes the entire party, although these are very rare.
Your foes:
In the dreams, you'll be facing off against the Subject's subconscious: The Sub Cons. Sub Cons generally won't attack you at first, but if the Dreamer alters the dream too often they'll realize you're an intruder and will try their best to kill you and send you back.
With each dream layer down, the Sub Cons will improve in power. They will have more life, higher attack dice, better strategies, and are overall much more intense. At first these will prove to be a great challenge, so it'd b best to take the stealth route and avoid awakening/engaging them.
In Limbo, you'll be facing off against The Shadows. Shadows can range in difficulty, but it appears they get stronger the deeper you go in. These creatures have elemental weaknesses, which you may exploit.
You'll also be engaging other foes at times. Each enemy group has different combat rules, be ready for anything.
Dungeon exploration requires three different roles:
- The Subject
- The Dreamer
- The Sleeper(s)
The Subject is the person who's dream we are currently in. This person creates the "theme" of the dream and populates it with Sub Cons. (Sub Cons are Miniatures: People and Traps and such. They're based off the dreamer's subconscious.)
The Dreamer is the leader of the Persona group exploring the subject's dream. This person creates the area around the dream based off the subject's theme. (Pretty much controls making the map/tile placing. I'll generally be the Dreamer since i'm GM and can make maps easier. However I can freely allow a player to do so as well if they want to.)
The Sleepers are the rest of the people venturing inside the dream. These people interact with the dream world and with what the subject and dreamer created.
Dungeon Progression:
You may advance through the dream by entering another dream within the dream. Which means you must enter another sleeping person's dream while inside a current dream. You may enter another player's dream or another NPC's dream. (NPCs such as people trapped in the Dream Realm or other sleeping Sub Cons.)
There are rules when inside dreams, for example if you die within a dream, you'll be kicked back to the last dream you were in or wake up, having to start the dungeon all over again. It is also worth noting that whatever happens in the last dream affects the current one you're in. Sleeping in a falling van in the last dream? This could affect the current dream by changing gravity. Not everyone has to move on to the next dream, some people can stay behind as well. There is also a limit to how deep you can travel in the dream world. After the third dream you'll reach a Dead End...
Limbo:
Limbo is a massively shared dream space, without the dreamer. You'll reach Limbo after the third dream layer. This place is crawling with Shadows, thus being where you'll fight them.
Limbo is an alternate reality of the real world, where the Shadows live, and a completely different dungeon than the Dream Realm. When you reach Limbo, the entire group will automatically end up here as well even if you were split apart during the dreams.
Limbo is identical to the real world, yet Shadows walk the streets of Downfront instead of people...
Just what secrets does this realm hold?
Escaping Dungeons:
The Dream Realm and Limbo can be escaped through numerous ways. The most common way is by dying in the dream. Limbo also provides exits at different locations. A special gem can also be used that automatically wakes the entire party, although these are very rare.
Your foes:
In the dreams, you'll be facing off against the Subject's subconscious: The Sub Cons. Sub Cons generally won't attack you at first, but if the Dreamer alters the dream too often they'll realize you're an intruder and will try their best to kill you and send you back.
With each dream layer down, the Sub Cons will improve in power. They will have more life, higher attack dice, better strategies, and are overall much more intense. At first these will prove to be a great challenge, so it'd b best to take the stealth route and avoid awakening/engaging them.
In Limbo, you'll be facing off against The Shadows. Shadows can range in difficulty, but it appears they get stronger the deeper you go in. These creatures have elemental weaknesses, which you may exploit.
You'll also be engaging other foes at times. Each enemy group has different combat rules, be ready for anything.