Running a Campaign Where Everyone Is a Chicken

Welcome, Dungeon Masters and players alike, to a truly egg-citing twist on your typical Dungeons & Dragons experience! Imagine a world where the mighty dragon is replaced by a colossal rooster, where the brave knight is a feisty hen, and where the darkest dungeon is a treacherous coop. Today, we’re diving into the wild and whimsical idea of running a D&D campaign where everyone is a chicken. Whether you're looking to inject some humor into your sessions or just want to try something completely out of left field, this concept is sure to get your party clucking with excitement.

Why Chickens? Embracing the Absurdity

Let’s start with the obvious question: why would you build an entire campaign around chickens? The answer is simple—because it’s hilarious and unexpected! D&D is a game of boundless creativity, and while epic tales of heroism and dark fantasy are the bread and butter of many campaigns, there’s something uniquely refreshing about leaning into the absurd. A chicken-themed campaign offers a chance to break away from the seriousness of saving the world and instead focus on the chaos of, say, defending the Great Grain Silo from a pack of sly foxes or outsmarting a rival flock for the best nesting spot.

Chickens also come with built-in personality quirks that can inspire roleplay. Are you a bold rooster who crows at the first sign of danger, or a cautious hen who’s always pecking at the details? Maybe you’re a rogue chick with a knack for sneaking into the farmer’s kitchen for extra crumbs. By embracing the inherent silliness of playing as poultry, you give your players permission to let loose, experiment with goofy voices, and prioritize fun over min-maxing their stats.

To set the tone, consider starting your campaign with a dramatic hook that’s just serious enough to draw players in but absurd enough to make them laugh. Perhaps the party awakens to find their peaceful barnyard under attack by a monstrous cat, or maybe they’ve been tasked by the Elder Hen to retrieve the Sacred Corn Kernel from the clutches of a greedy pig. Whatever the premise, lean into the chicken-ness of it all—describe the world through their eyes (or beaks), emphasizing the small-scale stakes that feel monumental to a flock of feathered adventurers.

Building Your Chicken Characters

Creating characters for a chicken campaign is where the real fun begins. You’ll want to adapt the standard D&D races and classes to fit the theme while keeping the mechanics intact. For races, consider different breeds of chickens as stand-ins for traditional options. A Rhode Island Red could be the equivalent of a hardy dwarf, with a bonus to Constitution for their tough, no-nonsense attitude. A Silkie, with their fluffy feathers and quirky appearance, might map to an elf, gaining a bonus to Charisma for their charm and flair. Don’t be afraid to get creative—maybe a Leghorn is your campaign’s version of a halfling, small but scrappy, with a knack for dodging danger.

Classes can also be reflavored to fit the barnyard vibe. A fighter becomes a “Peck Knight,” wielding razor-sharp spurs as their weapon of choice. A wizard transforms into a “Cluckomancer,” casting spells by flapping their wings in arcane patterns or squawking ancient incantations. Rogues could be “Sneak Chicks,” experts at slipping past the farmer’s watchful eye, while clerics might be “Hen Priests,” devoted to the divine will of the Great Sky Rooster who watches over all poultry-kind.

For stats, you might impose a cap on Strength to reflect the physical limitations of chickens, but compensate with boosts to Dexterity (for quick flapping and darting) or Wisdom (for that uncanny animal instinct). Encourage players to think about their chicken’s personality and backstory—were they hatched in a cozy coop, or did they escape from a cruel butcher’s farm? Do they dream of leading the flock to glory, or are they just in it for the next worm? These little details will help ground the absurdity in something relatable and give everyone a chance to shine.

Crafting a Feathered World

The setting of your campaign is just as important as the characters. A chicken-centric world should feel familiar yet delightfully warped. Instead of sprawling kingdoms, your map might consist of neighboring barnyards, each ruled by a different Head Hen or Cocky Rooster with their own agenda. Forests become towering fields of grass, rivers are muddy puddles to be navigated with care, and mountains are daunting hay bales that only the bravest chickens dare climb.

Quests should reflect the scale and concerns of your poultry protagonists. A classic “fetch quest” might involve retrieving stolen eggs from a sneaky raccoon bandit. A dungeon crawl could take the party through the labyrinthine tunnels of a mole’s burrow, dodging collapsing dirt walls and battling oversized worms. For a big