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Bronze and Blood - A Low Magic, RP Focused Campaign!

Bronze and Blood - A Low Magic, RP Focused Campaign!

Cypher System | Campaign

About the adventure

Inspired by Tyranny and The Black Company. A falling empire convulses and explodes into war. You are part of the old system, and that world is collapsing. Your enemies are centuries old deadly immortals. What will you do, and what will you stand for? Find out as you explore Keorus, The Onyx Nexus! ⚔ Survive intrigue and competing interests as across an entire planet people reach out to try to fill the power vacuum. ⛏ Explore the past and find out how immortal rulers, powerful generals, and sorcerous casters came into their power... and claim some for yourself! 💣Handle the remnants of ancient wars - Massive constructs, undead hordes, and magical guardians protect secrets and hidden powers! 🤘 Delve into dungeons that have been forbidden for a thousand years, explore remote parts of the world where empire never stretched, and change the world. 🏰Create fortresses, build armies, form nations... or rip all of those down with infiltration, subterfuge, or all out war! A thousand years of expansion and conquest, overseen by the immortal Endless and their five generals, pushed the Empire's borders to almost the entire globe. Now, somehow, those five generals have destroyed The Endless and divided the empire amongst them. The peace of belonging to a single empire, as brutal as it was, is gone and the world explodes into war! The Cypher system is a very easy to learn, fast playing, highly customizable system that puts role-playing front and centre, while still having crunch in the character system. This is a game for folks who want to tell a character driven story, getting into the role of a character who will have defeats and triumphs and story arcs, growing and changing as the campaign goes on and we tell a story together. Come try a new system that has depth, but gets out of its own way during game play! We will be playing mostly Theatre of the Mind, but I'll have images to help set the scene, and visual aids to help picture range and distances in combat. Video call and game play are all through Foundry VTT.

Game style

Rule of Cool (RoC)

“Rule of Cool” emphasizes creative story beats over sticking to a system’s rules as written. Players have the ability to push the limits of the rules or even break core rule mechanics at times if the Game Master thinks it is interesting, fun, or cool enough.

Roleplay Heavy

“Roleplay Heavy” games place the focus on the story, the characters, and the world they live within, and tend to lean hard into the various roleplaying elements of the game. These games will frequently find the party talking with NPCs, exploring the personal elements of their backstories, or even having emotional moments around the camp fire.

Theater of the Mind

“Theater of the Mind” uses little to no visuals for scene settings and combat. Instead, the narrative imagery comes from the Game Master’s descriptions and character action and movement comes from Players’ descriptions.

Recruiting notes

An ongoing, extremely player driven, character focused, RP heavy Cypher campaign! Including deep character integration into the world through a custom character background system. We're picking up steam and some major story beats are in progress! 1 explorer, 1 warriors, 1 adept, and 1 speaker so far, with some good variety going on! Mid-campaign signups still get full onboarding and session 0, as well as caught up on what's happened so far, so if you sign up same day, we will likely get you in to the campaign in time for the next session!

Published Writer
Artist
Voice Actor
Game Designer

3 years on StartPlaying

668 games hosted

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, World Builder

Game Master Reviews (28)

Proficiencies

Players say this GM is great at:

Storytelling

Creativity

World Builder

Nina avatar

Nina

Have you ever felt so, so tired that you're like, gosh, I need a day of rest, so I'll call out of game day? Well, when I'm on those days where I just need to rest and recharge, I think about Pete's game I'm playing in and smile and think, I still want to play, cause playing will help me feel better. That is a testament to how GREAT Pete is <3

Brooklyn avatar

Brooklyn

Played 106 sessions

I have been in two of Pete’s games: a low-magic Bronze Age fantasy and a dark fantasy post-apocalyptic game set in the near future. I might be biased since Pete is the only DM I’ve played with in the Cypher System, but I couldn’t imagine a better DM. I had very little idea of what to expect going in, but I was blown away by the creativity and world-building. The melding of well-researched historical technology in the Bronze Age fantasy game and the implementation of magic in the futuristic apocalypse game were incredible. In both games, the worlds feel expansive and unrestricted. The stories have been intricate and compelling. Every decision feels meaningful, and there have been some truly touching (and admittedly devastating) moments that make me look forward to each new session. Despite the questionable choices players (mostly me) make, the story is expertly woven into our decisions. I never feel like going on a side quest or exploring a random piece of information takes away from the overall goal or narrative. That being said, I absolutely felt like players had complete control over how the story played out. Often, players were presented with choices that could radically change the challenges, the characters we met, or the places we went. I feel like all players have a huge impact and influence on the story. I never felt left out, even if I was separated from the group. The DM intrusions are always super fun twists, and I almost never turn them down. I came in with very little experience, but Pete quickly helped me figure out the rules and gave great advice when I was stuck trying to implement a mechanic. He doesn’t mind explaining something you may have asked about for the sixth time and is more than happy to problem-solve difficult interpretations of the rules or wording. Pete’s games often use the method of loci (memory palace) when it comes to characters or scenes. There is still heavy use of visual maps, so there’s always something to look at or explore visually. Occasionally, if combat or a dungeon is complicated, he’ll pull out a map we can navigate with tokens. Although I lean toward being a visual learner, I’ve found that Pete’s descriptions and voice acting make most visuals unnecessary. It’s nice to be able to switch scenes and characters quickly without having to worry about setting things up visually beforehand. Overall, Pete is an exceptional DM who brings unmatched creativity, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the Cypher System to every session. His ability to craft immersive worlds, deliver compelling stories, and make every player feel valued is truly impressive. Whether you’re new to the system or a seasoned player, Pete’s games offer an unforgettable experience full of excitement, emotion, and adventure. I can’t recommend playing in one of his campaigns enough!

Baltar avatar

Baltar

Played 14 sessions

Anyone would be lucky to have a spot in one of his games.

Jeff Woods avatar

Jeff Woods

Played 41 sessions

Pete is amazing so far in this story he's telling. He's helped walk me through the game system and helped make time to work on my character so I feel more included in the story. I would advise anyone to give this man a chance to DM you, it's an experience that makes you feel included and strong.

KiKi avatar

KiKi

Played 59 sessions

Pete made learning the Cypher System a breeze. His clear explanations and patient guidance turned what seemed complex into something fun and accessible. Beyond teaching, Pete is an exceptional Dungeon Master, crafting immersive worlds, exciting encounters, and a narrative that keeps you hooked. He creates a welcoming environment where every player feels valued, and his passion for the game shines through in every session. Whether you're new to the game or a seasoned player, Pete makes each adventure unforgettable. Highly recommend!

Robespierre avatar

Robespierre

Played 65 sessions

StenBjorn does a very good job in weaving module play and homebrew to add elements that open up a campaign's narrative as well as providing character arc developments for players. He is well-versed in the rules but does not beat you up over them. Provides useful maps and great music to set the mood.......for your success.......or demise.

Additional details

How to prepare

You will need: 👍 A good internet connection 👍 An account on playrole.com 👍 Mic/Audio, and a headset is often useful 👍 Webcam highly encouraged but not required 👍 Discord(Free, app or in browser, for communication between games)

What I provide

⚔️ Almost 30 years of GMing experience and RPG passion ⚔️ Voice acting and role play to bring NPCs to life ⚔️ All official Cypher books and the ability to create mechanics to suit the game we want to play ⚔️ Curated audio playlists that run in a separate browser window(with a separate volume slider) ⚔️ Three dimensional, exciting worlds to explore and play in! ⚔️ Custom content to make every story unique and personal

Gameplay details

My games put story first, and I encourage role playing and creative thinking! Big swings are fun! I will provide combat, exploration, puzzles, and plenty of role playing opportunities! These games don’t work if we don’t think like a team, and work best when we’re all working together. I expect players at my table to respect each other, the story, and me. We will be working together to explore characters and tell a story. Optimization of your character is fine, but if math is the main attraction of the game for you, my table may not be what you’re looking for. I treat RPGs not as games to be won, but experiences to be built. I enjoy challenging combats and will throw them your way, but they have to serve the story. I ask all my players to be good to each other! Be cool, and we shall have a great time together. I don’t strictly follow Rules As Written, but I don’t deviate from RAW for no reason. That being said, I definitely believe in the rule of cool, as long as it doesn’t bend reality, and I use a few house rules for fun, flavour, and ease of use. My games are for a mature audience, and I swear like a pirate when it’s appropriate(in character). I welcome anyone to chat about expectations, but I do aim for an adult game, and as these games are fantasy/sci-fi, there will be conflict and violence and raised voices. I use the X(red), N(yellow), and O(green) card system during game play. This functions through a module in Foundry as well as private messaging on Discord. No explanation is needed when these are used. Before we start I will also be asking everyone to fill out the Digital RPG Consent Checklist by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk(Adapted from Monte Cook Games), and this will be the basis for a living lines and veils document. I have a zero tolerance policy for harassment or discrimination of any sort, including race, creed, colour, gender, sexual orientation, etc. I(the GM) reserve the right to remove a player immediately if they are in violation of this rule.

Content warnings

• Alcoholism

• Alcohol Use

• Animal Cruelty

• Animal Death

• Blood

• Character Death

• Classism

• Death

• Drowning

• Drugs (addiction, use, withdrawal)

• Execution

• Fire

• Gore

• Hangings

• Hostages

• Human Trafficking (adult only)

• Illness

• Kidnapping

• Language/Cursing

• Murder

• Mutilation

• Police Brutality

• Prejudice

• PTSD

• Scars

• Slavery

• Suicide

• Torture

• Violence

Safety tools used

Breaks

Lines and Veils

Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist

Open Door

Session 0

Stars and Wishes

X, N, and O Cards

How will character creation work

All Cypher character options are on the table, we may just have to re-skin some stuff if necessary. Backstory creation is done cooperatively with a custom backstory system made to integrate your character into the world and story!

Players can expect

Combat / Tactics

Medium

Roleplay

High

Puzzles

Medium

Experience level

Beginner

Platforms used

Foundry VTT

2 SEATS LEFT
$25.00

/ Session

Each player will be charged when a session starts.

Details

Weekly / Sunday - 8:00 PM UTC

May 11 / Session 68

3 Hour Duration

4 / 6 Seats Filled

Schedule

Sun, May 11 | 8:00 PM - Session 68

Sun, May 18 | 8:00 PM - Session 69

Sun, May 25 | 8:00 PM - Session 70

Sun, Jun 01 | 8:00 PM - Session 71

Sun, Jun 08 | 8:00 PM - Session 72

Sun, Jun 15 | 8:00 PM - Session 73

Sun, Jun 22 | 8:00 PM - Session 74

Sun, Jul 06 | 8:00 PM - Session 75

Sun, Jul 13 | 8:00 PM - Session 76

Sun, Jul 20 | 8:00 PM - Session 77

Sun, Jul 27 | 8:00 PM - Session 78

Sun, Aug 03 | 8:00 PM - Session 79

Sun, Aug 10 | 8:00 PM - Session 80

Sun, Aug 17 | 8:00 PM - Session 81

Sun, Aug 24 | 8:00 PM - Session 82

Sun, Aug 31 | 8:00 PM - Session 83

Sun, Sep 07 | 8:00 PM - Session 84

Sun, Sep 14 | 8:00 PM - Session 85

Sun, Sep 21 | 8:00 PM - Session 86

Sun, Sep 28 | 8:00 PM - Session 87

Sun, Oct 05 | 8:00 PM - Session 88

Sun, Oct 12 | 8:00 PM - Session 89

Requirements

Experience required: Beginner

Age: 18+