Chains of Asmodeus (18th-20th level) [NINE HELLS] [HIGH LEVEL]
Descend through the Nine Hells to defy devils, tempt fate, and fight for a soul—yours, or someone you love. Few reach Nessus. Fewer survive.
About the adventure
Welcome to Hell! Fight fiendish temptations and fierce enemies to save the soul of a loved one (or your own!) as you venture deeper and deeper into Baator with adventures spanning all nine layers of Hell. Chains of Asmodeus is a new source book and adventure from Wizards of the Coast and Arcanum Worlds that's written by legendary game designer James Ohlen (Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age: Origins) and award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky (Children of Time, The Tiger and the Wolf, The Doors of Eden). This transplanar campaign takes place within the Forgotten Realms setting. We'll be progressing from 15th to 20th level, so this campaign is perfect for players interested in experiencing high-tier play. Both the resolve of your character and your wits as a player will be tested while you face down archdevils and other terrible threats on your journey down to Nessus!
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
3 years on StartPlaying
138 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Visual Aid
About me
Hello adventurers! My name is Stephen. I'm an experienced DM that has ran over 300 sessions on FoundryVTT. Providing my players a cinematic and immersive experience is important to me, as I'm a video producer in my day job. I was also an elementary/middle school film teacher for 5 years before returning back to the film industry. Great audio, visuals, narration, voice acting, and encounter-design are things you can expect from our sessions. Come try out a game with me - I know you'll have fun!
View Profile →Reviews (16)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Storytelling
Visual Aid
I've been playing a campaign run by Stephen for nearly 2 years. (That should say a lot in itself!) Dude is open-minded, reliable, consistent, and fair. He's comfortable with the rules, and he's comfortable when the rules are bent. He runs a good ship and I appreciate him for that. Visual aids, good descriptions, excellent story-telling, music... he brings his efforts to the table, and it shows.
My wife and I have been playing Chains of Asmodeus with Stephen and we've had a wonderful experience. Stephen works with players to help create a comprehensive character to really fit them into the world(Be prepared to answer questions you hadn't thought about before!). He will reward player creativity in both social and combat interactions, not necessarily "rule of cool" but if it sounds feasible then go for it! He has wonderful improvisational skills that our party constantly tests as well xD. We would recommend Stephen for anyone wanting to play in a campaign where they can truly immerse their PC.
Stephen is incredibly creative as a GM but just importantly provides support and encouragement for his players to express their creativity and adapt the story as needed to help see his players shine. I’ve been playing a weekly reoccurring game with him via Zoom and VTT which has lasted over 2 years. That is a true testament to his abilities to provide long running games that continue to bring dynamic storytelling and adventures each week.
I had an amazing time playing in Stephen's D&D campaign—it was the most fun I've ever had in the game! His storytelling is top-notch, bringing the world to life in a way that keeps every session engaging and immersive. His preparation is excellent, ensuring a smooth and well-paced experience. Now, I’m even more excited to dive into our next game in Pathfinder 2E. If you're looking for a skilled and dedicated DM who knows how to craft an unforgettable adventure, I highly recommend Stephen!
If you're looking for an incredible Dungeon Master (DM) to guide you through the icy and treacherous world of Rime of the Frostmaiden, look no further than Stephen. I recently had the privilege of being a player in Stephen's campaign, and I can confidently say that his mastery of storytelling and his dedication to creating a captivating and immersive experience are second to none. From the moment we began our adventure, Stephen's passion for the game was palpable. He meticulously crafted a rich and detailed world, capturing the chilling essence of Icewind Dale and bringing it to life with his vivid descriptions. Every location we visited, every character we encountered, and every obstacle we faced felt uniquely real and captivating. Stephen's ability to paint such a vivid picture with his words is truly remarkable. One of the standout qualities of Stephen as a DM is his ability to adapt and respond to the actions of the players. He seamlessly weaved our character backstories into the main narrative, making us feel like integral parts of the story. He listened attentively to our ideas, encouraging creativity and rewarding us with unexpected twists and surprises. Stephen's improvisational skills were impressive, ensuring that the game remained engaging and unpredictable throughout our journey. Another area where Stephen truly excels is his commitment to providing a fair and balanced experience for all players. He carefully considered each player's strengths and weaknesses, tailoring encounters and challenges to suit our individual abilities. His meticulous attention to detail in game mechanics, rules, and character progression ensured that everything ran smoothly, creating a sense of fairness and ensuring that everyone had a chance to shine. Furthermore, Stephen's ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere at the gaming table is commendable. He encouraged open communication, actively listened to our ideas, and ensured that everyone had an opportunity to contribute to the story. His enthusiasm and positive attitude were contagious, creating a welcoming environment that fostered camaraderie among the players. In summary, Stephen's talents as a Dungeon Master are truly exceptional. His storytelling abilities, adaptability, fairness, and dedication to the enjoyment of all players make him an outstanding DM for Rime of the Frostmaiden or any other campaign. If you have the chance to join one of Stephen's adventures, consider yourself fortunate and prepare for an unforgettable journey. I can't recommend him highly enough.
Character creation
Creating your character
Characters start at 17th level. They can be created in D&D Beyond in a campaign with content-sharing enabled or they can be created directly in Foundry. We're using the new 2024 D&D 5e rules. I'll work with you to make sure your character has a smooth entry into the world of the adventure. You may start with 7500 gp and either 2 rare magic items or 1 very rare and 1 uncommon magic item from the DMG. The following are notable table rules that may influence character creation: Stress Taken from VRGR, every character possesses a Stress Score that increases in trying situations and decreases with care. When a character encounters a tense, dramatic, or harrowing experience, their Stress Score may increase by 1. Being KO'd always results in an increase of Stress by 1. When a character makes an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, they must apply their current Stress Score as a penalty to the roll. A character’s Stress Score can be reduced by 1 for every eight hours they spend relaxing. A lesser restoration spell can also reduce a character’s Stress Score by 1 and a greater restoration spell can reduce a character’s Stress Score by 3. Max Crits When a creature scores a critical hit, the maximum amount of their damage dice is added to the damage they rolled. Flanking When a creature and at least one of its allies are adjacent to an enemy and on opposite sides or corners of the enemy's space, they flank that enemy, and each of them has advantage on melee attack rolls against that enemy. Variant Encumbrance If you carry weight in excess of 5 times your Strength score, you are encumbered, which means your speed drops by 10 feet. If you carry weight in excess of 10 times your Strength score, up to your maximum carrying capacity, you are instead heavily encumbered, which means your speed drops by 20 feet and you have disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws that use Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution.
This campaign started at 12th level and has been running for over a year. Players have come and gone, but we're committed to finishing our romp through the Nine Hells to eventually face off with Asmodeus. The party will soon be entering the seventh layer of hell, Maladomini. If you're interested in high level play, it's a great time to join because there is still 33% of the campaign remaining! Current Party Composition: Dhampir Soulknife Rogue/Psi Warrior Fighter Dwarf Devotion Paladin High Elf Sorcerer/Fighter
What to expect
Preparing for the session
We play with video and voice over Zoom. Between-session discussion happens on Discord. All dice rolling occurs in Foundry. You will need to download Zoom and Discord, but Foundry can be accessed in a browser window.
What Stephen brings to the table
I usually spend about 3-6 hours prepping for each session. Every location in the game is represented through either theater-of-the-mind artwork or a battlemap - or sometimes both. Scene art, tokens, and handouts are often customized with Photoshop. Ambient sounds and music are played through Foundry. I've added over 100 modules to Foundry to make it the most immersive TTRPG experience possible.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Internet
Microphone
Webcam
Platforms used
Safety
How Stephen creates a safe table
Please feel free to communicate with me your lines and veils and we will avoid mention of those topics in our sessions.