Beyond the Wall and other Adventures(TM) - The Dark Coast
In the village of Lowford, strange lights flicker in the Duskscale Woods, and children speak of a horned man watching from the trees.
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About the adventure
"Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures Further Afield" is an Old School Renaissance (OSR) RPG by Flatland Games inspired by older D&D editions. If you yearn for the freedom of early editions with a narrative-driven and rules-light approach, this is your game. As a pro DM, I invite players to join me in a world where imagination, creativity, and collaborative storytelling take precedence over rigid rules. Fantasy Setting: We begin in the bustling logging village of Lowford, a place with abundant water and labor along the Dark Coast. However, safety is a luxury rarely enjoyed here. Beyond the village borders, the foreboding Duskscale Woods are inhabited by dangerous faeries, and the Dark Coast is home to wicked men and ferocious monsters. Even darker forces can infiltrate the hearts of the villagers themselves. As bold, but untested heroes, your characters are poised to protect what matters most to them in a world fraught with peril and hidden secrets. Theme: "Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures" is an OSR RPG inspired by fantasy literature, taking cues from Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series, Susan Cooper's "The Dark Is Rising," and the beloved novels of Lloyd Alexander. The overarching theme revolves around the journey from humble beginnings to epic adventures. Players are encouraged to embrace the hero's call, confront their fears, and embark on a quest to safeguard their village from looming threats. We begin at the Moonshadow Tavern, a warm hearth, most welcome on cold nights in the north. Playstyle: Our game emphasizes a loose and free-spirited approach to gameplay reminiscent of early editions of D&D. Rules take a back seat to rulings, allowing for fluid and dynamic storytelling. Players are encouraged to think creatively and act on their ingenuity. Whether it's attempting a daring maneuver, like stabbing an ogre in the eye, or devising a cunning plan to trip up a centaur, the focus is on collaborative storytelling and the DM's agreement rather than strict adherence to rules. The game promotes player agency, and character-driven narratives, relationships, and friendships take center stage, from the very beginning, in the game setup. As a professional Game Master, I foster a welcoming environment where players can fully immerse themselves in the world, interact with NPCs, and contribute to the development of their characters' home village of Lowford. Player-driven village and campaign design adds depth to the game experience, enabling participants to shape the very world they adventure in, as well as co-creating the challenges and encounter areas of the campaign. Join me in "Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures Further Afield" for a role-playing experience that harks back to the roots of the genre while embracing modern storytelling sensibilities. Whether you're a seasoned OSR gamer or someone learning to play Fantasy RPGs in a flexible world, this game offers a unique opportunity to craft memorable tales of heroism and discovery.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
About me
*** PLEASE NOTE - ALL GAMES I AM RUNNING CURRENTLY SUSPENDED TO DUE ONGOING MILITARY CONFLICT IN THAILAND (Where I live with my Family) *** Greetings! I am James, AKA DM_Shroud. With a rich experience of 48 years in nearly a hundred roleplaying games, starting from the days of Classic Traveller in 1977, I've crafted countless adventures across a myriad of genres of gaming. My gaming library boasts an extensive collection of systems, but I have a particular fondness for narrative-driven space operas like Traveller Mongoose (2e), Star Trek Adventures, and Star Wars Saga, and Fantasy Flight, as well as fantasy games like Over the Wall, Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, D&D 2024, Song of Ice and Fire, and One Ring. As a Professional Game Master, my mission is clear: to deliver an exciting, engaging, and memorable game experience that balances quality with affordability. This isn't just a hobby for me – it's a passion-turned-profession, fueled by my goal to better support my family and fund my children's college education. Versatile Gaming Schedule: I offer various gaming sessions, including introductory sessions. My schedule is flexible, accommodating different time zones and preferences, with prices listed with each game (Not including Stripe and SPG Fees) per player/ session (First Character Generation session, as well as 1st play session are FREE) , if it's a new game that I'm not familiar with or not set up for, $20 per player per session for a custom game setting or campaign. I'm NOT typically available on Friday evenings, or Saturdays, USA times, since I spend weekends in the Mountains with my family...but query me, maybe we can work something out. Custom World Design: Beyond guiding games, I'm also a skilled fantasy and sf cartographer. Whether you're an author needing a vivid setting or you run or have a playgroup desiring a unique world, I can craft detailed maps and worlds tailored to your specific imagination. Please contact me with your needs, I can work with you on developing a quote, and we can arrange payment through this site. We can also set up an interactive mapping session where you guide me as I work on your map in realtime, using any of a number of mapping software tools. A Bit More About Me: My journey into the fantastical began as a young sci-fi enthusiast, inspired by the likes of Joe Haldeman's "Forever War". When not orchestrating epic adventures, I'm often found designing fictional solar systems or mapping fantasy worlds at all scales, continuing to fuel my lifelong passion for science fiction and fantasy. Invitation to Adventure: I invite you to dive into the worlds I've created and join me in crafting unforgettable stories. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the realm of RPGs, there's a place at my table for you. Welcome to my mind – let's embark on an extraordinary journey together!
View Profile →Reviews (22)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
World Builder
Creativity
Storytelling
I’m playing in this GM’s Blade Runner rpg game right now, and it feels like being in a movie every single time. The level of detail is astonishing. He does an excellent job of allowing people to develop their characters and also is especially skillful at incorporating music, sound effects, and visuals to deliver an immersive, meaningful experience. I’m having a great time.
I’ve played with several Game Masters over the years, but none have matched the level of depth, creativity, and flexibility that DM Shroud brings to the table. His worldbuilding is nothing short of spectacular. Every region, faction, and NPC feels like they have a life and history of their own. You don’t just play in his world, you live in it. His maps and cartography are stunning and incredibly useful, providing visual depth and spatial clarity that enhance immersion without ever becoming overwhelming. Whether it’s a hand-drawn town map or a sprawling continent, his attention to detail shows. What truly sets him apart, though, is the freedom he gives his players. He never railroads the party or forces outcomes. Instead, he sets the stage, fills it with believable characters and motivations, and lets us carve our own path. Choices matter in his world, and consequences feel earned—good or bad. If you’re looking for a GM who respects player agency, builds rich and believable worlds, and brings the game to life with real artistry, DM Shroud is the one.
Character creation
Creating your character
Characters will begin as bold new untested adventurers, with an idea for a character in mind, and then generate characters, rolling on tables provided by the "Beyond the Wall" rules and plug-in books as an entire group. Characters will form bonds, friendships, and connections to each other and to the campaign world that the characters create.
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What to expect
Preparing for the session
You will need to join the Roll20 Virtual Tabletop (VTT) where the game is hosted. you will also need to join the Gamemaster's Community Discord server and have a decent, non-buzzing microphone where you can be heard clearly by other players. Cameras optional. The DM will not use a camera.
What James (DM_Shroud) brings to the table
The Dungeon Master is a professional Cartographer, who provides Maps using a multitude of Cartography tools (Inkarnate, Profantasy Campaign Cartographer 3+, Flowscape, Dungeon Alchemist. Sound FX, music via Syrinscape, and epidemic sound. Players can download finished maps for reference or as keepsakes.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Microphone
Headphones
Internet
Platforms used
Safety
How James (DM_Shroud) creates a safe table
SESSION ZERO is free. Gameplay will be Very "Old Skool" style, Harking back to the days when D&D was in its infancy, to allow the Dungeon Master to conduct the game. The game is completely open-ended and is subject to modification, expansion, and interpretation according to the desires of the group participating, and is in general not bounded by the conventional limitations of other types of games, without a huge rules book to refer to. SESSION ZERO Players will meet and greet each other as players via Discord, and design the village and larger campaign in Session Zero. Ground rules and social contracts will be established. Sandbox style play. We can sit in town and drink ale and go broke for multiple sessions or go forth beyond the wall and explore the very dangers that the player's characters have seen, heard of, or read about. THE PLAYERS WILL SEED THE MAP. The players will work with the GM and each other to set up ruins and major encounter areas close to, nearby, and far from the home coastal logging village of Lowford, centered on the Moonshadow Tavern. The GM will use 2 decades of fantasy cartography skills to execute a campaign map based on the collaborative draft sketches of the player characters from Session Zero. Play will begin with session 1, and based on rumors of past and recent events players as a group will decide what they want to do. You all will create a sandbox and the Dungeon Master will run it. Some might not have played in the style of "Old Skool D&D" where there was not a huge rulebook. The DM will teach the basics.