Oakheart: Against the Fog. [Lv3-11][Free Session 0]
A devastating miasma spread across the land a decade ago. Oakheart is all that remains, and it needs heroes.
About the adventure
In this campaign you will take on the role of a character living in the port town of Oakheart a decade after a cataclysmic event that changed everything and sent shockwaves through the world. Oakheart is cut off and isolated with internal struggles and external threats. Your character will have to rise up and become a hero if Oakheart is going to go on surviving. ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ Oakheart is maybe the only town left in Kishoa. At least as far as Oakheart is concerned, it is. Ten years ago, a devastating miasma spread across the land, engulfing everything in a thick purple fog. Inhaling it is destructive to the body, and often just a minute of exposure is enough to outright kill. Somehow the humble town of Oakheart was spared. The miasma spread around and even over the city. So while the dense haze did cloak Oakheart in darkness, blotting out the sun, the poison gas itself does not enter the city. It merely looms over and around the perimeter, trapping the citizens within.
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
2 years on StartPlaying
439 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Inclusive
About me
First and foremost, my table is a place of kindness and inclusion. There is absolutely no room for bigotry of any kind at my table. Zero tolerance. I am a professional board game designer with a love for TTRPGs. I use my experience in board game design to craft unique experiences, both in combat design, but also in adventure design itself. Aside from d&d, I play lots of board games, do illustrations, and write. I've recently been getting into illustrating battlemaps, so my games will be featuring lots of hand drawn maps.
View Profile →Reviews (28)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Storytelling
Inclusive
Ben has been a great DM for our group. He worked with us to set up our desired characters and provided safety tools for everyone. He allows us to be creative with role playing and also keeps the game flowing at a good pace while being very knowledgeable about the rules. He provides atmospheric music and interesting battle maps, monsters, and art. I strongly recommend!
I honestly could write for ages about the amount of fun I had at Ben's table and still, I feel it would not be enough to do him justice. Instead, I shall say this, Ben is an amazing GM who knows how to provide an entertaining and enjoyable experience. He easily handled my shenanigans and was more than willing to let us shoot for the moon with my absurd requests and nonsensical skill checks. He's a very grounded individual who listens to his players' ideas and suggestions. If you are skeptical like I was about trying out StartPlaying, I encourage you to take a chance on Ben. He was one of the first GMs I tried, and I am not disappointed. I played an entire campaign with him and eagerly look forward to the next one!
Ben isn't just a Dungeon Master, he's an architect of epic adventures! His campaigns are a perfect mix of the things that make D&D so much fun: thrilling combat, mind-bending puzzles, and opportunities for deep roleplaying. Ben's a storytelling genius. He weaves intricate narratives that pull you into the world, making you care about the characters and the story's outcome. Whether it's a tense negotiation with a visage of death or a heartbreaking scene with a dying druid, Ben brings every encounter to life with vivid descriptions and a talent for creating unique NPC voices. But the fun doesn't stop there. Combat under Ben's guidance is exhilarating. He creates strategic challenges that force the party to work together and leverage their characters' strengths to their fullest. No two fights feel the same, and victory always feels earned. Now, let's talk puzzles! Ben has a knack for crafting puzzles that are both brain-teasing and rewarding. They cater to different player styles, so everyone gets a chance to shine with their skills. Cracking a particularly tricky puzzle feels like a major accomplishment, and it strengthens the bond between players as they work together to find the solution. In short, Ben is a fantastic DM who goes above and beyond to create a truly dynamic D&D experience. His campaigns are a testament to his creativity, his ability to balance different playstyles, and his clear passion for the game. If you get the chance to play with Ben, consider yourself lucky!
Ben was an wonderful and amazing dm. Not a single session felt stagnate or dull, and there was always room to try something new. He let us have fun with silly character choices, and never made me feel afraid to ask a question. His stories are exciting and never manage to feel too hard, or too easy. If we wanted to brute force our way through a puzzle, he let us. If we wanted to spend the whole session just talking it out, he let us. I recommend him without an doubt, and know the campaign I did with him and the other player will stick with me forever.
Character creation
Creating your character
We will do character creation in session 0. Starting level 3 Point Buy Stats Bonus feat! Most published material is fine, but certain sourcebooks need approval. (Ravnica, Tal'dore, Aquistions)
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Players should have discord installed and have a mic (cameras optional) They should have a roll20 account. If they want to use my d&d beyond content then they'd need an account there too.
What Ben Goldman brings to the table
I bring an exciting hand written adventure with memorable NPCs, handmade maps, and soundtrack. I provide D&D Beyond content for the campaign. As a GM I like to do things by the book for the most part, but am willing to stretch the text of spells or abilities in narratively suitable moments.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Ben Goldman creates a safe table
We go over our safety tools during session 0. They include but are not limited to: -a comfort checklist to fill out -X,N,Os that are messaged to me