Street Lvl Heroes Punching Up~! | High Drama | Beginner friendly

How to prepare

To participate in the chat on Discord, you'll need a mic. Webcams aren't necessary, but they can help improve communication. Discord accounts are free and you should install the software before the game. I'll provide a link to my personal Discord server for the game. Roll20 accounts are also free and will allow you to access visual handouts and character sheets. All you need is a web browser to use Roll20. You don't need to know the rules beforehand. If you're familiar with any Powered by the Apocalypse games, it may help you learn faster. I'll teach you the rules as we play, and I'll help you translate your intentions into the rules where necessary. Your only concern should be enjoying the game and bringing your character to life. You can use physical dice if you have a favorite set, but you only need two six-sided dice. You can also use Roll20's in-app rolling, and the Masks: The Next Generation set up on Roll20 will automate the rolls according to the rules.

What I provide

I'll provide the voice server via Discord and the Roll20 campaign link. Roll20 has full playbook options, tokens, and maps to set the stage for the game. While most of the game will be Theater of the Mind, we'll use Roll20 sheets for tracking conditions and label shifts. I have a great command of the system and love helping players get into a new game. I also enjoy helping people find their voice or style or roleplaying, and creating a comfortable environment we can explore together. Open-ended games like this require adaptability and on-the-fly adjustments, and together with the players I look forward to exploring the collaborative world we create. Expect cinematic styling, off screen reveals and an immersive story built around the PCs.

Gameplay details

Masks: Along Came a Spider will be an adaptation of the Spiderweb Playset from the MASKS: Unbound book. In general, The Spiderweb is skewed towards the lower-power, grittier, street-level side of comic books. That means that the PCs are not the children of world-saving aliens or time travelers. Their powers are more constrained, and the action is more dangerous. This is a world where “bulletproof skin” is an absolutely incredible power and “cosmic energies” are unheard of. It focuses more on the heroics of saving your city block, keeping loved ones safe, and eventually taking the fight to the crime bosses that overshadow the city. Moments of self discovery and teen drama will still be a core part of the game, but I wouldn't expect to be dealing with the social struggles of a house party. Of course, MASKS is still about a team of young superheroes. They’re friends, rivals, love interests, allies…and always teammates, joint stars of their comic, and superheroes. They’re young; they’ve got abilities that make them special; they might wear costumes or use codenames; they save people; and they do it together. However they're growing up in an alternate Halcyon City, a place WITHOUT older supers providing guidance. These young heroes are all trying protect what is close to their hearts, and avoid getting caught in the Spiderweb. This game will feature a heavy amount of Roleplay; That doesn't mean you must do character voices, or even speak in character if you find that difficult, but it does mean being invested in your character and their experience. Who are they? What would they do in this situation, might it be a bad choice, but the choice they'd make? How does whats unfolding around them shape their life, and where will they end up by trying to react to these happenings? It doesn't mean we need to know in advance these answers, rather much we'll be Playing to Find Out, and along the way guiding the story of these young heroes. Sharing the Spotlight and juggling the action, as well as the beats of the story, primarily fall in my responsibilities, but feel free to suggest alterations to scenes or exciting ideas. As long as we share the table respectfully and don't talk other each other, we're all taking on all the roles of director, actor and audience collectively in this game. And who knows what is fun to watch better than an audience themselves? Game will be held on Discord (Mic required, webcam optional but encouraged), with player aids, handouts and characters sheets on Roll20. Primarily a Theater of the Mind game. Lines & Veils handled with handout on Roll20, and Breaks will be 5-10 minutes at the top of the hour unless everyone is too caught up in the game (or we prefer a single break in the middle). Stepping away for any reason is also completely fine, but if able please check in if it's a slight pause the table can wait for or if you prefer not to interrupt the flow of the game. Post game debrief will occur wrapping up the session, but feel free to use StartPlaying to message any additional thoughts that occur later before the next game. Stars and Wishes can be discussed before stepping away as well, but will also have a Roll20 post for the game so there is no stress to think of all the cool things you'd like to see immediately. Session 0 will likely run into starting the game proper, with discussion of basic mechanics (for those who require it) and character creation.

Content warnings

Safety tools used

How will character creation work

Characters will start with 0 advancements, and Playbooks and creation will be handled Session 0. If you are familiar with Masks already, feel free to come with a Playbook of choice and or concept you want to play. If not, feel free to just come with a concept of a Young Superhero (Around 16-20 years old) you'd like to play, think along the lines of Teen Titans, X-Men, or Young Avengers. I'll help translate your ideas into the system. Using a short questionnaire we'll also create a woven tapestry of background to help establish how these young heroes know each other an a handful of adults, side characters, and their relationship with The Spider Web to set everyone into the story. All additional playbook from official Masks supplements will be available for play in this game.

Combat / Tactics

Medium

Roleplay

High

Puzzles

Low

Experience level

Open to all