How to prepare

I use Discord or Zoom, and I love seeing players on their webcams, but audio-only is certainly an option. You can use either Nexus (https://app.demiplane.com/nexus/pathfinder2e) or Pathbuilder (https://pathbuilder2e.com/) to create your character and then we would work on importing that character into my Foundry setup. You don't need a copy of FoundryVTT - just a login to ForgeVTT (https://forge-vtt.com/) You may choose from the following archetypes: Archaeologist, Assassin, Blessed One, Cathartic Mage, Cavalier, Alter Ego, Celebrity, Dandy, Duelist, Edgewatch Detective*, Gladiator, Juggler, Lion Blade*, Loremaster, Marshal, Medic, and Vigilante. *some specific archetypes will be altered to account for the Forgotten Realms/Melvaunt setting instead of Golarian/Absolom.

What I provide

I am a storyteller and we are going to tell the story YOU want to tell. I create scores of NPCs and try to give them all unique personalities, voices, habits, and motivations. No two campaigns have the same plot, because I customize everything for your PCs. This is as close to an open sandbox as possible while still using Paizo material. I reward investigation, planning, and social interaction. Indeed, the more you know (and the more friends/connections you have), the better armed you are for what might be lurking around the corner. I always reward players who come up with unique or creative ways to solve problems, and there are no stupid questions (e.g., "Can I swing across the room on the chandelier?" "Heck yeah, roll an Acrobatics check!") I generally follow the rules as written, along with some modifications to keep the game moving (e.g., if the battle is clearly won, rather than sit around for another 4 rounds whittling away at a monster's HP, I may ask if "How do you want to end it?"), but I am also not opposed to the Rule of Cool, especially in climactic moments! My games are high on RP. For important interactions, I use an easy-to-learn social encounter system based loosely on Pathfinder's Intrigue rules. Melvaunt is dangerous, but there is almost always a way to avoid combat, including running away, if you want. That said, my combats are challenging and interesting (lots of modified monsters and varied settings) and character death is always a possibility. Especially in an urban campaign, it is often the wrong choice to hack and slash - that's a good way to get locked up by the Stormreavers! If you want to use a voice or accent, that is awesome, but you are also free to narrate your character's actions in the first or third person: e.g., "Beatrice is suspicious of this haughty noble and tries to direct the conversation to learn more about his background" or "I don't believe him, but I want to convince him that I do." As far as resources go, I use FoundryVTT on ForgeVTT (so you just need access to the ForgeVTT website and not your own copy of FoundryVTT). I have a subscription to Demiplane's Pathfinder Nexus for creating characters. I also use a ton of add-ons and other services, such as Syrinscape, dScryb, assets and mods from Patreon accounts for awesome maps and art, and even some custom-created maps and tokens and customized art from the original Pathfinder modules (all of which I own). (I do sometimes use a bit of generative AI - like that provided in Photoshop - to modify maps, assets, etc.)

Gameplay details

I am a firm believer in getting everyone's input at the first session about what kind of game we want to play. I have DM'd for shiny-faced children and grizzled grognards alike. I used to host game nights at my game store, so there is literally no kind of player I have not had fun gaming with!

Content warnings

Safety tools used

How will character creation work

Characters will begin at level 2, and all classes, ancestries, and backgrounds are available. We'll be using the Free Archetype variant rule (which helps unify the party a bit). You can pick any ancestry feat you want and choose from a selection of archetype feats that are curated to better fit the theme of the campaign. The story starts out in Melvaunt, the capital of the Moonsea Empire, just prior to the 200th Anniversary of the founding! Your character might be a noble from Melvaunt, a senator from another province, a gladiator coming to compete in the Thunderdome, a thief ready to profit from all the tourism, or one of the thousands of professionals (scribes, clerks, etc.) who make their living in this hectic city. Characters will be built prior to the beginning of the game, and I will be available for 1 on 1 conversations and questions about your choices. Our first session will include some Session Zero content to make sure we are all on the same page, before diving right into the story. Be sure to read the one-page player's guide located here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r0pjfk0iba6xs3ld2fl8e/War-for-the-Crown-Player-s-Guide-2.0.pdf?rlkey=eigscod3v23puactnb5jmhkps&dl=0

Combat / Tactics

Medium

Roleplay

High

Puzzles

Medium

Experience level

Open to all