Clash at Kobold Cauldron - Here There Be Dragons! 5e-2024!
Addiction, anarchy, and a red dragon with a taste for power—stop the madness at Red Claw Distillery before Knotside burns.
About the adventure
Something's wrong with the people of Knotside. A few weeks ago, a popular new liquor called Red Claw showed up in the city's many taverns. Anyone that took even a sip of this spirit immediately wanted another taste. At first, these desires were nothing more than cravings. But soon, those cravings grew to obsession. Then obsession turned to violence. Now, the city of Knotside faces collapse as the red-eyed Red Claw addicts stalk the streets, desperate for more! You and your companions are the only ones that can restore the city and find out the truth about the origins of Red Claw!
Game style
Combat Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
$35.00
/ Session
Details
Once / Wednesday – 12:00 AM UTC
Jun 4
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
2 / 8 Seats Filled
GAME MASTER
DM StoryMaster
he/him
5.0
(51)
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Report Adventure
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(51)
4 years on StartPlaying
455 games hosted
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, Sets the Mood
Average response time: 10 hours
Response rate: 86%
About me
It started with a few friends, a pile of crayons, and some six-sided dice. Hunched over a bedroom floor in the late ‘80s, we crafted adventures with reckless abandon—dungeons sketched in frantic lines, monsters marked up with battle wounds, and Parcheesi tokens standing in for heroes. Rules? Who needed them? The thrill of the story was all that mattered. Even before I owned my first D&D set, I was hooked on the magic of tabletop roleplaying. Decades later, that same passion still fuels every game I run. Years of playing across countless systems have taught me that while mechanics shape the way we tell stories, it’s the stories themselves that truly matter. I take the best of these experiences and weave them into my games, crafting epic campaigns that blend rich storytelling, strategic challenges, and moments that make players feel like heroes—fully immersed in the emotion of the adventure. Storytelling is my wheelhouse, character arcs are my passion, and I love crafting encounters that get hearts racing. More than just running a game, I aim to create experiences—where choices matter, characters evolve, and the dice feel like fate unfolding. Whether you're a seasoned player or brand new to the adventure, I’m here to craft a story you’ll be talking about for years. So, grab your character sheet—let’s roll the dice and make something unforgettable.
View Profile →Reviews (51)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Storytelling
Creativity
Sets the Mood
Joshua Miscione
Played 85 sessions
I have had some experience playing D and D, I can tell you that Joel is by far the best DM i have had the pleasure of playing with. He is insanely patient but will interject when needed to give others a chance to roleplay, he will politely cut off anyone who interrupts. Joel is an amazing storyteller and enthralls you in a world as if you were there. Joel is extremely knowledgably with foundry and helps guide the party with technical questions. I could not recommend him as a DM enough. I am super excited each session to play, and I will be playing with him until the campaign ends and join more.
Megan
Played 79 sessions
If you're looking for an immersive, compelling, rp-heavy game with a master storyteller, smash the sign-up button right now. Joel is a natural born DM. His subtle but powerful choices (i.e. events, NPC personalities, timing) put players front and center in a captivating world, where every choice has a consequence and every action opens doors to an amazing story. His ability to quietly provide opportunities for you to tell your character's tale through mesmerizing PC/PC and PC/NPC scenes will have you wishing you could play five days a week. Better yet, Joel cares for his players. He ensures a friendly, inclusive environment both in game and on Discord. Newcomers and seasoned players welcome.
Keith Hudson
Played 75 sessions
Joel’s game is hands-down the best game of D&D I’ve ever played and I’ve been playing since 1979. He is truly a wonderful storyteller, a talented actor, an experienced Dungeon Master, and a master of gaming online. I highly recommend him for new players and veteran players.
Alistair
Played 56 sessions
I can't recommend this DM enough. They have a flair for horror and it shows. Best Curse of Strahd I've ever been in, good knowledge of the content, and very skilled at setting a good scene. They also care deeply for their players and have safety guidelines for the more intense campaigns. Extremely immersive; an amazing DM for when you want to get sucked into the story.
Allen Davidson
Played 52 sessions
Joel is... the man. The fact that he has so few reviews after DMing so many games is a travesty. His incredibly friendly demeanor, inviting presence, and patience with players that have less experience is a breath of fresh air. His method of storytelling is so immersing, and the freedom he grants his players, both to go a little off the rails as well as lean into each characters personality, quirks, or obsessions, is incredible, and the payoff as a player is huge. The presentation and maps and designs of his work on roll20 are equally impressive, and integration of multiple other tools makes it even more exciting and engaging. 10/10 would (and will) play again. Edit: just finished up our final free session of the trial period as we made our way put of Death House. Having read the module suffice to say I was absolutely blown away. Joel has completely rewritten, altered, and expanded it to be so much more than a spooky setting with some traps along the way. I don't know what awaits us in Barovia moving forward, but I can assure you it will be unlike any other journey you've had. If there's ever been a more urgent "shut up and take my money!" moment than this, I can't fathom it. Two weeks until the next session and I'm already biting my nails and eager to dive back in. Do yourself a favor and book a game!
Anna
Played 48 sessions
Joel is the best DM I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with He is an expert storyteller and sets up his games with the best tools to really immerse you in the game. He is a great facilitator, and takes the time to ensure all players have space for their voice and ideas to be heard. He adds true heart and emotion to his games and adapts to his players style. Our game feels elevated beyond the simple mechanics of d&d into a true world where we can really live (and get to know) our characters.
Character creation
Creating your character
Characters can be created with any official WOTC content on D&DBeyond including the new 2024 rule-set! Create your character using point buy or standard array Characters should be Level 10 with normal starting gear PLUS... Two Uncommon Magic Items and One Rare Magic Item of your choice!!
How often do you get to play a 10th level character?? :) Put together that sick build you've been dreaming of using the new 2024 5e rules! Fight powerful monsters!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
We will be using Zoom for voice and video chat. A good mic is a necessity and I always recommend a camera as well but it is not a requirement. A chrome based browser is best for VTT use. You will need a free account on D&D Beyond to access all of the character creation resources I make available via the campaign link. Games are run on either Roll20 or Foundry. Roll20 requires a free account. Foundry will require a free account at Forge-VTT.com.
What DM StoryMaster brings to the table
💖 Most importantly, you will always be guaranteed a safe place to be who you are. Everyone of every stripe is welcome at my table and I will not put up with any personal attacks or derogatory language toward any real-world person. It's a horror game, and bad things happen *in-game* but it will never be allowed to flow out of the game. 🧠 Experience. I've been running TTRPG games for more than 30 years. I have researched it exhaustively, and I know what it needs for an epic story to be told. 🎼 Professional quality soundscapes and music through VTT. 🎨 $1000s of dollars in GORGEOUS map and token assets. 🎭 Passionate and Descriptive story-telling. As a theater geek and writer, I will bring my A-game to our table and do my utmost to tell this story as immersively as possible. 👨👨👦👦 A Discord Community for campaign tracking, In character and out of character chat, and making new RPG friends 📚 Full access to every official WOTC D&D book catalog published for 5th edition character creation 💎 Premium accounts on both the VTT and DNDBeyond ⚔️ Creative and challenging combat scenarios. In this world, the things that go bump in the night know what they are doing. 👂 An open line of communication with me as the DM. Feel free to reach out to me any time via Discord direct message and I will get back to you as soon as possible. I am always happy to talk shop, character ideas, answer questions, and discuss any concerns that come up during the game.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Headphones
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How DM StoryMaster creates a safe table
Tools in place for player comfort: *At the start of the game we will discuss expectations for players and DM alike. Clear establishment of soft-stop (veils) and hard-stop (lines) subjects. * During active game play we will be using the X-card method to establish if the story is moving in an uncomfortable direction (a veil or line is on the horizon) when ever a player would like to take a moment to discuss, gather themselves, or request a specific change.
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