Sabers on the Three Seas

Creating your character

New players will be given time to create their characters during a free Session 0, but they will need to have an account on D&D Beyond set up before that session to save time (a free account is just fine; no need to subscribe to anything). You are welcome to start brainstorming what sort of character you would like to play before Session 0 but please keep the following in mind: You will need to limit your character species choices to the following so they fit the setting. - Human - Goliath - Eladrin - Genasi - Centaur - Leonin - Merfolk - Minotaur - Satyr - Yuan-ti (For any other species please ask the DM, but as a general rule if it seems like it would fit in an ancient Greek myth, great! If not, maybe pick something else.) When choosing your class, please bear in mind that this is a high magic world, but that at least within the human kingdoms of Thalasia the use of magic is tightly controlled. All human mages are considered the property of the king to whose kingdom they belong and more magical species openly displaying their arcane abilities may be regarded with distrust if not hostility in human-dominated spaces. This doesn't mean you can't play a magical class; it is just intended to make you aware of the geopolitics of magic in Thalasia so you are not surprised by how your magic-user may be treated. I am happy to run a multi-level party, so the starting level of individual characters can be a conversation had at Session 0. Generally I advise new players to start at lower levels, just so they don't get overwhelmed by game mechanics, but I am open to characters starting anywhere between level 1-5. To facilitate players who may wish to join after the campaign is already in progress I will plan to hold a Session 0 a week before each scheduled session of gameplay. If you wish to join the game but have missed the Session 0 immediately preceding the next session of gameplay you may still join but will be given a pre-rolled character for your first session and then be given the chance to participate in a later Session 0 if you would like to continue and make your own character at that point.

Preparing for the session

Before the game, players will be invited to a D&D Beyond Campaign through which the DM will run encounters and share maps, so they do need a D&D Beyond account (this can be a free account). The DM will also provide players with a Google form to complete and submit in advance of the game that will function as both a safety tool and a preliminary get-to-know-you. Characters can be created at the free Session 0 that the DM will schedule once enough players have signed up to create a party, but players are welcome to begin brainstorming before that assuming they keep the parameters of the world-setting in mind. At the time of the game, players will be invited by the DM to a video call via a Google Meet link, and should be prepared to join the call with a stable internet connection and working microphone; having one's camera turned on during the game is advised (as facial expression can lend much to communication) but is not strictly necessary.

What Megan brings to the table

When I say this is a sandbox world, I am really not kidding. There is no pre-planned adventure; players will begin the game with a map of my home-brew world - a Mediterranean inspired region called Thalasia - and it will be up to them as a party, or rather a pirate crew, to set sail in whatever direction they choose. Imagine that you are Odysseus, every island or port where you weigh anchor is a possible adventure. As the DM, I have already littered by world with encounters, NPCs and story hooks. As the players chart their course, I will set the mood with ambient music and descriptions, provide encounter maps as needed using D&D Beyond as our virtual tabletop, play the parts of any NPCs the party meets, and explain and adjudicate the rules as needed. I am happy to walk less experienced players through the rules, though I should mention I am familiar with the 2014 5e rules and am still adjusting to 2024 revisions. That said I tend to be a more narrative driven DM anyway, who appreciates creativity and boldness in my players so I am more likely to embrace the Rule of Cool than the Rules as Written.

Homebrew rules

Remembering details and participating in recapping the last session at the beginning of a new session earns players a point of inspiration.

How Megan creates a safe table

Before anything else, the DM will provide players with a Google form which will ask them about their Lines & Veils as well as some other gameplay preferences. This will be both a safety tool and a way for the DM to start getting to know her players. The first session will be a free Session 0 during which the party will have the chance to create their characters together and forge a social contract to guide future sessions. This will include a discussion of Lines & Veils and the use of other safety tools in subsequent sessions, as well as general etiquette at the 'table.' After Session 0, paid sessions of gameplay will begin with a recap of the previous session (as told by one of the players) and end with a debrief (including discussion of Stars and Wishes). At any point during or after games, players are invited to message the DM privately to express any concerns or to communicate X, N, and O moments. While the DM cannot promise immediate responses outside of scheduled sessions, she will do her best to address player concerns no later than the next gaming session.