The City Hungers, Feed Your Desires: Urban Shadows | Learn2Play

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. Forge accounts are also free and will allow you to access visual handouts and character sheets. All you need is a web browser to use Foundry via The Forge. 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 Foundry's in-app rolling.

What I provide

I'll provide the voice server via Discord and the Foundry campaign link. Foundry has character tracking sheets for playbook options, tokens, and maps to set the stage for the game. Primarily a Theater of the Mind game, with VTT support to track information. 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

Urban Shadows is a game of modern day intrigue of super natural entities and mystic power users. The core concepts can vary wildly, and our group of protagonist are encouraged to have their own agendas that may conflict with the group as a whole. But underlying all of the mechanics and drama, we will endeavor to make sure we are sharing the table space, spot light, and interest in each other's characters. 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 Foundry. Primarily a Theater of the Mind game. Lines & Veils handled with handout on Foundry, 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 Discord Channel 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 Urban Shadows 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 an open concept of a you'd like to play, think along the lines of True Blood, Buffy, Dresden Files. I'll help translate your ideas into the system. Using a series of collaborative questions we'll also create a woven tapestry of background to help establish how these individuals know each other and the city, powers that rule it, and any personal background to set everyone into the story.

Combat / Tactics

Medium

Roleplay

High

Puzzles

Low

Experience level

Open to all