Hold Back the Dead -PlayByPost- (Asynchronous/Discord) 4th Lvl
Dungeons & Dragons 5e | Campaign
About the adventure
A routine guard mission at the recently reoccupied Ironspine Keep in the Sword Coast turns into a fight for survival! Szass Tam, the leader of the Red Wizards, has sent his forces to destroy the fortress and overrun the region – and you may be the key to stopping them! LEVEL (4) START: Pre-Gens available, or BRING YOUR OWN! CONTENT SHARING: GM will *NOT* be using CONTENT SHARE, so bring your own, share it, or be limited to CORE CONTENT! POSSIBLE CAMPAIGN: If the party wishes to stay together and keep playing, the group can segway into MORE fun adventures at higher levels, and stay together. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUMMARY Veteran GM: 40+ years Level (4) Four PCs Number of Players: Five (5) preferred Age: Adult 18+ only Frequency: Average is 3-5x per day Date/Time: All day, asynchronous GM: Eastern/Florida/USA [GMT -5] Play-by-Post: through each day. Setting: D&D 5e "Forgotten Realms" based. Homebrew: Variations on rules & setting are possible. ========================= ASYNCHRONOUS (PBP): Play ANY TIME, ANY WHERE... spread out through the day [GMs time zone], via a collection of DISCORD groups, DnDBeyond characters, and map tools like OwlBear, Roll20, Canva, DnD Maps... EXPECTATION: At least 3 significant (verbose) contributions a day, and preferably closer to 5 per day [8a - 5p Eastern USA time zone]. Everyone should have time, either during coffee beaks, meal breaks, bathroom breaks, and as often as you can fit it in. It's VERY important you check in OFTEN!!!
Game style
Theater of the Mind
“Theater of the Mind” uses little to no visuals for scene settings and combat. Instead, the narrative imagery comes from the Game Master’s descriptions and character action and movement comes from Players’ descriptions.
SIGN UP SHEET ACTIVE: Seeking players... GAME STARTS when 4-player MINIMUM have signed up. NO CHARGE while you wait ----------------------- REFER A FRIEND DISCOUNT Earn 10% off every game, when you INVITE A FRIEND and they mention that you've done so - when the sign up on SPG. THEY GET 10% OFF AS WELL, on the game they joined - resulting from your referral. So they and you both get 10% off. STACKABLE - so if you do it again and again, you can earn up to a max of 50% off all your games, be referring 5 friends. ---------------------------- RULE OF COOL VS RAW. Many players call my games RAW, but not necessarily because they are "Rules as Written", more so because my games are "Realistic and Witty". I'm a Realist. Artificers can't manufacture Eldritch Cannons without supplies, out of thin air. Poisoner's even with a kit, don't have unlimited resources. You can't carry 100 bottles of wine in your backpack. Digging a potion out of the bottom of your backpack in the middle of a fight, is going to take time. Let's be real. I'm all in favor of Rule of Cool, when it is at least possible. It need not be probable, but it has to be marginally possible. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CUSTOM EDITION: D&D 2024-based mechanics (while PC species / class / spells / backgrounds /feats / etc, can be from 2014 and 2024, or a mix). That means 90% of the game is CORE CONTENT, but it's also 10% homebrew (regarding some rules that just aren't clear, or subject to debate, in which case I take from other editions or customize the rule a bit). So, that makes this a "custom" edition, and I want everyone to be aware and be OK with that fact.
4.9
(23)
2 years on StartPlaying
402 games hosted
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, Knows the Rules
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
Additional details
How to prepare
Think about your favorite character from TV, Movies, Books, Comics, etc. and base your character on what you WANT to play. REQUIRED BACKSTORY: What I require of each player is a solid story of where they came from and where they are going next. Important considerations are WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW: EXAMPLE: Who are they? Upbringing? Siblings? Childhood? When did they leave home to start exploring? What are their long term and short term goals? Why did they choose to be <occupation/class>? How is the most fun. How ill you PLAY them? By this I mean, do they have any odd idiosyncrasies, hidden agenda, secrets, flaws, phobias, habits, qwirks? HAVE FUN! NOTE: We can work together (GM and Player) during Session Zero to figure all this out.
What I provide
MOTTO: It is YOUR game, so play it YOUR way... The initial game begins with a very specific mission mind, but you are not relegated to a specific path. While anything can happen, if the group wants to keep playing, we can move things in ANY direction. *********************************** I'll bring the adventure... I'll bring vivid story telling... I'll bring adaptability to unexpected events... I'll provide visuals when possible... I'll bring 40+ years of GM Experience... ------------------------------------- RULE OF COOL: Yes, I can see that - occasionally. I don't typically BREAK a major rule, but can see slight variances or "exceptions" when the situation warrants it. Just concern yourself with the game. Play it. Role-play, and leave the mechanics to me!!!!
Gameplay details
ADULT GAME 18+ ONLY (Viewer/Player discretion is advised): WARNING / DISCLAIMER: This game is designed to replicate realism, in every way, as close as possible to reality. A great many unfortunate atrocities exist in our real world, and in a fantasy/make believe world they can easily be far worse and take on fictional aspects never before considered. CONTENT WARNING: As you may have noticed, almost every content warning available has been flagged. The only exceptions are those involving sexuality and the overt abuse of children. Those topics simply don't have a place in this game and will be omitted and could result in a removal of any player from the game. SESSION 0 / DEBREIFING: Session 0 merely represents the dialogue that will be exchanged early on (usually before you start paying) to make sure you understand how it's played, what you are expected to bring to the virtual table, character creation, homerules, timeliness, SAFETY, and cordial play. LINES and VEILS: During the Session 0, and while Debriefing at various intervals (between chapters), you can discuss with the GM any topics, scenes, or scenarios that are particularly disturbing, and possible accommodations. Some topics just need NEVER be present in a game, and others just "alluded" to, as we figuratively "fade-to-black", and we move on. X, N, O CARDS & BREAKS: Well I don't use a lot of in N, X, O card rules in play-by-post, seeing it more effective in live games. Still, if you throw up a row of X's, or a picture of an X card, we should all be aware of what that means. Stop! The topic is off limits. Breaks are built ib. If you feel safe, just PM your GM as needed. SANDBOX: This game setting is very adaptable to match what it is you are looking for in a game. Expect a short "survey" link to be sent to you once we start. From this, I'll collect a quick understanding of your level of experience, what games / modules / settings you've used before, and where I should focus the game.
Content warnings
Safety tools used
• Breaks
• Debriefing
• Lines and Veils
• Session 0
• X, N, and O Cards
How will character creation work
MECHANICALLY we're using 2024 RULES, but for Character Building you have both 2014 and 2024 options CLASS: Can be either 2014 or 2024. There are pros and cons to both. (i.e. only 2024 get Origin Feats, but a 2014 Druid can Wild Shape into a larger variety of creatures, yet can't talk). You decide! SPELLS: Can be a MIX of 2014 or 2024 options. Again, some spells work better in 2014 than 2024 and vice versa. Choose wisely! DNDBEYOND SETTINGS: Advancement Type = XP Hit Point Type = Fixed Character Privacy = Public Abilities = "Standard Array" or "Point Buy" Equipment = Choose "Equipment" and NOT GOLD EXTRA (for level 4): After you've built your character at level 1, and slowly advanced them to level 4, giving them ONLY the starting equipment, you get these extras 1. Another 400 GP to spend 2. Your Choice of... (a) One Uncommon Magic Item (b) Two "Common" Magic Ite
Players can expect
Combat / Tactics
Medium
Roleplay
Medium
Puzzles
Medium
Experience level
Beginner
Platforms used
• Owlbear Rodeo
• Text/Play by Post
• Discord
• D&D Beyond
$15.00
/ Session
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Details
Weekly / Friday - 10:30 PM UTC
1-1.1 Hour duration
0 / 6 Seats filled
Requirements
Experience required: Beginner
Age: 18+