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Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

Dungeons & Dragons 5e | Campaign

About the adventure

Welcome to Strixhaven—Where Magic and Mystery Collide! Nestled within the heart of the magical multiverse, Strixhaven University is the premier institution for those who seek to master the arcane. Here, students from all walks of life gather to study ancient tomes, experiment with groundbreaking magic, and uncover secrets lost to time. But Strixhaven is more than just a school—it is a place of adventure, where friendships are forged, rivalries spark, and unseen dangers lurk beneath the surface. This campaign is perfect for players who love roleplaying, exploration, and magical mischief. You’ll take on the role of a student at Strixhaven, navigating the academic and social challenges of university life while delving into an unfolding mystery that threatens the school itself. Between attending classes, joining clubs, and participating in magical duels, you’ll find yourself unraveling a hidden conspiracy that could change Strixhaven forever. Expect a game filled with wonder, humor, and intrigue. Whether you’re a bookish Lorehold scholar, a daring Prismari artist, or a cunning Silverquill wordsmith, your choices will shape your destiny. Will you rise as a hero of the university, or will your ambitions lead you down a more dangerous path? Class is in session. Are you ready to begin your journey?

Game style

Rules as Written (RaW)

Games that are ran “Rules as Written” emphasize realism and stick to the letter of the rules, allowing players to explore creative solutions while still operating under a consistent rule set. Players have the ability to utilize the rules in creative ways to create awesome characters and moments in the game.

Rule of Cool (RoC)

“Rule of Cool” emphasizes creative story beats over sticking to a system’s rules as written. Players have the ability to push the limits of the rules or even break core rule mechanics at times if the Game Master thinks it is interesting, fun, or cool enough.

Recruiting notes

No Experience Needed All Content Provided Campaign Starts at 3+ Players Free Session 0/First Session Free Current Level: 1

4.8

(29)

Less than a year on StartPlaying

311 games hosted

Highly rated for: Knows the Rules, Creativity, Rule of Cool

Average response time: 2 hours

Response rate: 100%

Game Master Reviews (29)

Proficiencies

Players say this GM is great at:

Knows the Rules

Creativity

Rule of Cool

Khashayar avatar

Khashayar

New review

Played 16 sessions

Very fun to play with. Genuinely regularly find myself belly-laughing during the sessions. very fun games and his roll20 interface is polished af

Tim avatar

Tim

New review

Played 40 sessions

Berrey is an amazing DM. I’ve played two campaigns with him. Finished one of those and the other one is still ongoing. It’s always an absolute blast and he’s just an all around great human being

maxine loader avatar

maxine loader

New review

Played 18 sessions

Berrey's a very fun DM! Loved his sense of humour, his high energy levels every session & the wide range of voices and accents he has on tap. As a newer player, Berrey really took care on numerous occasions to give me helpful tips and gameplay options so I could improve and keep up with the more experienced people playing, and always took care to answer any questions with as much detail as he could. Recommended.

Steven avatar

Steven

New review

Played 13 sessions

Very good DM who has clearly had a lot of practice. Would recommend for players of any experience level.

Patrick avatar

Patrick

New review

Played 6 sessions

Berrey does some things amazingly well. He's a great narrator and sets a scene very well. He is great at doing voices and setting a mood. One of my problems with him is that he talks too much; he goes on, weaves through topics, and dominates the table to the point that you can't get a word in. To (try) and make a ridiculous story short, while playing in his campaign, there were a pair of disruptive players and some poor combat actions taken by others that affected the entire group. This situation did not involve me, but I now see it as a foreshadowing of things that would come later. At this point, Berrey became agitated and berated the table about how he felt they were playing the game. The table assured him that we were trying to problem solve, not be disruptive. Another game later, while waiting for said disruptive players to arrive (late as usual) the group had a long conversation, and Berrey called off the game early so people wouldn't be charged. During this long chat there was a lot of miscommunication that I thought we had cleared up, not simply concerning me but other players that seemed confused. Berrey said that he cared about his players, he was interested in everyone having fun and was always there to talk about things. He mentioned that he doesn't like messaging people because he doesn't want to "bug" them. Myself and another player reassured him it wasn't a problem, communication is good, by all means message us if you need to. Part of this chat involved some things that happened to my character and I told Berrey that I'd get back to him on a decision about how I'd like to move forward with the game. When I responded to him the next day he accused me of dragging out an issues for two days- the player's conversation/missed game was on a Wednesday night, I responded to him early Thursday afternoon. He became increasingly disrespectful and aggressive. He kept getting angry over something that wasn't an issue but accused me of dragging it out (I had made my choice of what to do within 5 minutes the previous night, before we had a long conversation instead of a non-game). He said he'd said things he'd never said. He misrepresented how others felt and things they had said. He seemed to think there was a problem that didn't exist. He became agitated and aggressive and finally said 'I don't think this is going to work out' (paraphrasing and simplifying here). I believe Berrey has some anger management issues. He does not seem to do well with conflict resolution, and yet he portrays himself as being a caring individual willing to work things out (while creating problems). It was all very confusing.

Steve  avatar

Steve

New review

Played 6 sessions

Fantastic DM!! Couldn’t sing his praises louder. I’ve been playing D&D for decades and Berrey has proven himself to be an exceptional story teller; a rules master that also actively promotes innovative ideas so the rule-of-cool still flourishes; a gracious host that beguiles everyone with charm and humor; and a perceptive reader of the room who knows how to balance the involvement of all players. Highly recommend.

Additional details

How to prepare

Microphone: Players will need a microphone for voice communication during the game sessions. Clear communication is essential for gameplay, so having a functional microphone will ensure everyone can participate effectively. Roll20 Account: Players will need to create an account on Roll20, a virtual tabletop platform, where we'll be hosting our game sessions and managing character sheets, maps, and other game elements. Discord Account: Players should also have a Discord account for voice communication and out-of-game discussion. We'll use Discord for voice chat during our game sessions and for any additional communication between sessions. Familiarity with Rules: While not mandatory, it's helpful for players to have a basic understanding of the rules of the game system we'll be using. I'll provide guidance and support during character creation and gameplay, but having a general knowledge of the rules can streamline the process. Character Creation: Players will need to create their characters before the first session, following the guidelines provided during session zero. This includes determining stats, selecting abilities, and creating character backstories. I'll provide assistance and answer any questions players may have during the character creation process.

What I provide

As a GM, my number one aim is to entertain the players. I achieve this by bringing a blend of narrative-driven storytelling and tactical combat to the table. With custom maps, tokens, and character voices, I immerse players in rich and vivid worlds. While I lean towards narrative-driven gameplay, I'm no stranger to intense tactical combat. I strive for a balanced approach, blending the 'rule of cool' with adherence to rules as written, aiming for an engaging and enjoyable experience for all players. Additionally, I believe in collaborative storytelling, where players have a voice in shaping the world we explore together. I enjoy working with players to co-create and develop the world we're playing in, allowing for a deeper immersion and investment in the game. Whether it's through player-driven character backgrounds, collaborative world-building sessions, or incorporating player ideas and contributions into the narrative, I strive to create a shared experience where everyone's creativity enriches the story.

Gameplay details

My plan for session zero is to lay the groundwork for an immersive and collaborative gaming experience. During this session, we'll cover several key topics to ensure that everyone is on the same page and ready to embark on our adventure together. Introduction and Expectations: We'll start by introducing ourselves and discussing our expectations for the campaign. This includes clarifying the tone and themes of the game, as well as establishing any house rules or expectations for player conduct. Campaign Setting and Themes: I'll provide an overview of the campaign setting, including any relevant lore, history, and cultural details. We'll discuss the themes and motifs that will be explored throughout the campaign, ensuring that everyone is comfortable with the content and direction of the story. Character Creation: Next, we'll dive into character creation. Players will have the opportunity to brainstorm character concepts, develop backstories, and discuss their character goals and motivations. We'll work together to ensure that each character fits seamlessly into the world and has meaningful connections to the setting and other player characters. Group Dynamics: We'll discuss how the party knows each other and establish any pre-existing relationships or connections between the characters. This will help foster a sense of camaraderie and teamwork within the group from the outset. Session Zero Rules: We'll review any session zero rules, such as guidelines for PvP interactions, character death, or handling sensitive topics. It's essential to establish a safe and respectful gaming environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves. Logistics and Scheduling: Finally, we'll address any logistical details, such as scheduling regular game sessions, determining preferred communication channels, and clarifying expectations for punctuality and attendance.

Content warnings

• Character Death

• Death

• Violence

• Mind Control

• Language/Cursing

• Gore

• Devils / Demons / Fiends

Safety tools used

Aftercare

Breaks

Debriefing

Open Door

Session 0

How will character creation work

The character creation process will be handled during our session zero to ensure that everyone is on the same page and ready to begin the adventure together. For stats, we'll be using a standard stat array, which will be provided to players during the session zero, ensuring fairness and balance among characters. All characters will start at 1st level, giving everyone a chance to grow and develop their characters together from the beginning. During session zero, we'll have ample time to discuss character creation in detail, including determining stats using the provided array, creating backstories, selecting abilities, and any other relevant character choices. Character creation will be done collectively, and I'll be available to provide guidance and assistance throughout the process. We'll create characters together in-person or virtually, depending on our session setup and preferences. Specific details regarding allowable content from various sourcebooks will be discussed in more detail during session zero. However, players can feel confident that sticking to core rulebooks and materials will ensure they're on safe ground. While we encourage creativity and exploration, I'll provide guidance on which materials are approved and how they can be integrated into our campaign setting. As for reference materials, players should refer to the core rulebooks or any supplementary materials that are relevant to the game system we're playing. I'll provide guidance on which books to use and any additional resources that may be helpful for character creation.

Players can expect

Combat / Tactics

Medium

Roleplay

Medium

Puzzles

Medium

Experience level

Open to all

Platforms used

D&D Beyond

Roll20

Discord

1 SEAT LEFT
$15.00

/ Session

Each player will be charged when a session starts.

Details

Weekly / Thursday - 9:00 PM UTC

Mar 20 / Session 0

4-4 Hour duration

5 / 6 Seats filled

Schedule

Thu, Mar 20 | 9:00 PM - Session 0

Thu, Mar 27 | 9:00 PM - Session 1

Thu, Apr 03 | 9:00 PM - Session 2

Thu, Apr 10 | 9:00 PM - Session 3

Thu, Apr 17 | 9:00 PM - Session 4

Thu, Apr 24 | 9:00 PM - Session 5

Requirements

Experience required: Open to all

Age: 18+