Dungeons of Drakkenheim | 2024 RULES | @lvl 9 | Free session 0

Creating your character

This is a character-first, ensemble-driven Drakkenheim campaign. Characters are survivors shaped by loss, ambition, faith, and the corrupting influence of delerium. They are collaborators in a dangerous story, not isolated legends. If you want strong roleplay and a table where everyone contributes meaningfully, you are in the right place. Drakkenheim rewards characters with purpose, conviction, and something to lose. Character creation takes place before Session 0 through a required one-on-one creative session with the DM. Together we define who your character was before the meteor, how the fall of Drakkenheim changed them, what they want from the ruined city, and how they connect to the world and its factions: the Hooded Lanterns, Queen’s Men, Knights of the Silver Order, Followers of the Falling Fire, or the Amethyst Academy. Each character should feel grounded in the setting, with motivations strong enough to risk entering the ruins. Backstories are starting points, not novels. You will receive a short structured questionnaire to capture useful story elements such as NPC ties, goals, fears, secrets, and unresolved threads. Occasional between-session prompts may help deepen your character’s connection to Emberwood and the wider conflict surrounding Drakkenheim. All character sheets are maintained in D&D Beyond, which serves as the mechanical reference for the campaign. Once you join the campaign link, you will have access to most official content. All official races, classes, subclasses, and backgrounds are allowed. Custom backgrounds or homebrew options may be permitted if they follow official design structure, fit the gothic tone of the setting, and do not disrupt balance. All homebrew must be reviewed before Session 0. Characters begin at level 9. Equipment includes starting equipment plus two uncommon magic items, one rare magic item, and 1,000 gp. Items must fit the tone of the setting and be approved by the DM. Ability scores use a boosted rolling method on Discord. If the result is lower than expected, you may use point buy or standard array instead. Characters should have a meaningful connection to the world or a clear reason to seek Drakkenheim’s ruins. Examples include former citizens, refugees, faction agents, scholars, scavengers, soldiers, or individuals seeking lost family, relics, redemption, or truth. Characters must be able to cooperate with the group. Lone wolves, disruptive concepts, evil-aligned characters, or PvP playstyles are not appropriate. Moral tension is welcome, but collaboration comes first. Advancement is XP-based and tied to discoveries, alliances, and meaningful decisions, and combat. Exploration, diplomacy, investigation, and survival all drive progression. Levels matter, but choices matter more. A D&D Beyond link will be provided to access shared materials and build your character. The DM can assist with creation on Discord before the first session to ensure the character fits both

Preparing for the session

This campaign is intentionally paced and curated to support a deep, collaborative story in Drakkenheim. Preparation is part of the experience, helping ensure everyone arrives ready to contribute to a shared narrative shaped by danger, mystery, political tension, and the corrupting influence of delerium. Players should come prepared with one to three character ideas that can be shaped to fit the world, its factions, and the group dynamic. Characters should feel grounded in the setting, with meaningful motivations connected to loss, ambition, faith, survival, or personal stakes tied to the ruins. Characters must be able to cooperate with others. Lone wolves, disruptive concepts, or characters built only for mechanical experimentation are not appropriate for this campaign. Onboarding process: 1. Request a seat 2. Receive the character questionnaire and Discord invite 3. Join Discord and discuss ideas with the DM 4. Schedule a one-on-one session to finalize the character 5. Character approval confirmation 6. Session 00 begins once one character is ready This is a long-form campaign and may not begin immediately. Early preparation helps ensure strong group cohesion and meaningful story development. Platforms and tools: Discord is the central hub for announcements, recaps, downtime roleplay, and communication between sessions. Players are expected to remain reasonably engaged, read recaps, and respond to roll call when possible. Foundry is used as the virtual tabletop. Players should be comfortable navigating the interface and managing their character after the introduction we provide to this tool. D&D Beyond is the rules authority and location for character sheets. Once you join the campaign link, you will have access to most official content. All official races, classes, subclasses, and backgrounds are allowed. Balanced homebrew may be allowed if it follows official design structure and fits the gothic tone of the setting. All homebrew must be reviewed before Session 00. ChatGPT and other Gen AI tools are encouraged as a creative support tool to refine ideas, strengthen backstories, explore motivations, and clarify small rules questions between sessions. Technical expectations: A working microphone or headset is required without echo or feedback. Camera use is encouraged but optional. Stable internet and basic technical readiness are expected. Players are encouraged to watch the Drakkenheim campaign introduction trailer to understand the tone of the world: [https://youtu.be/wN3oiWw8tts](https://youtu.be/wN3oiWw8tts) This preparation process protects the table, respects everyone’s time, and creates the conditions for meaningful ensemble storytelling. If you enjoy intentional play, collaboration, and arriving prepared, this campaign will be a strong fit.

What DM Rax brings to the table

This campaign is designed to deliver a premium, story-driven experience set in the dangerous and mysterious world of Drakkenheim. The focus is on cinematic storytelling, meaningful choices, and collaborative narrative development where player decisions influence the world around them. Each player receives a one-on-one character creation session to ensure their character feels grounded in the setting and connected to the story. These sessions help define motivations, faction ties, and personal goals. Characters may begin with a short prologue scene to establish narrative momentum before the party fully unites. Sessions include cinematic scene framing, curated ambient music, visual references, and tactical maps when appropriate. Combat encounters are purposeful and often emerge naturally from social interaction, exploration, or investigation. The campaign balances roleplay, exploration, and tactical combat to create varied and engaging sessions. The world is persistent and responsive. Player decisions influence factions, NPC relationships, and future opportunities. Encounters are tailored to both individual characters and the group dynamic, helping ensure each player has meaningful spotlight moments. Players receive detailed session recaps to maintain continuity and support long-term storytelling. Downtime is treated as part of the narrative and may include personal scenes, faction interactions, or character development opportunities between sessions. Smaller table size allows for stronger focus on each character. The onboarding process helps ensure players share similar expectations for tone, collaboration, and story investment. The DM provides prepared NPC portrayals, distinct voices, cinematic pacing, and dynamic scene presentation. Ambient audio and visual tools are used when possible to enhance immersion. Rule of Cool is respected. Core rules are generally followed, but small creative adjustments may be allowed when they enhance dramatic moments without disrupting balance. Gen AI tools will be used to enhance visuals, environmental references, and supplementary content that supports immersion without replacing core gameplay. Players are encouraged to focus on roleplay and decision-making while the DM manages pacing, structure, and mechanical flow. The campaign begins with a clear narrative direction, but the story ultimately evolves through player choice and collaborative storytelling.

Homebrew rules

We apply special critical-hit and critical-healing mechanics. Detailed notes will be provided before we start.

How DM Rax creates a safe table

ADULT GAME 18+ ONLY WARNING / DISCLAIMER: This game is intended to portray a realistic world, including darker and more unsettling elements. It is steeped in horror, with encounters that may involve extreme and disturbing themes. Evil exists here... consider this your warning. CONTENT WARNING: Many content warnings apply. However, this game will not include or describe explicit sexual content, overt child abuse, or detailed torture. Those subjects have no place in this campaign. SESSION 0: Session 0 is an introductory discussion held before the campaign begins (usually before any payment) to ensure players understand how the game works, what is expected of them, the home rules, character creation process, pacing, safety, and etiquette. DEBRIEFING: Regular private check-ins between the GM and each player help ensure everyone is comfortable and enjoying the game. LINES AND VEILS: Players are welcome to privately discuss with the DM any topics or scenarios that feel uncomfortable. Some subjects will never appear in the game, while others may only be implied through a “fade to black” moment before moving on. X, N, O CARDS AND BREAKS: Although these safety tools are more common in live sessions, they still apply here. If you post a line of X’s or an image of an X card, everyone should recognize that as a stop signal... meaning the current topic is off-limits and play should immediately move on. BREAKS: We usually have one break per session, but If you ever need additional time or space for safety or comfort, simply message the GM privately or let the group know. SANDBOX: This campaign world is flexible and shaped by player input. Expect to receive a brief survey at the start so the DM can understand your experience level, preferred settings or modules, and what type of adventure you’d most enjoy.