Heed the Call!

How to prepare

Required Technology & Accounts ✅ Discord (For Voice & Communication) We’ll be using Discord for voice chat, text roleplay, and out-of-game discussions. A working microphone is required, but webcams are optional. ✅ Virtual Tabletop (Roll20 or Owlbear) I will provide a link to our VTT (Roll20 or Owlbear) where we’ll handle maps, combat, and rolls. A free account on Roll20 (or Owlbear, if we use it) is required. ✅ D&D Beyond (For Character Sheets & Rules Access) I’ll provide a D&D Beyond campaign link, which gives you access to character creation tools and all my unlocked books. You’ll need a free D&D Beyond account to join the campaign and manage your character sheet.

What I provide

What You Can Expect From Me as a GM A Well-Prepared Adventure: I put effort into crafting engaging encounters, meaningful NPCs, and an immersive world. Flexibility & Collaboration: While I have a plan, I love when players throw unexpected curveballs! Your choices will shape the story. Support for Character Arcs: If you have personal character goals, I’ll find ways to weave them into the campaign. A Fun & Respectful Table: I encourage creativity, teamwork, and a shared commitment to making the game enjoyable for everyone. I aim to make this campaign as immersive and engaging as possible, and here’s what I bring to the table: Gameplay Style Tactical Combat: Fights will be strategic, dynamic, and engaging. Enemies will use their abilities intelligently, and terrain will play a role in encounters. Balanced Roleplay & Combat: Expect a mix of exploration, combat, and social encounters, with opportunities for meaningful character development. Rule of Cool vs. Rules as Written: I follow RAW for the most part but will lean into Rule of Cool if it makes the game more fun and cinematic. If you have a creative solution, I’ll work with you to make it happen. Player-Driven Storytelling: Your choices matter. The world will react to your decisions, and side quests may lead to unexpected twists. Virtual Tabletop & Tools VTT (Roll20/Owlbear): I’ll be running the game through a virtual tabletop with dynamic maps, lighting, and tokens for both combat and exploration. Custom Maps & Tokens: Expect high-quality battle maps, customized character tokens, and immersive environments. D&D Beyond Access: Players will have access to all of my unlocked books, including character options, spells, and magic items. We’ll integrate this with the VTT for ease of use. Discord for Voice/Chat: We’ll use Discord for voice communication, text roleplay, and out-of-character discussions.

Gameplay details

Session 0: Setting Expectations & Boundaries Before we dive into the adventure, we’ll have a Session 0 to go over: Lines & Veils: I’ll send a link to a shared document where everyone can list content they want excluded entirely (Lines) or only implied/faded to black (Veils). Themes & Tone: We’ll discuss how dark or lighthearted we want the game to be. Player Goals: What kind of experiences do you want from this campaign? Character Ties & Party Dynamics: Making sure everyone’s characters fit together and have shared motivations. Rules Clarifications & Homebrew: Any table rulings or additional mechanics we’ll be using. During Play: X, N, & O Cards To make sure everyone is comfortable in the moment, we’ll use the X, N, & O system: X (Stop Immediately): If something makes you uncomfortable, say “X,” hold up an X with your hands, or message me privately if we’re playing online. No questions, no pressure—content will be removed or adjusted. N (Pause or Adjust): If something is making you uneasy but can continue with modifications, say “N.” We’ll shift the scene accordingly. O (All Good): If we check in, you can say “O” to confirm you’re comfortable continuing. For digital play, we’ll use chat messages, and I’ll check in periodically. Aftercare & Check-ins At the end of each session, we’ll do a quick debrief: Stars & Wishes: What did you enjoy (Stars)? What would you like to see more of (Wishes)? Safety Check-in: If anything came up that felt uncomfortable, we can talk privately or in the group. Cool-down Time: If needed, we can shift to lighthearted conversation or a different activity before wrapping up. If anything comes up between sessions, you can always message me. My priority is making sure everyone feels safe, respected, and excited to play.

Content warnings

Safety tools used

How will character creation work

When & Where We Create Characters Character creation will happen before Session 1. We’ll discuss character ideas during Session 0 and ensure everyone’s choices fit within the world and party dynamic. You’ll create your characters on D&D Beyond, where I’ll provide access to my unlocked books. The character sheets will be linked to our campaign for easy reference and integration with our Virtual Tabletop (Roll20). Character Level & Progression Starting Level: 1 Milestone Leveling: We will level up based on story progression rather than tracking experience points. Ability Scores You can choose one of the following methods for generating stats: Standard Array: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 Point Buy: 27 points, per the standard rules in the Player’s Handbook Rolls for ability scores: roll four six-sided dice (4d6), drop the lowest roll, and add the remaining three dice results, repeating this process six times to generate six ability scores, which you then assign You can build your character using the following official sources: ✅ Allowed Books: Player’s Handbook (PHB) Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (XGE) Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (TCE) Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons (for dragon-related options) ❌ Restricted or Modified Content: No Unearthed Arcana or third-party homebrew unless approved. Some optional features from TCE (e.g., custom lineage) may be adjusted to fit the campaign’s setting. Starting Equipment & Wealth You may take starting equipment from your class & background OR use the average gold option from the Player’s Handbook if you want to purchase your gear manually. Additional non-magical flavor items (such as a small trinket or keepsake) are allowed to enhance your backstory. Character Backstory & Ties to the Setting I encourage you to develop a brief backstory (a paragraph or two) explaining how your character ended up near Phandalin and why they’re answering the town’s call for adventurers. If you have any personal goals, secrets, or long-term character arcs, let me know! I love incorporating character-driven elements into the campaign. I’ll also work with you to create at least one connection to another party member, whether it’s a shared past, mutual acquaintance, or just a reason to trust each other at the start. Game Style & Expectations This will be a mix of roleplay, exploration, and combat. You don’t need to be a hardcore roleplayer, but engagement in the world is encouraged! Player-driven choices matter—actions will have consequences, and the world will react to your decisions. The game will have some tactical combat, so teamwork and creative strategies will go a long way. Rule of Cool vs. RAW: I generally follow the rules as written but will bend them when it makes the game more fun. If you have a creative or cinematic idea, I’ll work with you to make it happen! If you have any questions about character creation, feel free to message me before Session 0!

Combat / Tactics

High

Roleplay

High

Puzzles

Medium

Experience level

Beginner