StartPlaying logo
Grimwild: Gaelenvale. Build and Learn about The Town Together

Grimwild: Gaelenvale. Build and Learn about The Town Together

A once quiet Village swept into turmoil, both natural and man-made. Will you be able to lead them to prosperity once more?

TYPE

Campaign

SYSTEM

Grimwild

LEVELS

1–4

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

18+
About the adventure

Your Adventure Begins… A countryside valley, home to the sleepy town of Gaelen calls to you. A possible home, shrouded in political chaos, holds power that could reshape the world—but it’s guarded by ruthless bandits, cunning monsters, and a web of dark schemes. You and your allies are no ordinary fortune-seekers. You’re witnesses of truth, agents of change, and researchers of the unknown. The Grand Library awaits your return. Will you return with newfound experience… or let it destroy you? Tone & Style - Movie-Like Fantasy: Think fantasy anime meets action film—full of bold moves, heartfelt bonds, and jaw-dropping revelations. - Your Character, Your Rules: Craft a person with personal goals (seek glory? protect loved ones? master forbidden powers?) and clash with allies over what truly matters. - Collaborative Storytelling: Use “Story” to create dramatic moments—reveal a secret from your past, challenge a rival to a duel, or turn the tide with a desperate gamble. Why You’ll Love This System - No Rulebook Overload: Forget complicated math. Focus on creativity, not spreadsheets. - Magic Your Way: Describe spells that fit your character’s style—no rigid lists. Freeze a river to escape enemies, or summon spectral chains to bind a foe! - Choices Change the World: Save the town? Betray the elders for power? The story adapts to your actions. Campaign Highlights (No Spoilers!) This is your story. Expect: - Daring Missions: Infiltrate bandit hideouts, negotiate with ancient beasts, or outwit a shadowy mastermind. - Moral Dilemmas: Are those bandits truly evil… or victims of a darker force? Decide who to trust. - Character Growth: Resolve your hero’s personal struggles while fighting for the party’s survival. Bonds forged here will last beyond the final session. What Makes This Game Special ✅ Easy to Learn: New to RPGs? The rules get you roleplaying fast—no experience needed! ✅ Flexible & Fast-Paced: Describe your wildest ideas. I’ll handle the mechanics so you can focus on epic moments. ✅ Story Tokens: Want a scene with a mysterious spirit? A chance to confront your darkest fear? Spend a token and make it happen. ✅ No Homework: I adapt the adventure to your choices. Come ready to play, not memorize lore. Vibes Inspired By - Fantasy Anime: Mix of humor, danger, and emotional character moments. - Gritty Adventure Stories: Survive in a world where every choice has consequences. - Team-Driven Quests: Clever plans, unexpected alliances, and "did we just do that?!" wins. Comfort First: Tools to ensure everyone feels safe and heard. Free Rules Included: I’ll share everything you need—just bring your imagination! Ready to claim your legend? 🎲 Click "Join Campaign" to Begin Your Journey 🎲 (Questions? Ask me! Perfect for new players and 5e veterans craving something fresh.) P.S. This isn’t about memorizing rules—it’s about making memories. Come as you are.

2 NEEDED TO START
$15.00

/ Session

Details

Weekly / Saturday – 11:00 PM UTC

Campaign Length / 13–48 Sessions

1–3.5 Hour Duration

1 / 6 Seats Filled

GAME MASTER

MaxSoulGMz (Alt. Brian)

he/him

5.0

(22)

This game will begin once 3 players have joined

Each player will be charged when a session starts.

Meet the Game Master
LGBTQ+
Asian
Multi-lingual

1 year on StartPlaying

77 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Knows the Rules

Average response time: 5 hours

Response rate: 100%

About me

Hello, I'm MaxSoulGMz, aka Brian. I've been GMing for over five years, running everything from Blades in the Dark to Grimwild, with a focus on story-driven, character-first campaigns. More importantly, I can't wait to connect with you, build friendships, and learn from each other. My games prioritise creativity, player agency, and long-lasting bonds. Expect a collaborative, emotionally rich table where meaningful choices pave the story. I strive to be transparent so everyone’s expectations—including mine—are understood and respected. I'm always open to feedback, adaptive, and committed to growth, not just as a GM, but as someone who values strong, lasting connections both in and out of game. 🧭 Want a peek at how I run things? Check out my portfolio for scene examples, testimonials, tools I use, and system breakdowns: 👉 MaxSoulGMz’s Portfolio: https://www.notion.so/MaxSoulGMz-s-Portfolio-21d77900be6f80678797c6989726bde0?source=copy_link If you love deep character arcs, cooperative storytelling, and a drama-rich narrative pace, you’ll feel right at home.

View Profile →
Reviews (22)

Proficiencies

Players say this GM is great at:

Creativity

Teacher

Knows the Rules

Orlok avatar

Orlok

Played 22 sessions

Amazing job allowing the unexpected to happen! Tons of fun!

Darren avatar

Darren

Played 22 sessions

Great to help you understand the gaming system.

Jabril Collins avatar

Jabril Collins

Played 9 sessions

Great GM, fun atmosphere and great stories and worldbuilding. 100% recommend.

BristerXD avatar

BristerXD

Played 7 sessions

An absolute joy to play with. He’s well versed in the rules, flexible in their execution, and is very well organized. My first ever play by post gm and I couldn’t have asked for a better one. He’s a wonderful.

Doug the Aussie avatar

Doug the Aussie

Played 6 sessions

5/5 playing in his fallout game and let me tell you it is a blast!!!!!! So much fun and really puts in the effort. Most PbP gm post once or twice a day if your lucky but Max has matched the energy of the party and kept up with our wild posting.

Xillias avatar

Xillias

Played 2 sessions

From the start Max here was great. Open to discussing in all the detail needed as well as moving past that which you don't really care about. He is great at teaching the rules and puts forth the effort to deliver what he promises. Certainly recommend him!

Character creation
Creating your character

Feel free to bring a rough draft of what you want to play or your character can do and a simple (as in adaptable) backstory, in any format you prefer. The actual character creation process will be done during "Session 0" with everyone. Otherwise, it is only us, alongside anyone interested in a separate channel if "Session 0" has ended. Your character will start with default starting values, and the details will be explained during "Session 0." (Optionally, you may scour the Grimwild Rulebook/Character Keeper beforehand for it.) All official sources are allowed. Custom Content will be permitted for use on a case-by-case basis after I review it, with the clause that I can edit/rebalance it when required.

What to expect
Preparing for the session

You must have Discord, as we will be using voice channels there. It will mostly be voice-only for my end. Players are free to employ their cameras. Computers/Laptops are suggested over Mobile Phones, but the latter are still viable. When requested, a live voice session can be arranged to explain the Grimwild system or create/modify a new/existing character. I highly recommend reading the game rules due to the nature of the game system. Nonetheless, I will do my absolute best to be a guide and helper when a rule is forgotten or misunderstood, and the rest are always willing to lend a hand too!

What MaxSoulGMz (Alt. Brian) brings to the table

PDFs of the Grimwild V1.3 Core Rulebook and a Shared Character Keeper will be shared with all players. I also own the Exploration Deck Supplement, Gaelenvale, Nevermore so you can expect additional rules to be used to liven the game up and pose more challenges to you. I'm also an avid content creator, so everyone feels free to charge at me with your crazy ideas, no need to hold back your wild Story beats. Expect me to have an open mindset yet be argumentative when we discuss how to achieve what you want with the fiction in consideration. I'll post reference images such as item art, character portraits, sceneries, or maps into Discord if their presence will contribute to the game. I like to keep every NPC unique through their spins of distinctive traits, appearances, and/or habits. I hope you will like how the NPCs are presented. Hopefully, the same applies to every other interaction in my game. I have confidence in creating a story we can enjoy together, as such, I expect you all to come in with the same mindset and be active in not just rollplay but also roleplay. Seeing we are all here to have fun, rules can and will be modified to suit the table's needs.

Equipment needed to play

Microphone

Internet

Platforms used
Safety
How MaxSoulGMz (Alt. Brian) creates a safe table

"Session 0" lasts for a week and will be held (possibly Live) to break the ice between us, lay down the rules of the table, set up and confirm player expectations, give a brief world introduction, and create characters together. Character Template(s) custom-tailored to you will be available to choose from and modify two days after a request. A living Lines and Veil document will also be sent during this session. It can be edited anytime throughout the game, and I will check it weekly before the game, and everyone else is urged to do the same. During the game, if something you are uncomfortable with arises, please immediately discuss it with the group and express your needs or wants for how the play should continue. You are not required but encouraged to inform the group if you are stepping away for more than 3 minutes. However, sharing the reason(s) for your discomfort is optional and will not be judged. Your opinions of the game, whether an issue or a good part, will be asked for between sessions. However, you are encouraged to comment on your initiative about the game. I can better draft the following sessions' contents only when I'm informed.

Content warnings
Alcohol Use
Animal Death
Blood
Cults
Death
Devils / Demons / Fiends
Extreme Violence
Fire
Freezing
Illness
Hostages
Insects
Language/Cursing
Kidnapping
Murder
Paralyzation
Scars
Seizures
Snakes
Spiders
Terrorism
Violence
Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions