2024 D&D: Rise of the Drow/ LV 5 start/Your Adventure Awaits
Rise of the Drow 5E is a mega-adventure and Underdark campaign setting, guiding characters from the surface world into the deep, deadly realms below.
$25.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Tuesday - 2:00 AM UTC
Dec 16 / Session 26
Session Duration / 3 hours
Campaign Length / 90–150 Sessions
4 / 6 Seats Filled
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Schedule
About the adventure
Are you and your fellow adventurers ready to confront one of the most formidable adversaries in the 50-year history of Dungeons and Dragons? The Drow—noble, elegant, and malevolent, embodying cruelty, intelligence, and lethal accuracy. Join DM Paul as he expertly guides your party through this Epic Grand Adventure. "Rise of the Drow" is a 2024 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons campaign designed for 4-6 heroes, guiding them from levels 3 to 20 and beyond. This grand adventure is suitable for both novice and experienced adventurers eager to engage in one of the most challenging campaigns ever devised. The narrative unfolds in the realm of Aventyr, specifically within the kingdom of Klavex and the shadowy recesses of the Underdark. In a distant city deep within the Underdark, known as the City of Spiders, a Drow matron forges a pact with soul-consuming entities that demand significant sacrifices in exchange for unimaginable power. The Drow's focus shifts toward the surface world. On the longest night of the year, the northern village of Rybalka is attacked by the Drow, who harbor sinister intentions. Will this newly formed group of adventurers, united by fate and a common sense of justice, succeed in thwarting the Drow's wicked schemes? Participants can anticipate: Foundry VTT Server: 💻✔️🎵,👁️ Discord: 🔊,🗣️ Combat/Tactics: ⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️➕ Exploration: 🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍 Roleplay: 🗣️🗣️🗣️ Intrigue: 🤫🤫🤫🤫 Puzzles: 🧩🧩 Experience Level: Open to both new and seasoned adventurers Safe and Respectful Play: 🧸🧸🧸🧸
Game style
Rules as Written (RaW)
Dungeon Crawl
Combat Heavy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
1 year on StartPlaying
229 games hosted
Highly rated for: Sets the Mood, Creativity, Knows the Rules
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 75%
About me
Greetings Adventurer! Welcome! My name is DM Paul, and I'm delighted you're considering my services for your professional Dungeon Master needs. I bring a passion for storytelling and a commitment to unforgettable gaming experiences. Why Choose DM Paul? With over four decades of experience, I offer a blend of expertise, professionalism, and immersive gameplay: • 40+ Years of Experience: A seasoned Game Master, running RPG tabletop games since age eleven. • Professional Commitment: Prepared, organized, polite, and always on time to respect your valuable gaming time. • Foundry VTT Master: Over 3000 hours of experience with Foundry VTT (v13+), crafting visually stunning and immersive digital play. Expect: • Rich Art, Music, and Token Art • Dynamic Screen Effects, Weather, and Combat Visuals • Balanced & Engaging Gameplay: • Combat: Strategic and Descriptive encounters. • Exploration: Diverse locations, challenging terrain, and dynamic weather hazards. • Mystery: Balanced, story-driven, character-specific plots. • Inclusive & Respectful Environment: A welcoming table for new and seasoned adventurers alike. Everyone is welcome at DM Paul’s table, fostering safe and respectful gameplay. • Player-Driven Narratives: I champion player-driven roleplaying, supported by adventure opportunities that allow your characters to truly shine and weave their own epic tales. • Custom Campaigns & Groups: Whether you have a specific vision or a pre-formed group, I'm ready to collaborate. My Journey to the DM's Chair My journey began at the tender age of eleven, when I received the Dungeons and Dragons Red Basic Box set, complete with the Keep on the Borderlands module, as a birthday gift. I poured over those pages, and soon, my childhood friends and I embarked on a summer-long quest. It was then I discovered my true calling: I find immense joy in crafting worlds and watching players' characters grow and evolve within the adventures I present. Since those early days, I've had the privilege of introducing hundreds of new players to the enchanting world of D&D. My expertise isn't limited to a single system; I've run over fifty different role-playing games, from Aliens to Traveler, Rifts to Gamma World, and D&D 1st Edition through to D&D 5th Edition. My Philosophy on Adventures At the heart of my approach is the belief that adventures are about the players – their stories, backgrounds, allies, and adversaries. My materials, whether published or custom-created, serve to guide, support, challenge, and ultimately reward you, the players. Let's Begin Your Epic Adventure! If you're seeking a skilled Professional Game Master for your Dungeons and Dragons game (Basic, Advanced, or 5th Edition), or another beloved RPG system, I invite you to look no further. Don't hesitate to reach out to discuss custom campaigns, form a new group, or explore one of my posted games. Warm regards, Dungeon Master Paul
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
DM Paul’s onboarding service: As part of DM Paul’s onboarding service and to demonstrate my commitment to the players who join my games, you will receive two complimentary onboarding meetings, each lasting between 30 to 45 minutes. These sessions are designed to ensure compatibility between the Player and the Dungeon Master in terms of play styles, while also establishing clear expectations. In essence, you will have a comprehensive understanding of what to anticipate before investing your gold coins. Below is a detailed outline of DM Paul’s onboarding process for your consideration. Meeting 1 • The Player and Dungeon Master will convene on Discord to discuss a series of 20 RPG-related questions and answers, setting expectations for the game. This serves as an introductory meeting to foster rapport and determine if we share similar gaming philosophies. • The Player and Dungeon Master will collaborate on character creation and background review, establishing a timeline for character submission for evaluation, uploading, and testing on my server. • I will provide a brief demonstration of my services using Foundry, showcasing combat mechanics and effects. Meeting 2 • Connect your character to my server. • Choose your color. • Select your dice. • Receive a custom introductory narrative for the adventure, tailored to your character's background. • Engage in a brief encounter that seamlessly integrates your character into the storyline as the game night commences. By offering this complimentary custom onboarding service prior to a paid game night, DM Paul aims to cultivate your ideas and concepts for your character, weaving them into the adventure. This approach also creates a unique and mysterious background for each player to roleplay, in contrast to group-generated backgrounds where everyone is privy to each other's secrets and histories.
Hear ye, hear ye, fellow travelers and wielders of destiny! Do the whispers of true adventure beckon you from the mundane? Are you tired of mere skirmishes and yearning for a saga that will echo through the ages? A dedicated fellowship of heroes, already forged through initial trials, stands ready to face a burgeoning darkness, and we're on the lookout for kindred spirits to bolster our ranks. Under the seasoned guidance of DM-Paul, we've just scratched the surface of a truly epic tale, a Grand Adventure unlike any other. Our journey has just led us into the ominous depths of Rise of the Drow Book 1/4: Chapter 2 - The Darkness Arrives. The very air thickens with a palpable dread, and the challenges ahead promise to test even the most stalwart of adventurers. Currently, our band of intrepid explorers stands at a formidable Level 5, perfectly poised for new companions to join our ranks. The story is still in its nascent phases, meaning your choices, your character, and your very presence will profoundly shape the unfolding narrative, taking it to the next, thrilling level. We're seeking more than just players; we're searching for enthusiastic, committed individuals eager to immerse themselves in a rich world, contribute to a living story, and share laughs (and perhaps a few screams!) with a supportive crew. This isn't just a game; it's a shared creation, a collaborative narrative built by friends. If the call of adventure resonates deep within you, if you hunger for collaborative storytelling and legendary moments, then reach out! DM-Paul will personally connect with all aspiring heroes to arrange a relaxed, free Discord meeting. This isn't just an interview; it's a "Meet and Greet" where we can chat, discuss character concepts, and ensure a seamless integration into our burgeoning legend. Don't just observe the coming darkness – help us fight it. Come hang out, roll some dice, and take this Grand Adventure to its true, glorious potential. Your legend awaits! Party Makeup: 1. Kael Level 5/ Drow / Monk 2. Roben Level 5/ Elf / Bard 3. Lyrissa Level 5/ Elf / Sorcerers 4. Bramble Level 5/ Aasimar / warlock 5. Your Spot Level 5 TBA 6. Your Spot Level 5 TBA Level 5 Character Generation Guidelines: Play will begin at level 5, Characters Selection chosen from the 2024 Core rule Set only, - Ability Stats: Point Buy or Standard Array - Choose either one 1+2 weapon or two 2+1 weapons. - Select two common Magic items. - You will receive 200 gold pieces to procure non-magical equipment and supplies. Table Notes: Combat: ⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️ Exploration: 🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍 Social interaction: Player Driven and supported by a deep storyline. I Enjoy running a balanced Game including Combat, Roleplaying and Exploration Classic Dungeon and Dragons fun. A Professional Commitment to my Players to be prepared, organized, polite and on time for each session.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
To participate in my game, you will require the following items: • A functional laptop or PC that is relatively new • A reliable internet connection • A working headset and microphone • A complimentary D&D Beyond account • A complimentary Discord account • A need to Play in a grand Adventure, your Adventure
What DM Paul brings to the table
What I provide as your Dungeon Master • Dedicated Game Master with over forty years of experience • Campaign and deep storyline play style • Self-hosted Foundry Virtual Tabletop: Free to players • All Adventurers are welcome, from beginners to advanced • Discord for audio story and text communication • Social interaction: safe and respectful atmosphere • Theatre of the mind with Digital Play support • Collaborative and intuitive storytelling • Relevant stories about your character’s past and future • Sight: Descriptive, Foundry VTT, and Discord • Sound: Descriptive, Foundry VTT, Discord, Ambient Music • Voices: Not a voice actor but I do enjoy doing voices and will • Exploration: Diverse locations, terrain, and weather hazards • Combat: Balanced ,Strategic and Descriptive, Foundry VTT • Mystery: Balanced, story driven, character-specific • Horror: Occasional, story driven, Halloween one-shot • Comedy: If the Module calls for it or it occurs naturally • Rules: Run as written unless pre-agreed house rules are in play • Written modules: As written with character story integration • D&D Beyond Master Tier Account • D&D Beyond Module and source book Collection I truly enjoy being the Dungeon Master and watching the stories my player characters create out of the adventures that are put before them. I have learned over my years that the best adventures are character driven and it is the players story and I as the Dungeon Master i am here to facilitate that experience and ensure the game run smoothly using a balance of the 3 pillars of RPG combat, exploration, and social interaction and be as entertaining as possible for all easy right. That being said at my table your characters actions have consequences both good and bad and that's part of the game and the excitement of it. I am a flexible Dungeon Master and will work with you on your ideas and concepts using bonus rolls and inspiration points . i will not fudge rolls to keep a character alive, but i will warn the character, party that the action they are taking may be deadly. Many stories have the heroes having to retreat and then come back stronger or with a better plan. As your Dungeon Master i will ensure to be organized and prepared and take pride in doing so for the Scheduled game session. I will be available on the server 30 minutes before start time for any pre-game Q/A.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Headphones
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How DM Paul creates a safe table
Safe Play Foundry VTT safety tool Module: safe, secure and easy to use. Reviewed in session 0 This will be an open door game, if you need to take a break, for any reason, please do so!! All I ask, is you use the built in Foundry VTT break tool. -Any use of "out of character" Racism, Sexism, or Discrimination or Personal Attacks of any kind will get you banned. -Players who do these things repeatedly "in character" are discouraged/warned/and subject to being (quickly) kicked or banned. -If you do not follow the “Fade to Black” rule you will be kicked or banned. **Fade to Black Rule** During the game, if there is ever an event, situation, or anything that as a player makes you feel uncomfortable Please use the “Fade to Black” button . I will not ask, I will not judge, I will take control and respect the players concern. Game will resume after mediation and resolution of players concerns.
Content warnings
Safety tools used
