The Trail to Phandelver: A One (or two!) Shot for Beginners
Dungeons & Dragons 5e | One-Shot
About the adventure
The Trail to Phandelver: A One-Shot Adventure for Beginners ⚔️ Step onto the trail where danger stirs in the wilds and forgotten secrets lie hidden. In this beginner-friendly one-shot, you'll embark on a perilous journey to the frontier town of Phandalin — but your path will soon take an unexpected turn into the unknown. This story draws from *Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk*, covering everything up to the dramatic conclusion of Cragmaw Hideout — perfect for first-time adventurers seeking a rich, story-driven experience. --- Setting and Theme: 🧙♂️ Classic High Fantasy: A world of ancient ruins, mysterious factions, and untamed wilderness 🌲 Frontier Adventure: Remote trails, dark forests, and hidden dangers 📖 Heroic Narrative: Your choices matter — forge your legend with courage and wit --- What You'll Learn and Experience: 🛡️ How to create and run a beginner-level D&D character 🎲 Core D&D mechanics: dice rolling, actions, abilities, and spellcasting basics 🎭 Fundamentals of roleplay — speaking and thinking as your character 🧩 Collaborative storytelling and improvisation with fellow adventurers ⚔️ Turn-based tactical combat and how to work as a team 🧠 Creative problem-solving and exploration --- Tools We'll Use: 🗺️ Owlbear Rodeo (Virtual Tabletop): https://www.owlbear.rodeo/ 🎙️ Discord (Voice Chat): https://discord.com/ 📜 D&D Beyond (Character Sheets & Rules): https://www.dndbeyond.com/ You’ll get all the setup help you need — no prior experience with these tools required! --- Inclusivity and Table Culture: 🌈 This table is open and welcoming to all players. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ All backgrounds, identities, and experience levels are embraced. Whether you're new to tabletop RPGs, a longtime fantasy fan, or simply curious, you'll find a supportive and respectful space here. Good roleplay, good storytelling, and good company are what matter most. --- Timing and Continuation Option: ⏳ Session Length: 3–4 hours (with a break) 🗓️ If the adventure runs long, we can continue next Friday at the same time — no stress, no rush! --- Where Your Journey Could Lead: 🌟 If you enjoy the session, you’ll have the opportunity to join one of my weekly ongoing games, diving deeper into the world of Phandelver and beyond. A full heroic saga could be just beginning! --- Answer the Call — Reserve Your Seat Now! 🛤️ The road to Phandalin awaits. Who will you become along the way?
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.
5.0
(15)
3 years on StartPlaying
112 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Inclusive
Additional details
How to prepare
Please have accounts with the services mentioned above and access to the internet, a web browser (chrome works best), a web mic and web cam (optional but preffered). If you can, try to make your own character on D&D Beyond. It is fairly straighfoward, and I can help if you run into any problems if time allows.
What I provide
**What will you bring?** When you sit at my table, you’re stepping into a story-rich, beginner-friendly world crafted to welcome newcomers while still feeling immersive and exciting. I offer a balanced mix of roleplay, exploration, and tactical combat — with all the tools and support you need to feel confident from session zero. **🧰 Tools & Tech I Provide:** - 🗺️ **Owlbear Rodeo** for virtual maps and tokens: easy to use and visually immersive - 📜 **D&D Beyond** with content sharing unlocked — access to all core books, digital dice, and character builder - 🎙️ **Discord** for voice chat, group coordination, and optional text roleplay - 🎨 Custom maps and high-quality tokens for enhanced play - 🧙♂️ Pre-generated characters OR help building your own - 💡 Clear onboarding for all tools — no prior tech experience required! **🎭 My GM Style:** - 🪶 **Beginner-focused and welcoming** — I guide new players without overwhelming them - 📖 **Narrative-first storytelling** with rich worldbuilding and meaningful player choices - 🎭 **Character voices** and vivid description to bring NPCs and scenes to life (no pressure to voice act yourself!) - ⚔️ A mix of **tactical combat** and **theater of the mind**, depending on the moment - 🎶 **Ambient music and sound effects** available for extra immersion (optional!) - 🎲 A flexible balance of **Rules as Written** and **Rule of Cool** — we follow the core rules, but always prioritize fun and creativity - 💬 You’re always encouraged to ask questions, try bold ideas, and explore your character **🌈 Table Culture & Expectations:** - 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ **Inclusive and welcoming to all identities** — LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent-friendly - 🌟 Perfect for **brand new players** — zero experience required - 🔐 Safety tools and tone-setting used to ensure a comfortable experience for all - 🤝 Collaborative storytelling — your voice matters, and your choices shape the narrative - 🚫 No gatekeeping. No elitism. Just fun, respect, and a shared love of fantasy **🎓 You’ll Walk Away With:** - 🎲 A solid grasp of D&D mechanics, roleplay, and group play - 📚 A thrilling story arc — completed in one session or continued in a full campaign - ✉️ An invitation to join one of my weekly games, if you want to keep playing! - ⚔️ New confidence in your ability to be an adventurer — or a hero
Gameplay details
We will go over safety tools and player and DM expectations at the beginning of the session.
Content warnings
• Blood
• Death
• Hostages
• Kidnapping
• Violence
Safety tools used
• Stars and Wishes
How will character creation work
If you sign up early enough, I can help you with character creation, and setting up the tech. Otherwise, we can cover that in the session. Dont worry about getting it perfect!
Players can expect
Combat / Tactics
Medium
Roleplay
Medium
Puzzles
Low
Experience level
Beginner
Platforms used
• Owlbear Rodeo
• D&D Beyond
• Discord
$15.00
/ Session
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Details
Once / Tuesday - 1:00 AM UTC
Apr 29
3-4 Hour Duration
0 / 5 Seats Filled
Requirements
Experience required: Beginner
Age: 18+