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The Search for the Shard | Custom Campaign | D&D 5e

The Search for the Shard | Custom Campaign | D&D 5e

Shards shape the Great Divide. Anyone that finds one can change the course of history. Will you be the one to find it?

TYPE

Campaign

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

18+
About the adventure

Shards shape the Great Divide. Anyone that finds one can change the course of history. Will it be you? You have always known of the magic a shard holds, now one is rumoured to be in the area. Those with power want to find it for themselves. But what if you and your ragtag group were able to get there first? Maybe you could rewrite history and put the power back in the hands of the people. You drive this adventure. Search and explore the homebrew world and see if you can write your own story. ✅ Open to new & experienced players ✅ Player driven story ✅ Open world adventure ✅ Role play heavy ✅ Free Session 0 ✅ Lines & Veils safety tool My messages will always be open to anyone that has any questions or worries about any and all sessions. It is very important to me that everyone feels safe and heard at my table. D&D is an inclusive game, I welcome all LGBTQIA+ players to any of my sessions and will have zero tolerance to any bigotry towards players.

Game style

Rule of Cool (RoC)

Roleplay Heavy

Sandbox / Open World

3 NEEDED TO START
$15.00

/ Session

Details

Bi-weekly / Thursday – 6:30 PM UTC

2.5–3 Hour Duration

0 / 6 Seats Filled

GAME MASTER

DMBen

he/him

5.0

(8)

This game will begin once 3 players have joined

Each player will be charged when a session starts.

Meet the Game Master

5.0

(8)

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Teacher

About me

Hi, my name is Ben. I run Dungeons & Dragons 5E 2024 games. I have been a DM now for over 2 years. I am here to host games in my Homebrew world, The Great Divide. I want to expand and grow my world and I find the best way to do that is by telling stories within it. However my stories need heroes & adventurers, that is where you come in. Your story will be wrapped up in my world, you can become stories that are told for centuries or heroes that are celebrated every year for their bravery and courage. I love to create unique maps for my players, with every village, town, city and battle map created by me. Premade maps never fully incorporate everything I need, this allows me to create maps that fit perfectly into the story, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the world. I know that every character created is unique, I encourage players to embrace their backstory as it is my job to weave your story into the world. It can be as simple as revenge over a fatal family incident or a complex mystery you are trying to unravel. It is my honour to bring these stories to life. D&D at its core is all about having fun round a (virtual) table, with new or existing friends. That is what I try to bring to my table. Whether you're completely new or have years of experience, we all want to enjoy ourselves and escape into a new world. I hope I can deliver that to whomever sits at my table. I aim to include session 0 for all new players for free. If you are interested in any of my sessions, please contact me directly and we can set up a call to discuss characters, while outlining expectations for both the player & me. D&D is an inclusive game, I welcome all LGBTQIA+ players to any of my sessions and will have zero tolerance to any bigotary towards players at the table.

View Profile →
Reviews (8)

Proficiencies

Players say this GM is great at:

Creativity

Inclusive

Teacher

Sophie avatar

Sophie

I would highly recommend Ben as a DM. I've been fortunate to have him as DM for our current campaign. He creates a fun, engaging environment where everyone feels comfortable getting into character, asking questions, and contributing to the story. His sessions are well-organised, with a great mix of roleplaying, combat, and exploration. The worldbuilding is thoughtful without being overwhelming, and he does a great job adapting the story to the players' choices. He's also really good at keeping the game moving while giving everyone a chance to develop the storyline taking into account their backstory. Whether you’re new to D&D or have been playing for years, Ben makes the game enjoyable and easy to get into. He's creative, supportive, and clearly puts a lot of care into making sure everyone at the (virtual) table is having a good time. This is my first D&D campaign and he has made me feel very included and supported, giving me a chance to develop my character and improve my confidence throughout the campaign. Highly recommend as a DM.

Ben Goodair avatar

Ben Goodair

I played a 6 month campaign with Ben and was so amazed. It was my first time playing d&d and the efforts he went to, making sure everyone was comfortable were so impressive to me. I always felt so free to be whoever I wanted and that he would respond to whatever energy I wanted to give. He created a whole world with a narrative which I felt fully into, we had small skirmishes and huge battels. But he mixed these with sessions where we would spend time exploring our character's backstories. The detail he created to bring out our characters' lives into the narrative was so much fun and so impressive. I mentioned my character had an ex-wife and children who he wasn't in touch with and Ben fully bought into it, creating an entire event building up to this moment where I would save my child and rebuild a relationship. I can't recommend Ben enough, and will always be grateful for the space he created of friendship, kindness, and whatever silliness we bought that given day.

Lydia  avatar

Lydia

Ben was my DM for a Halloween one shot session and it was so fun and spooky! We were five players and our characters met at Bloodstone Manor for the annual monster hunt! Our group had mixed levels of experience from beginner to expert and Ben could adapt to all of us. Ben is a fun DM, very personable and chill so you feel comfortable with him really quickly and our session had a lot of laughs. His characters are all great and there’s plenty of stories to explore in his world of fantasy! Highly recommend :)

Simão "Pixel" avatar

Simão "Pixel"

I've had the pleasure of playing with this Dungeon Master for over a year, both in a long-running campaign and through several one-shots, and every experience has been fantastic. Right from the start, you'll find him incredibly friendly and genuinely supportive of his players. He's always considerate of any concerns or issues that come up, fostering a comfortable and welcoming environment at the table. What truly stands out is his ability to empower players. He's exceptional at letting you be creative and proactive, and he expertly reacts to your choices, making the world feel truly responsive and alive. His grounded world-building skills are evident in the established campaign we've been part of, which has been an absolute blast. Even in the one-shots, he crafted living, contained stories that were incredibly engaging. If you're looking for a DM who will support your creativity, build immersive worlds, and ensure a great time, you've found him!

David Lee avatar

David Lee

- Been playing in Ben's campaign for around 2 years and always enjoy the sessions, good variety of role play and combat elements which usually link well to the story. He allows us players a lot of freedom and gives time for in character conversations to build connections in game. - Ben puts time into having maps prepared for many locations and visuals for a number of npc's too. - Easy to talk to about the campaign and happy to take player suggestions. - Highly reccommend

Imogen avatar

Imogen

Ben is the kind of Dungeon Master that makes every session feel like a collaborative adventure rather than just a game. His ability to weave character backstories into the larger narrative ensures that every player feels like an integral part of the unfolding tale. He's ideal for both beginners as he knows the rules well and explains them clearly, but he’s never bound by them when the story or the moment calls for flexibility. One of the most memorable experiences from our campaign was the arrival of the Calamity Circus, hosted by the fabulous, purple-bearded drag dwarf Gertrude. Between carnival games, spontaneous role-playing, and the sheer joy of stuffing odd trinkets into inventories, it was a perfect example of how Ben fosters pure, playful immersion. This being said, he takes character arcs seriously and there have been moments of absolute cinematic drama. Also, no one is ever left behind. Ben makes sure that every character has their moment in the spotlight, pulling them into key story beats in ways that feel organic and meaningful. His world is populated with a diverse cast of NPCs, many of whom become recurring favorites. His custom maps and digital aids ensure that everyone always knows what’s happening, making the experience even richer. He also has sounds effects and atmospheric music playing which gets you more into the world. At the heart of it all, he genuinely cares that people are having a good time. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a total newcomer, Ben creates a space where you feel welcomed, engaged, and part of a comunity. A masterful storyteller, a thoughtful guide, and a DM who knows how to balance chaos with connection—Ben is the kind of DM you hope to find and the one you’re lucky to have.

Character creation
Creating your character

All characters should be created on DND Beyond, I will create a campaign on the site, this is where we will roll our dice, allowing everyone to see what each other have rolled. This creates a more immersive experience as we can all cheer or cry together. We will be using the rolling stats method (4d6 minus lowest roll), DND Beyond have this method available on their site but I will also walk any new players through the method where needed. All characters will begin at level 1, if you join the campaign before creating the character you will get access to full player's handbook 2024. I am happy to talk about any other species you would want to be if you have access to it.

What to expect
Preparing for the session

Webcams & microphones are needed, along with access to Roll20, Dnd Beyond & Discord. I currently do all my voice and video in Roll20 but can pivot to Discord if needed. A discord server will be created for the campaign as well. Characters will all be created in session 0, I will also walk through key rules beforehand and during gameplay.

What DMBen brings to the table

I do my best to create character voices, especially for the NPCs that may be regular throughout the campaign. I use music throughout the sessions to set the scene, using mainly the Roll20 library of music. I also have subscriptions to Dnd Beyond and Roll20 which does allow me to use dynamic lighting and the new foreground layer. I like to try new things during sessions where possible, while also happy to change things up if they are not working. I follow the rules for the most part but sometimes rules are meant to be broken. If a player wants to try something, I always find a way for them to have a go. I do not like to say no, if its cool, I want to see it.

Homebrew rules

Drinking potions are a bonus action. Also I have a homebrew version of counterspell, as I was not a fan of the 2024 version.

Equipment needed to play

Internet

Computer

Microphone

Webcam

Safety
How DMBen creates a safe table

During session 0 I will send a link to my line & veils document to all players. We will go through it together and make sure you are 100% comfortable before starting session 1. I run an 'X Card' system that allows you to type an X in chat, to me directly or hold one up on camera. This will allow me to either rewind, fast forward or completely skip the scene. I am always around after sessions if anyone has any concerns, even if it's a few days later. If anyone leaves, I will always support the decision a player makes and offer any help I can to make it an exit they are happy with. I will also cover a 'campaign wrap-up' session to allow the party to reminisce battles and heroic moments they shared together.

Content warnings
Character Death
Classism
Cults
Death
Hostages
Illness
Murder
Prejudice
Scars
Violence
Safety tools used

Additional tables

1 available

3 NEEDED TO START

Bi-weekly / Tuesday – 7:30 PM UTC

0 / 6 Seats Filled

Frequently asked questions

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