Daggerheart: The Age of Umbra
In a cursed world smothered by shadow, you are the last hope—guardians of light battling horrors that twist with every soul lost to darkness.
About the adventure
Daggerheart: The Age of Umbra is a grim, epic fantasy campaign set in the desolate remnants of the Halcyon Domain—a world cursed and abandoned by its gods after the betrayal of the God-King Othedias. A century later, the land is steeped in corruption and shadow. Ruined fortresses, twisted monsters, and cursed landscapes are all that remain of a once-divine civilization. Yet, amid this darkness, small communities cling to hope and the faintest flickers of light. You will take on the role of heroic survivors who fight to defend your home, explore ancient ruins tainted by nightmare, and hunt horrors that evolve with every soul lost. You'll seek lost knowledge, unravel the divine secrets behind the world’s fall, and perhaps—if you endure—find a way to bring light back to a doomed realm. This campaign draws inspiration from Dark Souls, Kingdom Death: Monster, Berserk, and The Seventh Seal. Expect a haunting world full of tragedy and menace, with themes of survival, redemption, corruption, and the eternal struggle between darkness and light. I run a rule-of-cool, narrative-first game. My sessions balance exploration, deadly combat, and character-driven storytelling. You can expect immersive ambient music, character voices, and reactive worldbuilding. Whether you're new to Daggerheart or a seasoned TTRPG player, you're welcome at my table. Sessions run 3–4 hours. Let's bring light to the shadows—together.
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
1 year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Voices, Rule of Cool
About me
Hey there! I’m Gareth, and I’ve been rolling dice and building worlds for most of my life. My first brush with TTRPGs came through Dragon Dice by TSR—I didn’t know the rules, but the magic of it hooked me. That fascination turned into dungeon-crafting with Hero Quest, and eventually led to a lifelong love of storytelling and tabletop adventures. Over the years, I’ve played and explored a wide variety of games: Pathfinder 1e, D&D 3.5, Vampire, Werewolf, and more. I’ve been actively DMing since 2015 with the release of 5e, and I haven’t looked back. I see myself as both narrator and fellow player—we’re building the story together, not just playing through a script. I love improvising when the players go off the rails (which they always do), creating immersive environments with music and narration, and making sure everyone at the table is engaged—whether they love combat, RP, exploration, or just rolling shiny math rocks. I primarily run 5e, but I’m not bound to just one system. I pull from a wide range of 5e-compatible content, especially third-party publishers like Kobold Press. I also run Shadowdark, Vampire, Werewolf 5e, and dabble in Numenera, Blackbirds, Wrath & Glory, and Coyote & Crow. If it has cool mechanics and a great setting, I want to bring it to the table. Let’s roll some dice and tell a story worth remembering.
View Profile →Reviews (12)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Voices
Rule of Cool
Gareth is a fantastic GM for players of all experience. He's patient and helpful when explaining to new players how everything works but also great with experienced players! All of Gareth's campaigns are entertaining and fun to play through! He's fantastic at adapting to when things go drastically unexpected and keeps the flow moving. I'd recommend Gareth as a GM for any level of group or player because you're guaranteed to have a great adventure!
Character creation
Creating your character
Session 0 will be when characters are created using either pen and paper or Demiplane. Players will start at level 1
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Access to discord and a demiplane account are needed. Both should be free. Webcam and microphone are required. Reading the rules are not a requirement, but I am that you look up the basics of play, which i can also provide, and familiarize yourself with them before the first game session.
What Gareth brings to the table
As your GM, I provide a fun, immersive, and flexible experience where player choices shape the world and story. I fully embrace the Rule of Cool—if it sounds awesome or hilarious, we’ll find a way to make it happen. I’m not a rules lawyer; I focus on the story, the fun, and keeping things moving. Expect a mix of gritty fantasy, chaotic moments, and meaningful choices. You’ll get dynamic character voices, atmospheric music and sound effects, and a GM who’s skilled at improvising and rolling with player decisions—no railroad tracks here. Combat will be engaging and tactical when needed but always in service of the story, not crunch for crunch’s sake. Whether you're brand new or a veteran of the table, you'll find a game that welcomes your creativity, rewards bold choices, and always leaves room for chaos and fun.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Gareth creates a safe table
Player safety and comfort are important to me, and I aim to create a space where everyone feels respected and welcome. We’ll start with a Session 0 to go over the setting, game tone, basic rules, and character creation. This is also a chance to set expectations and ensure everyone’s on the same page about the style of play. While I don’t use formal safety tools like Lines and Veils or X/N/O cards, I maintain an open-door policy—players are always welcome to message me privately before, during, or after sessions if something makes them uncomfortable or if they have concerns. I take those conversations seriously and will always work with you to make sure the game stays fun and enjoyable for everyone at the table. My goal is to foster trust, encourage communication, and build a collaborative game where everyone feels like they belong.