Aurelius's Gauntlet: Learn to play D&D 5e (2024) one shot
Hollow Watch— A dark entrance opened after the earthquake. A missing scout. You’ve been tasked to uncover and stop what’s buried beneath.
$10.00
/ Session
Details
Once / Thursday – 2:00 AM UTC
Jul 3
Session Duration / 2–3 hours
1 / 4 Seats Filled
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Schedule
About the adventure
This beginner-friendly one-shot is perfect for brand new players who want to try Dungeons & Dragons in a fun, welcoming, and low-pressure setting. Whether you’ve only seen D&D on Stranger Things or have never rolled a die, this session will guide you through everything step by step. We’ll use D&D Beyond (for characters, spells, and rolls) and Owlbear Rodeo (for the map) as you explore a spooky dungeon designed to teach the basics while having fun. ⸻ 🧭 What to Expect: 🛠️ Build your character – I’ll walk you through making a character on D&D Beyond 🗺️ Explore a haunted ruin – The Hollow Watch is full of secrets, danger, and discovery 🎭 Practice roleplaying – Try out skills like Persuasion, Insight, and Deception ⚔️ Learn how combat works – We’ll cover initiative, actions, spells, and teamwork 🧠 Solve problems creatively – Use skills, clues, and collaboration to move forward 💬 Ask anything – I’ll explain everything along the way, and there’s no such thing as a silly question ⸻ 🧙♂️ About the Adventure: Aurelius’s Gauntlet is a mysterious ruin recently unearthed after a landslide. Cold air flows from its halls, and those who enter have not returned. You’ve been asked to investigate… and what you find will test your courage and cleverness. It’s a great way to learn what makes D&D special: teamwork, storytelling, problem-solving, and a good dose of fun. ⸻ 🤝 You Belong at the Table: Trying D&D for the first time can feel intimidating — I’ve been there too! My goal is to create a supportive, friendly space where you can learn by doing, take chances, and enjoy the magic of tabletop roleplaying. No prep. No pressure. No experience needed. Just bring your curiosity.
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
Less than a year on StartPlaying
1 game hosted
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
I started hosting games as a way to share something I love. D&D combines storytelling, problem solving and tactical combat while exploring with friends around the table. I especially enjoy teaching and running games for new players, and I know how intimidating that first session can feel. My goal is to help give you the confidence to jump into any game with a solid foundation.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Please bring some high-level ideas about what kind of character you'd like to play (a sneaky thief, a bruiser or a magic user). We will create characters together during the session using D&D beyond (at level 2). Having access to the 2024 D&D 5e player's handbook would be useful, but not required. I found the Critical Role's Handbooker Helper useful when getting started: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpoW2nJS3mL_CsydM2gb9kNtJsGzD-MKK
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Please have a computer with a mic. I like to use a webcam, but this is not a requirement. Please set up an account with D&D beyond. You can use the web app or mobile app (please install it and login for the session). The starting level will be two, but we'll go over character creation together. Bring some high-level ideas about what kind of character you'd like to play.
What Nick (Aurelius) brings to the table
As your GM, I’ll create a supportive, low-pressure environment where new players can learn how to play D&D at their own pace. I provide guidance through character creation, rules explanations in real time, and plenty of space to ask questions — no prior experience needed. You can expect: • A clear, story-driven adventure with a mix of roleplay, exploration and combat • A focus on teaching the core mechanics: how skill checks work, how to use your class features, how combat plays out, and how to approach challenges creatively • No pressure to perform — this is a great space to test out voices, ask questions, and learn by doing • The Rule of Cool is always welcome — I balance rules and creativity to keep the game fun and cinematic • I use basic maps and perhaps some other visuals but the focus is always on making the experience accessible and comfortable for everyone at the table Whether it’s your first time rolling a d20 or your tenth one-shot, I want you to leave feeling confident and excited to keep playing. My goal is to make your first session of D&D fun, memorable, and a great launching point for your next adventure.
Homebrew rules
• Drinking potions is a bonus action • Critical hits will be the sum of the die max value (e.g. 6 + 1d6 on a d6 roll)
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Nick (Aurelius) creates a safe table
We will do a quick session 0 to set up player expectations. I will cover the fact that some topics that may be uncomfortable for some players. I state that D&D is a game of adventuring. This means that difficult topics come up which may include topics like violence, death (and undeath/afterlife) and harsh language. This content may not be appropriate for some players. Player-to-player harassment (sexual or otherwise) is not tolerated. A player acting inappropriately may be removed from the session with or without warning.
Content warnings
Safety tools used