This game is full, but your adventure's just beginning!
This game filled up fast! But the good news? There are so many more games you can check out. Let's find your next adventure!
![Play-by-Post [PbP]: GOBLIN SUMMER! Cozy, whimsical, low combat!](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fspg-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com%2F5f53f1e1-e6d0-4629-813d-4785c0c05cbc&w=3840&q=75)
Image by John Bauer
Play-by-Post [PbP]: GOBLIN SUMMER! Cozy, whimsical, low combat!
The dark and whimsical with the wondrous and weird as we explore a lush forested world as it merges ever closer with the realms of Fairy!
About the adventure
For fans of Over the Garden Wall, Labyrinth, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and Spirited Away! Looking for a Play-by-Post game that is more about the roleplaying, social interactions, or even exploration? Or maybe you've found that, but long combat rounds brings it to a screeching halt? Worried about learning a new system? New players and D&D 5e players, fear not -- it's very similar, and I will guide you! With GOBLIN SUMMER using the Dolmenwood system, we'll be able to focus on the storytelling mechanics and avoid any "drudgery" that tends to slow down play-by-post games (quotation marks because I do enjoy the crunchy stuff, though I know it's not for everyone). Please note: while this will be a roleplaying-forward game, we can still include combat if the players all agree. It's a much faster system so it will be okay either way! We'll explore the wild places of Dolmenwood, travelling through bramble-choked dells, fungus-encrusted glades, and fetid marshes, bedding down among root and bracken amid the nocturnal babbling of strange beasts. You'll unearth treasure hoards in forgotten ruins, haunted fairy manors, dripping caverns, crystal grottos, unhallowed barrow mounds, and abandoned delvings. Your party will confront fell beasts, roving fungal monstrosities, terrible wyrms, tricksome fairies, and restless spirits of the long deceased.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Sandbox / Open World
$7.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Wednesday – 11:00 PM UTC
Aug 7 / Session 7
2–3 Hour Duration
5 / 5 Seats Filled
GAME MASTER
DM_Alex | Zoological Gardens
he/him
5.0
(27)
Schedule
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Report Adventure
Meet the Game Master
Less than a year on StartPlaying
130 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Teacher
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
DISCLAIMERS: 1) I use no A.I. to run or prep my games -- I believe in the real, human experience behind TTRPGs! 2) Enjoying the game is more important than money, always. Nothing makes me more sad than someone having to leave a game because they can't afford it. I'll always be flexible about that, no matter what! Now, more about my DMing style! *** I'm a children's librarian, writer, actor, and musician, but of all my ever-multiplying hobbies, I love running TTRPGs the most. I came to this site to run games for engaged groups who love telling stories, building worlds, and solving problems together.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Character creation is a unique process in Dolmenwood, but it's also very simple! We will discuss in the game channels on Discord, and you'll just complete a brief survey. For species, you can play be a proud, goat-headed breggle; a wide-eyed elf stepped straight from Fairy; a trick-some grimalkin cat-fairy; a worldly or hapless human; a fungus-riddled mossling; or a capricious, bat-faced woodgrue. For classes, you could be a charming bard, an ardent cleric; a willful enchanter; a dashing fighter; a jolly friar; a stealthy hunter; a haughty knight; an enigmatic magician; or a wily thief!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Just create a free account on Discord — that’s it! We'll also use Owlbear Rodeo for maps if needed, but ultimately I want folks to be able to play along with the fewest amount of other sites/apps and possible!
What DM_Alex | Zoological Gardens brings to the table
Weekly cost: Session 0 is free -- you will not be charged until we begin playing in character! The scheduled times are always only for your weekly charge only! Play will continue throughout the week. Please see my GM profile for more details on my super flexible refund policy. *** As game master, my goal is to get through the equivalent of one live play session per week, though it often ends up being more. That usually looks like AT LEAST three posts from me at least five days out of the week. I ask that players try to post at least twice per weekday (or five days out of the week). I track player turns to make sure no one is left behind. We usually are able to get through 2-4 scenes per week, equivalent to about 3 hours of live-action play! *** Communicating with your DM: Each of you will have a channel just visible for you and me if you have any questions, issues, or want to discuss anything you don’t want the rest of the party to know about yet. You can always dm me too but using you *** MY GM STYLE *** Improvisation & problem-solving 🌀 Unexpected player choices and contradictions are what these games are all about. I adapt to twists and story developments to make them meaningful and memorable. Player-focused experience 🎭 As a children's librarian and former high school English teacher, I have plenty of direct experience adapting to different play styles and skill levels, ensuring every player feels engaged. Story-driven GMing 📖 The story and your characters are my top priorities. The fun part for me is when things DON'T go how I expect! Balanced tone ⚖️ I blend humor with dramatic depth, ensuring levity where it fits while keeping serious moments impactful. I love a goofy game, but I'll follow the players' led! Exploration & social interactions 🌍 While I balance all aspects of D&D, I emphasize roleplay and discovery, creating immersive worlds for you to engage with. Swashbuckling combat 🗡️ I craft encounters to be cinematic, with high-energy, creative battles (yes, please do swing from the chandelier!). Inclusive 🌈 create a space where all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives are celebrated. My table is LGBTQIA+ friendly, neurodivergent-inclusive, and adaptable to different needs and playstyles. At my table, I value respect, collaboration, and storytelling that uplift diverse voices! Beginner-friendly 🐣 I love teaching and encourage collaborative learning—check my reviews for more details. Fair pricing & refunds 💸 If you ever feel you didn’t get your money’s worth, just let me know—I’ll issue a refund, no questions asked. I would rather make this free & fun than a monetized slog! (And please make generous use of the "Skip Session" feature!)
Homebrew rules
Discord channels: We will have an out-of-character (OOC) channel for general chatter and planning, and an in-character channel (IC) for narration and dialogue as your characters. *** Order of events: This is an asynchronous, play-by-post game, meaning we are working with players across different time zones. This sometimes means events will happen out of order, usually just a bit loosely (i.e. maybe different players are talking to different NPCs, or one player is shopping while another is investigating an alley).
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How DM_Alex | Zoological Gardens creates a safe table
Communication is always the best safety tool, but I like having a structured option for players to use! I know some people don’t like X cards, but they’re important because going in without a net can make or break the game for someone, especially online and especially text-based when tone is nearly impossible to convey. Even if nothing ever comes up, it’s good to have a system in place to help folks feel safe. Use these as often or as little as you’d like, but please know you can always send an “X”, “N”, or “O” to either me in a dm or to the game chat, whatever’s more comfortable for you. You do NOT have to explain why it’s bothering you; though you may need to specify what you’re X’ing or N’ing, you never have to elaborate on why: The X (“stop”) card means the scene has crossed a line for you and needs to stop; we will change the scene immediately. You can use these for anything, even topics you didn’t list ahead of time. Send an N (“near”) card as a warning if you feel we’re nearing content that could be close to a line for you that you’d thought we would be avoiding. It basically means you’re cool with what is happening, but would prefer to proceed with caution or just shift onto the next scene. The O (“okay”) card is a check-in card that just means you’re fine OOC with whatever’s going on, specifically in intense situations. It’s sort of a way to say “okay, this is pretty intense, but let’s keep going”.