Princes of the Apocalypse (2024 Rules)

Creating your character

We are using the new 2024 rules. Characters are made with Point Buy with all characters beginning at level one with starting equipment. This will change for players joining during later sessions to help them keep up with the challenge levels of the story. Once you have joined the Discord, there is a channel for Character Hooks, at least 1 or 2 will need to be picked to start with to better connect a character to the campaign and story. If you need help with character creation, get with me before the game and I can help walk you through it or make changes needed on your sheet. The sooner I see a new player request, the sooner I am able to schedule a Session 0 or help you through messages to get the character set up. The more time before the start of a session, the better. Even after the first session, if there is something to fix or correct on the character, we can do so. Please stick to the use of the 2024 Player's Guide, Forgotten Realms, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, Bigby's, Fizzban's, and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. I am largely flexible, if there is something you want, just ask as I do have most of the books. But keep a character thematic to the world of Forgotten Realms. Is there a Legacy Subclass you want to play that doesn't have an update? In the case of Legacy Subclasses, make sure to click the option for Legacy material on to access those. Keep spell and feat selections to the new 2024 rules otherwise. As more books such as Forge of the Artificer, ect come out, I aim to phase out the Legacy 2014 rules and Subclasses.

Preparing for the session

Players will need to have a mic and a place with minimal interruptions and distractions. Bring your spirit of adventure. A camera is optional. D&D Beyond will be used to store character sheets. If you want your own paper, or physical copy of a character sheet, go for it, keep it up to date with the site. If you want your own character art, feel free to go for it. AboveVTT - This is a Chrome/Firefox extension for the browser and allows for ease of using maps and battle mapping out areas when needed. I have found that some Apple devices such as Ipads do not allow the AboveVTT extension.

What Anna brings to the table

The prepared adventure and flexibility as every player/character will respond differently to circumstances. I have a wide variety of books and access to D&D Beyond. I will strongly lean towards RAW with some Rule of Cool, especially if I hear a good narrative description of what the character is doing and there's something not covered by rules. I'm getting better with character voices. I do drop down visual aids and art into the voice to text chat channel of the Discord. Combat can get pretty intense if a door is kicked in and an enemy gets away down a corridor to stir up the hornets nest. I do like to mix up the monsters in an area to make use of creatures from other sourcebooks. A creature variant. Especially as Princes of the Apocalypse is an older campaign and there's a lot of new material to pull from newer books to try and keep it fresh. There are also a handful of guides I'll be pulling from to better structure the campaign. I do like to mix in some homebrew, this can happen more so with Monsters and Magic Items

Homebrew rules

We are using the new 2024 rules, Legacy content is allowed for Subclasses and races/species that don't have current updates. The Discord will list any homebrews and these are often rules clarifications or FAQs.

How Anna creates a safe table

On the Discord, I have a list of Server Rules. The main focus is that D&D with a group of other players is cooperative and team-based. I try to be a good narrator and describe the action. I get that different players will have different levels of role-playing ability and experience. While I'm alright with allowing more combat, there are points where talking and exploring can also yield more story elements. They're often necessary to facilitate moving the adventure forward. I also mention character death as sometimes the dice just go completely south on players. A less-than-optimal choice was made. Some players want the combat to be difficult, don't soft-peddle it, at the same time, yes, I'm playing the antagonists, they want to win. I will do my best to keep to the module and what's there. If I alter things, its because what was written is clearly too difficult or not a proper challenge, or I'm trying to challenge the group that's a little op or I see I've got a party of mostly spellcasters and not enough heavy hitters. I can honestly think I've covered everything. If there is something I've missed, please speak up. D&D is a fantasy game which tends to have all the fantasy tropes light & dark; there will be high action and adventure, as well as combat, which will entail fantasy violence. Princes of the Apocalypse can lean towards being Dark. Stars & Wishes, if there's a side quest adventure you'd like to play, let me know, if there's magic items wanted, I can see where to drop them in as rewards to be found and earned. A specific monster you'd like a chance to encounter.