The Cat’s Mother | Level 1 Adventure | Learn To Play D&D 2024
You're hired to protect a ecologist, but the wild holds dangerous secrets. Strap on your snowshoes, the cold isn't the only thing that bites out here!
About the adventure
This game is an homage to the classic ‘villain/monster of the week’ style found in shows like Doctor Who, Supernatural, Scooby-Doo, and Power Rangers. A group of characters face villains, challenges, and wacky situations, with a light hand waving away of travel between locations from episode to episode. Each “episode” is a one-shot designed to take 1 session. This is perfect for players who want to enjoy D&D without the deep backstories and is ideal for a laid-back, yet immersive experience. Some D&D knowledge is helpful but not required and this is perfect for first time players. IN THIS EPISODE: "The Cat’s Mother" is a Level 1 / One-Shot Adventure for new and established players using the new 2024 new set. You’ve signed up for a simple job: escort a wildlife conservationist across the frozen fields to the north. The pay is good, the gear is warm, and the goal is simple: keep the expert safe while he checks on a rare tiger habitat. But as the cold sets in and dusk falls, something about the snowy wilderness begins to feel... off. What started as a simple patrol may turn into something much more dangerous. Join a group of fellow adventurers in a welcoming, beginner-friendly game full of exploration, high stakes encounters, teamwork, and a little wilderness survival. Your guide (that's me!) will walk you through everything: rules, dice, characters, and how to roleplay. Sesson 0 is FREE! This can look several different ways. It can be a short one-on-one video chat to set up your character. This can be a phone call to talk about expectations and etiquette. This can be a overview of the rules of the game and the table. OR some combination of all three. Let’s tell a great story together.
Meet the Game Master
1 year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Rule of Cool
About me
Hi! I’m Nelson. Project manager by day, stage magician by night, and in my free time, a dice-rolling Sorcerer Rabbit with a haunted past. I’ve been playing TTRPGs - mainly D&D 5e - on and off for years, but over the last two, I’ve jumped in with both feet, playing twice a week and loving every minute of it. I really found my footing here on StartPlaying, I have been welcomed by inclusive, fun, and deeply creative GMs and players. That experience has inspired me to give back by becoming the kind of GM I would’ve loved to have met at my first table. I run D&D 5e (both 2014 & 2024) for friends, family, and anyone looking for an adventure with heart, comedy, and edge of the seat thrills. My background in project management helps me guide groups through creative challenges and navigate conflict with clarity and care. And as a professional magician, I bring theatricality, wonder, and a touch of spectacle to every game I run.
View Profile →Reviews (7)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Inclusive
Rule of Cool
Whether you're an experienced player or a newcomer, Nelson creates an inviting atmosphere at the table. His creativity and deep understanding of the game foster a well-rounded, engaging, and fun experience for everyone involved. Did you know that Nelson even designs some of his own content? One of the coolest battles he created was a unique mashup of Mario Kart and D&D—totally his own design! As someone who was initially anxious about playing, I can confidently say that Nelson’s kindness and encouragement have made me feel completely at ease. His passion for the game is evident, but it's his openness and candor that truly make me look forward to every session. With his fun voices, dynamic characters, and impressive knowledge of both the game and its mechanics, Nelson is an exceptional Dungeon Master and an outstanding host.
If you want a DM who nails the balance of preparation and spontaneity, The Charming Trickster (Nelson) is the DM for you. His sessions are immersive with great visuals, fitting music, and sessions that flows seamlessly. He knows the rules inside and out—and isn’t afraid to bend them for the “rule of cool”—so combat is always well-balanced and engaging. What really stands out is how he welcomes your goofiest ideas and social chaos. His tables are zero-judgment, all about character freedom and fun. Plus, his homebrew twists keep things fresh and make your player characters feel like the hero you wanted them to be. He’s working on voice acting (bite-sized improvements every session), and his effort is genuinely endearing and are the signs of a truly dedicated DM. If you're looking for easygoing vibes, smart improvisation, and a guaranteed good time, Nelson’s table is where you want to be.
Nelson is a fantastic storyteller, who brings not just a wealth of RPG experience to the table, but a flexibility in how he runs a game that encourages innovative thinking and experimentation. He always makes sure players are ready to go ahead of time to ensure a fluid gaming experience. He's also very patient and knowledgeable when the inevitable issue pops up with someone (me) not having prepared or leveled-up an aspect of their character correctly beforehand. Nelson Lugo is a delight to share a tabletop experience with; guiding the story with a sure hand while allowing players the latitude to choose the direction and flavor of the experience for themselves. He's able to balance his games so that they accommodate a variety of gaming experience levels, keeping them fun and engaging for the very new and the very experienced alike.
Nelson has DM-ed both one-shots and ongoing DND campaigns for my character. He's deeply versed in the lore while being very responsive to our group's playstyle and experience levels. You can be as by-the-book or as off-the-cuff as you like. Thoughtfulness and care go into making Nelson's campaigns feel seamless and immersive. He employs maps and crafts backstories to enrich the world-building. He imbues the characters and scenes with voices and music so that you are instantly transported. He can pivot or work with you on wild solutions. I have always had a blast when Nelson has DM-ed for my group and am excited to recommend him so that others can also experience a magical dungeon campaign.
Character creation
Creating your character
- 2024 Rule Set :: Core Rules and Expanded Rules ONLY - NO Partnered Content - Level 1 Character - On top of the standard equipment you get – you can also have any common armor and/or a shield that you are proficient in - You can also have any common weapon you are proficient in (pistols and muskets are ok / modern weapons are not) :: one melee and one ranged / OR / two common magic items that would best fit your character - No flying races, Variants, or Custom Lineages - Custom backgrounds are allowed with an origin feat - you can use Standard Array or Point Buy if you’d like / BUT, you can also roll for your stats with me (your DM) present - You get one extra free language, but it must be of your Species/Race (i.e. if you are a Dwarf then you can speak Dwarvish, etc.) / if your race does not have a language then take one that makes the most sense - We will play with Milestone achievement so there is no need to track XP
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Please make sure you have: (1) an account on dndbeyond.com / a free account is available. I will send you my campaign link so that you can have access to all of my source books for character creation (2) an account on Discord / I would encourage both audio and video for the game because it makes it easier to interact with other players and me BUT video is not mandatory. I will send you my server channel when you sign up. (3) A basic understanding of the rules is encouraged but not essential. (4) Your favorite way to roll dice (physical, website, app) as the honor system will be in play. (5) A suitable microphone and/or headset for voice chat. (I will be on video, and you are more than welcome to join me, but doing so is not required.)
What Nelson | The Charming Trickster brings to the table
- As a GM, I generally follow the rules as written to keep the game consistent, but I’m always happy and willing to embrace creative ideas and the Rule of Cool when the moment calls for it. - We’ll use Discord for voice and video chat, so you’ll need an account there. - I have a wide range of character options on D&D Beyond and will share my content for our campaigns - this also requires a D&D Beyond account. - For combat, we’ll use Owlbear Rodeo, a streamlined virtual tabletop that doesn’t require you to create an account. - I play background ambient music to both set the scene and create the mood. - While I’m no professional voice actor, I enthusiastically bring NPCs to life with my own quirky attempts at voices! Which will all probably start to sound like a Brooklyn cab driver. - I will need an image of your character when your character is ready – HOWEVER, I love creating images for my games and would be happy to make one for you.
Homebrew rules
I have a few but we can go over those during gameplay.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Pen & Paper
Platforms used
Safety
How Nelson | The Charming Trickster creates a safe table
- As stated above, we will start with a Session 0 where we will go over my social behavior expectations and safety tools, GM style and rules clarifications, the 'fantasy world' where our game will take place, character creation, and a short backstory guide. - I use a combination of theater of the mind with some reference images and basic maps as needed using the VTT Owlbear Rodeo - After the sessions are done, decompression and general chatting will be available in the group discord chat - I love feedback as it helps me to know what to keep doing or what to avoid in the future, so keeping an open line of communication is important to me