Eberron: The Crownless Sea [New Player/LGBTQ+ Friendly]

Creating your character

I'd like most of the character creation to be done outside of session 0. You can DM me with ideas and character sheets, but I understand that there needs to be a framework, so here are my guidelines: 1. You can use any class. If it's homebrew, I need to look over it before I say yes. 2. You can use any heritage or background appropriate for Eberron. So, unfortunately, that means no MTG setting options. However, if you want to make any modifications that fall outside of the rules to make your character feel more fun, we can talk about that. 3. Everyone can start with one rare magic item and one uncommon one, or one rare and two common. Again, I need to review them before it's a yes. As for actual character creation: 1. Ask yourself these questions, and please answer them when you write your backstory: How was your character affected by the Last War? Is your character from the Principalities? If yes, where? If not, why are they here? How did the news of Ryger's death impact you, if at all? 2. Include the people who raised you, your character's ideology, and the circumstances that brought them where they are now. 3. Include all of the characters' ages in your backstory. 4. Are there any secret motivations or goals you want your character to have? What do they want that they don't talk about? During session 0, we'll cover how your characters would know each other and how to integrate them into the plot.

Preparing for the session

I like using Foundry VTT, Discord, and, more recently, Google Meet, but we will get all of that set up during session 0 to make sure everyone understands how everything works. I'm flexible when it comes to where you keep your character sheet. I like when people use DnDBeyond, but I'm also totally okay with people using other methods of character creation, such as paper or third-party apps. The important part is that I can easily access your character sheet. If all else fails, Foundry VTT offers character sheets.

What Elazar brings to the table

With Foundry VTT, I'll be able to provide immersive combat experiences with dynamic lighting and some instances of proximity-based audio special effects. I'll also bring music to the table, of course, and I'll do my best to have unique or fun voices for the NPCs. As for actual play, I have pretty substantial rules knowledge, but that doesn't stop me from letting my players veer outside of them. I mean, I have a fair amount of homebrew myself, who am I to stop you from having more fun? On that note, though, I do try to make my combats a little tougher, but not impossibly tough, so try to understand your character sheet as much as possible.

Homebrew rules

I have several rules outlining character creation, leveling up, and combat, all of which I consider beneficial: 1. Standard array of ability scores based on the average of player stat rolls. 2. Bonus feat at the beginning of play. 3. Maximum hit points. 4. Bonus action potion, but action for full healing. 5. Can cast two leveled spells in a turn as long as their combined level does not exceed your highest level spell slot, and one is an action and the other is a bonus action. 6. Dying condition (as described by XP to Level 3), combined with exhaustion now being 10 levels, and instead, each level of exhaustion gives a -1 to d20 rolls. 7. Maximum damage critical hits + rolled dice. 8. Pooled inspiration: everyone can use inspiration from a collective pool. 9. Gridless combat. I believe this allows for more freedom and creative play. I'll go more in-depth with these as I run session 0, but these are the most important ones.

How Elazar creates a safe table

During session 0, I will cover all of the safety precautions. First and foremost, we will have icebreakers! I like to get to know everyone, and I'm sure everyone wants to get along too. As a disclaimer, I will not tolerate anti-LGBTQ+, anti-POC, or any other bigoted commentary in or out of game. In-game prejudice, such as characters who come from traditionally opposed backgrounds, or a situation where a character has prejudice toward NPCs, must be discussed beforehand and agreed upon by EVERYONE at the table, including me. If you can't manage that, then this table is not right for you. However, WARNING: the plot I have written includes examples of prejudice written within the Eberron setting, and are vital to the plot. These include changelings, lizardfolk and dragonborn, and cultural xenophobia. An anonymous consent checklist will also be distributed to everyone to make it clear what will be okay in this game. During actual play, we will also have breaks whenever anyone is overwhelmed. And by default, there will be a break in the middle of every session over 3 hours.