Tales from Humblewood - Beginner & LGBTQIA+ Friendly

Creating your character

We will create 1st level characters at session 0 on roll20 using a fixed ability score array: 17, 15, 13, 12, 10, 8. It is recommended to bring 3 character ideas to help form a varied party. Players are welcome to use 2024 or 2014 rules, keeping in mind most of the published Humblewood setting is based on the 2014 version of 5e. I have a lot of Humblewood and animal folk content for character options that can be custom added to a roll20 sheet. I want to help you create the character you want to play and collaborate at the table with! If you prefer D&D Beyond, there is a free browser extension called Beyond20 that will send rolls to the roll20 game. Roll20 also has the new function of crafting a character sheet outside of games, which can be imported via the Characters tool.

Preparing for the session

Players will need a microphone for voice calls, a discord account, and a roll20 account. If using D&D Beyond, they will need the browser extension Beyond 20 https://beyond20.here-for-more.info/ Familiarity with the 5e D&D rules is welcome but not necessary. This is a beginner friendly campaign! Specifics about the Humblewood setting and character options available will be available on the dedicated discord server when you sign up.

What Crystal brings to the table

Play will be on roll20, providing views of maps, tokens, and handouts for puzzles. I have a lot of roll20 compendium content to share, including 2014 and 2024 rules, Xanathar's and Tasha's, the Humblewood setting, and Valda's Spire of Secrets. Voice calls will be over Discord, and I send images or text to share information in the call. I don't require cameras or video. I do often include music to help build atmosphere and mood. I love to improv and use silly voices. Collaborating with players and creating a space to showcase creativity, roleplay, and crafting a good story are some of my favorite things for games. I tend to lean more toward Rules as Intended than Rules as Written, especially if it allows players to do cool things! I tend to run more roleplay heavy games, and there's always room for a fun combat or three!

Homebrew rules

I use the following homebrew rules at my table: Fixed Ability Score Array for character creation: 17, 15, 13, 12, 10, 8 The Luck System - Every time a player character misses an attack or a saving throw, they gain one luck point. You can only hold up to five luck points. If you gain a sixth luck point, they roll 1d4 and that's how many luck points you have now. You can spend one luck point to get +1 to a D20 roll after they roll. You can spend three luck points to re-roll a d20 check. The Flee Action - Fleeing is a party action. On any player’s turn, any player can propose that all the characters flee the fight. If all players agree, they successfully retreat, carrying any fallen heroes away with them. The party suffers a campaign loss on the level of story rather than on the level of mechanics. Exhaustion per 2024 rules - Exhaustion is a cumulative condition with 6 levels. All d20 rolls (ability checks, saving throws, and attacks) are reduced by 2 times your exhaustion level, while movement is reduced by 5 times your exhaustion level. At 6 levels of exhaustion, your character will die. Surprise Rules per 2024 - Surprised players or creatures will have a disadvantage on their initiative roll at the start of combat. When using a potion for healing, you can either use your action to get full health available back, or use a bonus action to roll the healing potion dice to regain health.

How Crystal creates a safe table

I have my rules of conduct that will be reviewed over discord before play including topics and themes for the current game and what should be avoided for player safety. My roll20 games have the option for a safety deck, which includes stop, slow down, and keep going. Players are also welcome to say, "Pause for a minute" or use X in the chat to get the table's attention that something is becoming too much. Players can also leave the game at any time per the Open Door assurance. After the finale of the game I like to go around the table to highlight player's favorite moments from the session to ease back into the real world.