The Age Before Dragons - Bronze Age Campaign

Creating your character

Character creation starts at Session '0', where I can help players make their characters if required. We start at Level One with an extra Feat that does not inherently increase any attribute bonus. The point buy system is used for determining character stats, (28 points), being able to have stats as high as 17 and low as 7. You can replace the extra Feat to gain two extra points in allocating extra attributes points with the point buy system. This website below provides a pretty straightforward calculation of using the point system (though you will have to go into custom rules to adjust the cap on attribute scores). https://chicken-dinner.com/5e/5e-point-buy.html Hit Points are always assumed to be roll at maximum value. Character Sheets will be stored virtually online in Roll 20. Due to the setting, Feats (and spells) from the following source books are not allowed to be selected: Tal'Dorei Setting Strixhaven Sigil and the Outlands Tome of Foes Treasury of Dragons Dragonlance Glory of the Giants

Preparing for the session

You must have the following to attend and play: 🎙️ - Reliable Microphone 🎧 - Reliable Headset 💻 - Reliable PC/Laptop 🎲- Roll 20 & Discord Accounts (both free) 🌐 - Good Internet Connection 🎟️- Attendance of Session '0' It is recommended but not essential that you read the rules of Dungeons and Dragons' Player Handbook if this is your very first campaign.

What Joel Borseth brings to the table

🗺️ Custom Maps ⚔️ Custom Battle Maps 🖌️ Custom Tokens 🔈Custom Ambience 🗣️ Verbal Session Recaps ❔ Sandbox World 🎮 Discord Server 📚 4+ Years Experience as DM 📒 1+ Years Experience as Paid DM 🌟 Rule of Cool Allowed Rule of Cool Example: If a fireball was launched at a wall and the henchmen were standing just outside of the radius, but the door they were standing behind blew up, there’s a high chance they will be taking some minor damage from the splinters they took to the face.

Homebrew rules

The homebrew rules can be changed or removed at Session 0. There is a possibility of modifying these homebrew rules during the campaign if players wish. 'Quick Drink' Drinking a potion is a bonus action - while administering it to someone else is a standard action like normal. 'Han Short First'. During tense situations a single player (or a NPC) can make a single action before initiative starts. 'Battle Injuries' Whenever you drop to 0 HP you gain 1 point of exhaustion, counting as some sort of injury. These can be healed during the middle of combat using magic or a relevant potion. Some particularly lethal creatures may inflict grievous injuries (a Kraken, etc.). 'Bronze Age Literacy' To reflect the lack of literacy in a Bronze Age setting, a character requires at least a +1 to Intelligence to read and write in the 'Common' language by base. For each additional +1 modifier in Intelligence, a character can speak in another non-magical language, or learn to read and write in a language they can already speak in. 'Acrobatic Fall' A creature can roll an acrobatics check as a reaction to avoid fall damage if they are proficient in acrobatics. The DC begins at 12 per 5ft, which reduces 1d6 from the damage taken. For every 2 points past that another d6 is removed from the damage. If the damage taken is 0 then you do not fall prone when you land. A creature cannot make this check if they are unable to act. 'Simplified Spellcasting' To speed up combat, you can cast multiple spells with spell slots in a turn. So can enemy creatures. 'Setting Magic' Magic (and magical items) in this setting is far less common and far more feared, and for good reason. There is an extremely slim chance for very wild magic even for season spellcasters - and this chance greatly increases if a spellcaster does not have an Arcane Focus for magic. Additionally, long-range teleportation is far less reliable. Lastly, there will be custom spells that can be sought and found, either to be learned from master spellcasters or found as stone tablets (scrolls) across the world. 'Heroic Points' To give the feeling of being one of the first heroes of the first age of this custom setting, players can slowly accrue 'heroic points' - similar to inspiration - up to a maximum of 50 points. These points can be used to increase armour class, attack rolls, skill checks, saving throws or even damage rolls. Inspiration can also be earned (to a maximum of three per player). 'Taking 10/20' To reduce 'forever rolling', a character can take '10' for some long-term skill checks, or even a '20' of a skill check taking weeks or months (deciphering an old tome etc.). 'Resurrection Challenges' A tiny penalty occurs on the second resurrection for it to be successful and slowly increases per revivification. Very strong magic (9th level spell etc.) will be able to overcome this penalty. 'Naval Setting' Lastly, there will be extra rules to handle naval combat and travel.

How Joel Borseth creates a safe table

Session ‘0’ is mandatory to attend before the campaign starts to have a discussion as a group, to set the general ‘age rating’ of the adventure. Session 0 by default is one week before Session 1. I will arrange a discussion with players that are not able to make Session 0 or join mid-campaign. Additional safety tools players can also be discussed. To be clear, Session ‘0’ has no cost involved. Default 'Rating' of Campaign is 15+, nothing overly explicit, but some swearing, violence, death, adult themes are present but not described in detail.