The World of Mana | D&D 5E Campaign | Beginners Welcome

Creating your character

We’ll create characters before the first session so everyone can jump right into the adventure. I’ll be available to walk new players through the process step by step, and experienced players are welcome to bring a ready-made character if they prefer. Starting Level: Level 1, 2, or 3. This will be decided by the players' group decision. Ability Scores: Standard Array or Point Buy (your choice). Allowed Sources: Official D&D 5E books and supplements are welcome. Homebrew and Unearthed Arcana may be considered on a case-by-case basis—just ask me first. Backstories: I love weaving your characters into the world of Mana! You don’t need a novel, but a few sentences about your character’s goals, fears, or connections help me tie them into the story. If you’re brand new to D&D, don’t worry — I’ll guide you through the process and even provide pre-generated characters if you’d like to dive right in.

Preparing for the session

Before we begin, please make sure you have the following ready: Discord Account – All voice chat and between-session communication will happen in Discord. I’ll send you an invite to the campaign server once you sign up. Owlbear Rodeo Account – This is the virtual tabletop (VTT) we’ll use for maps and tokens. Please create a free account at owlbear.rodeo . Microphone & Headphones – Clear audio makes for the best experience. A webcam is optional. Character Sheet – We’ll create your character together before the first session, or you can bring a sheet made in D&D Beyond, a PDF, or physical paper. I’ll provide guidance for new players. Rule Access – Access to the free D&D Basic Rules is enough to start, but you’re welcome to use other official books if you own them. That’s it! No complicated downloads or expensive software needed — just Discord, Owlbear Rodeo, and your imagination.

What Ian brings to the table

When you join this campaign, you’re stepping into the world of Mana, a setting I’ve been building for years through both my own writing and countless campaigns with other groups. This means you’ll be adventuring in a living, evolving world — one with 13 major and 8 minor cities, countless other locations to explore, and over 80 named NPCs with their own voices, personalities, and goals. The choices you make won’t just affect your party, but ripple out to shape Mana itself. Decisions from past players have already altered kingdoms, toppled rulers, and unleashed magic — and your story will leave its own mark on history. At my table, I focus on immersive roleplay and collaborative storytelling. Expect rich character voices, distinct personalities, and a world that reacts to you as if it were alive. I also use ambient music and soundscapes to help set the mood, whether you’re delving into an ancient ruin, haggling in a bustling market, or facing down a terrifying foe. Combat will be engaging and tactical without slowing to a crawl — I keep encounters dynamic, cinematic, and meaningful to the story. I embrace the Rule of Cool when it adds to the fun, but I also respect the rules to keep things fair and consistent. Most importantly, I want my players to feel like their characters truly matter. Whether you’re a brand new adventurer or a veteran, you’ll have space to shine, grow, and leave your mark on Mana’s unfolding legend.

Homebrew rules

These rules will be clarified further during Session 0. Doom Dice (DM inspiration, roll with disadvantage) No darkvision or cover DM rolls hidden death saves Bonus action healing potion Rest & Travel roleplay systems (If comfortable with them) Short and Long Rest: 10 mins and 8 hours Group initiative: Whoever triggers the encounter rolls a straight d20 vs DM roll, highest goes first I’m ready: whoever knows what they want to do can go first Minion rule in large battles Crunchy Criticals: Deals the maximum possible damage on criticals Bloodied Condition Critical Death: In a perilous situation, you can choose to have your character die and deal one last critical hit on the way out Spell components can be exchanged for gold at 2x the value Alcohol: drinking rules Nat 1 on con save, roll for where you wake up the next day on a d100 table

How Ian creates a safe table

Your fun and comfort at the table come first. D&D should be an exciting and immersive escape, but never at the cost of feeling unsafe or uncomfortable. To help with that, I use a few simple but effective tools: Session 0 & Safety Tools – Before we begin, we’ll go over expectations and table etiquette. X, N, & O Cards – At any point, players can use these safety tools to signal their comfort level. You can message me directly on Discord, use a quick gesture, or hold up an X card on video. No explanation is required in the moment — we’ll pause, adjust, and move forward. Open Communication – I always keep the door open for private messages during or after sessions. If something felt off, if you’d like a change, or if you just want to check in about how the game is going, I welcome that feedback. Aftercare – Some sessions can get intense, whether from roleplay or combat. I like to leave a few minutes at the end for players to decompress, share highlights, or ask questions, so we close every game on a positive note. The goal is to create a table where everyone feels welcome, respected, and excited to return week after week.