Masters of Umdaar | Driftrealms: Sailors of the Shifting Seas
Brave the shifting seas. Hunt lost relics. Defy tyrants in a world torn by cataclysm. Adventure awaits in the Driftlands.
$10.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Monday - 12:00 AM UTC
Feb 16 / Session 20
Session Duration / 3 hours
3 / 6 Seats Filled
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Schedule
Meet your party members
3/6
About the adventure
Long ago, a cataclysm shattered Umdaar. Whole continents broke into "driftrealms," landmasses that wander the planet on slow, unpredictable tides. Civilization clings to these broken lands, caught between the tyrannical rule of the Masters and the untamed chaos of the wildlands. You are Archaeonauts: rebels, raiders, and explorers; driven by freedom, glory, or survival. You search for lost relics of the Demiurge, the ancient power that once guided the world. These artifacts can heal a poisoned land, topple a Master’s throne, or unleash new horrors upon an already scarred world. Every voyage into the shifting seas is perilous. Storms rip driftrealms from their courses, mutated beasts prowl ancient ruins, and rival hunters stalk the same prizes. If you have the courage to seize the next horizon, you may yet remake Umdaar . . . or be lost to it. Welcome to Driftrealms. Adventure drifts with the tides. Will you seize it? We’ll meet each week for about three hours, a sweet spot that keeps the action moving at a lively pace. This rhythm allows each session to build momentum, hit a satisfying conclusion, or land on a thrilling cliffhanger; so there’s always a sense of payoff at the table and excitement for what comes next. Over time, this steady pace also helps the campaign breathe, giving room for both big cinematic moments and quieter character-driven scenes to shine.
Game style
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Sandbox / Open World
Theater of the Mind
Combat Lite
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(22)
2 years on StartPlaying
214 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Rule of Cool, Teacher
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
Rules-lite RPGs are my passion. Collaborating with players to create background and backstory is what I enjoy most. Creating a great character-driven narrative that we will tell for years is my goal. My preference is for RPG systems that support the story and also allow for players to have the option to succeed at a cost, driving the story to a climactic finish where all those checks must be paid. RPGs work best when it's like a jazz ensemble, where the whole group plays together most of the time but everyone gets a chance to step forward for their solo from time to time. I've been running a lot of "legacy campaigns" lately, where the characters can have a profound impact on the game world in a short campaign. Then start a new campaign set a few years or decades in the future in that changed world, with some of the players coming back, while some new players may also join, with characters that may or may not be related to the previous campaign. I'm available for a custom session or campaign. I ask that, if you book a custom game, that the table be at least four players, even if one of those seats ends up being empty. Custom campaigns are offered at $11/seat, including a session 0 and at least 6 additional sessions. One-shots are offered at $16.50/seat. I can put together a quality one-shot in a few days if it's a system on my list. If it's not on my list, it may be similar to something I already know, please, feel free to ask.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We’ll build characters together at the table using the standard Masters of Umdaar rules. You’ll roll or choose your bioform (mutant, cyborg, beastfolk, etc.), pick a class, and shape your high concept. Whether you want to be a techno-raider, a beast-warrior, or a mystic treasure-hunter, we’ll make it happen. No prep required—just bring your imagination, and we’ll create your Archaeonaut as part of Session Zero.
We currently have a party of four: an Electric Stingtail Mutawarrior a Quick Pirate Octopus a Human Dragonfly Mutabeast Bounty Hunter an Axe-wielding Minotaur We are currently in the city of Mastmere on Windspire Drift. Now is a great time to join our adventures!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
🎮 Join our Discord server – for voice and between-session chat. 🎲 Join our Roll20 game – we’ll use Roll20 for maps, dice, and sheets. 🎙️ Have a working mic – clear audio makes for smoother play. 📕 No rules knowledge required – I’ll teach as we play! 🧑🚀 No character prep needed – we’ll make your Archaeonauts together. The Fate Accelerated Edition and the Masters of Umdaar supplement are both available as “Pay What You Want” PDFs. You’re welcome to read them, but it’s not required.
What Ukulele Mike brings to the table
⚓ Dedicated Discord Server – for voice, text, and community. 🗺️ Roll20 Pro Virtual Tabletop – smooth play with integrated tools. 📜 Virtual Handouts – rules, tables, and quick references at your fingertips. 🌊 Custom Maps & Diagrams – to bring the Driftrealms to life. 🎨 Personalized Character Tokens – unique art for your Archaeonauts. 📖 Clear Rules Explanations – learn-as-you-play support, no homework needed. 🗣️ NPC Character Voices – immersive performances for major figures. 👴 40+ Years of GM Experience – seasoned storytelling across genres. 💻 35+ Years of Online GMing – proven digital table expertise. ⚔️ Love of the Source Material – a world built with care and enthusiasm. 🤝 Collaborative Spirit – I’ll help make the story truly yours.
Homebrew rules
⚓ Homebrew Rules The Driftrealms campaign runs on Masters of Umdaar with a few house rules to bring out the setting’s scope and pulp energy. These additions keep both the big picture (realm politics) and the moment-to-moment action (initiative) dynamic and fun. 🌍 The Driftrealm Powers Inspired by the Great Powers and Minor Countries rules from Romance in the Air*, the Driftrealms are more than shattered islands—they are living powers with agendas, rivalries, and secrets. Alongside character-level play, we’ll occasionally zoom out to see how realms scheme and collide. 🌊 Great Driftrealms & Minor Isles – Major realms act as powerful factions with strengths and flaws; smaller isles are minor players, easily swayed or conquered. 🪶 Realm Traits – Each realm has a High Concept, a Trouble, and a cultural Flavor that shape its dealings with outsiders. 🕵️ Realm Skills – Realms act using Parley (diplomacy), Intrigue (spies & plots), Craft (resources & relics), and Warbands (fleets & armies). ⚔️ Stress & Conflict – Realms can break politically (revolts, coups, instability) or militarily (lost fleets, invasions). These upheavals ripple into the PCs’ adventures. 🚢 PC Impact – Archaeonauts don’t just plunder ruins—they influence history. A single relic, alliance, or betrayal can tip the balance of the seas. 🎲 Initiative & Turn Order Combat and challenges in Driftrealms follow streamlined Fate rules with a pulp twist. ⏳ Narrative Order – When the fiction makes it obvious who acts first (an ambush, a desperate charge, a looming threat), we just follow the story. ⚖️ Contested Order – If timing matters, we compare Approaches (Quick, Sneaky, Clever, etc.) or call for opposed rolls to determine which side goes first. 🍿 Popcorn Initiative – Once the first character acts, they choose who goes next. This continues until everyone has taken a turn, and the last player to act chooses who starts the next round. 💥 Pulp Priority – If a cinematic moment demands it (leaping on a sea-beast before it strikes, diving for a relic as it sinks), we resolve order by table consensus to keep the action exciting. This keeps the pacing fast, the spotlight moving, and the action cinematic—just right for a Saturday-morning pulp adventure. 📕 Romance in the Air* heavily inspires the Driftrealm Powers rules, while initiative is tuned for high-energy, player-driven action in Masters of Umdaar. *Romance in the Air is available as a "Pay What You Want" PDF. You don't need to be familiar with that section of the rules but it's available if you're curious.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Ukulele Mike creates a safe table
🛡️ Safety Tools We’ll use a few light-touch safety tools to make sure the table is comfortable, fun, and collaborative. ⏸️ Breaks – Anyone can call for a break at any time, no questions asked. We’ll also take regular breaks during the session to stretch and recharge. 🚪 Open Door – You are always free to step away from the game for any reason. If you need to leave early or skip a session, that’s completely okay. 🗣️ Session 0 – Our first session will include time to discuss tone, boundaries, and expectations before diving into play. This ensures everyone has a voice in shaping the game. These simple tools keep the focus where it belongs: on pulp adventure, bold action, and having fun together.
Content warnings
Safety tools used