The Dead Roads | Beginner Friendly West Marches Campaign
Small towns, dark legends, and endless backroads. The Hunters travel the Dead Roads, where every mile marker hides a new horror.
$25.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Monday - 12:00 AM UTC
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
1 / 7 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
The Dead Roads is a West Marches campaign setting (meaning multiple game days/sessions all play in the same world.) So the events of one session might effect another session or vice versa. A connected story plot that allows the players to feel apart of an ever expansive world. There will be some light comedy sprinkled through out the setting, so just to not have players get bogged down in the "Grim Dark" of it all, so expect some Cabin in the Woods and Army of Darkness mixed in with In the Mouth of Madness and some Silent Hill just to balance it all out :) Some Call of Cthulhu mechanics and systems will be used in the setting ALONG with the lore and background itself, so you'll still be getting your fix of Lovecraftian horror within the rules. This game is for players who enjoy solving mysteries, uncovering the horrors that have remained hidden from mundane folks, and facing down unimaginable monsters with nerves of steel. Expect tense investigations, desperate fights, and choices that test who you are when the only road ahead leads deeper into the dark. As for the setting description itself... This is a game of small-town gothic horror and rural mystery intertwined with the the Call of Cthulhu mythos. Each session is a new stop along the backroads: a rusted bridge where something screams in the water, a cornfield hiding shadows with too many teeth, a church that won’t let go of its congregation. The hunters arrive, investigate, and stand between the dark and the people who can’t see it... Or won’t believe it. If you enjoy a good ghost story or have been seeking some in-depth roleplay while getting comfy in a long term campaign, this is the game for you!
Game style
West Marches
Theater of the Mind
Sandbox / Open World
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Roleplay Heavy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(11)
2 years on StartPlaying
128 games hosted
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, Knows the Rules
About me
I've been GM'ing for 3 decades now, so I think it's safe to say I have a love for telling good stories. I also have a gift for improvisation when it comes to running a game, so when players throw me a curve ball or drive the train off the tracks, my thought is "Well... Let's see where this goes!" I'm always one for giving the players as much autonomy as possible (so long as it doesn't interfere with another players enjoyment.) I usually emphasise "role" playing over "roll" playing, but never shy away from some combat, I tend to go 60/40 in favor of role playing over combat. I also love using music and ambient sound to enhance the setting's mood (but never enough to overpower the conversation to the point where players have to shout "I can't hear what the NPC said!") I'm horrible at filling these things out, so if you have more questions, please feel free to ask! :)
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
As for when Character Creation happens, I can either meet before game to help you design one, or if you join with really short notice, I can have a pre-made set for you to jump right in and play for your first session, and later on you can make your character if you like what you experienced! There will be some house rules included on the Discord that will allow for the game to be catered to long term play, as well as balancing out some issues to make the game feel more scary.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Just have a microphone that works loud and clear, and if you have a noisy background, please use Push to Talk just for the sake of others being able to communicate clearly... Almost everything else is referenced in the Foundry Compendiums.
What Nomad brings to the table
Besides the Discord and Foundry server we'll be playing on... - Plenty of NPC voices - A large library of music and sound effects (but not too overbearing to disrupt conversation or the flow of RP) - And a chill and social atmosphere :)
Homebrew rules
There will be a few (which are listed on the Discord) but they all aim towards making the game more creepy, gritty, and able to be ran for the long term play.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Nomad creates a safe table
I have an open door policy where if anything is bothering you about the game, feel free to come talk to me in private or send me a message and we can work things out. I tend to be very chill and flexible if I can accommodate my players with anything they need to make their gaming experience enjoyable as well as a welcomed addition to the game.
Content warnings
Safety tools used