Shards of Dominion

Creating your character

We’ll create characters together during Session 0 on Roll20.net. This will give everyone a chance to learn the tools, ask questions, and make sure the party is balanced before the adventure begins. Starting Level: All characters will begin at Level 2, giving you a little extra durability and flavor right from the start. Source Material: You may use any of the books available in my Roll20 compendium. Please stick to those options—outside sources won’t be used for this campaign. Ability Scores: Stats will be rolled at the table by rolling 4d6 and dropping the lowest die, six times, and assigning the results as you wish. Restrictions: No monster races and no evil-aligned characters will be allowed. The focus of this campaign is on a group of adventurers who can work together, even if they have different faiths, goals, or personalities. By the end of Session 0, you’ll have your character ready, tied into the world, and ready to step into the conflict of Shards of Dominion.

Preparing for the session

You will need a Roll20.net account (its free!) and join our discord server. Links will be sent once you join!

What Michael brings to the table

I aim to create an immersive and engaging environment for everyone at the table. You can expect ambient music and the occasional character voice to bring NPCs and locations to life. Battles will be intense and tactical, keeping you on your toes, while exploration and roleplay will give you the chance to shape the world through your characters’ choices. We’ll use the Rules as Written for consistency, with a touch of carefully curated homebrew to enhance the experience. Drawing from over 40 years of DMing across every edition of D&D, I’ve built a rich, homebrewed world layered with history, lore, and adventure opportunities. Most importantly, this game is about fun, friendship, and collaborative storytelling. We’ll create a safe and welcoming space where every player can contribute, and together we’ll weave amazing stories full of triumphs, struggles, and surprises. Join me in Shards of Dominion for epic adventures, unforgettable characters, and a world brought to life through decades of worldbuilding experience.

Homebrew rules

To keep things exciting and dynamic, here are the custom rules we’ll be using alongside the standard D&D 5e rules: Potions on the Go Drinking a potion is a bonus action, not a full action. Fumbled Attacks Rolling a natural 1 on an attack roll gives you disadvantage on your next attack of the same type (melee, ranged, spell) until the end of your next turn. Quick Recovery A short rest takes 30 minutes instead of 1 hour and you get all of your Hit Dice back on a Long Rest. Expanded Hit Dice Usage (to keep the fun going with less pauses) Regain Spell Slots: Spend a number of Hit Dice equal to a spell’s level to recover one spell slot of that level. Example: A 2nd-level spell slot costs 2 Hit Dice. Recover Class Features: Abilities that normally return on a Long Rest can recover uses by spending Hit Dice. Example: A paladin may spend 1 Hit Die to restore 5 points of Lay on Hands, or recover 1 use of Channel Divinity.

How Michael creates a safe table

Lines & Veils Document I’ll provide a simple Lines and Veils document (either as Roll20 handout) that we will create together in session 0. Lines are things we won’t include in the game at all. Veils are things that can exist, but only “off-screen” (faded out, not described in detail). Players can add to this list at any time, not just during Session 0. Session 0 Topics During Session 0, we’ll go over: Tone & Themes: Holy war, ruins, undead, rivalries, etc. Content Boundaries: What’s fun for everyone and what’s off-limits. Character Ties: How your adventurers know each other and why they’ll work together. Expectations: Cooperation, spotlight sharing, and how rules/homebrew will be handled. Table Safety Tools X Cards and Pause Button: Anyone can pause the game if something feels uncomfortable, no questions asked. They can be messaged or spoken if desired Open Door Policy: If someone needs a break, they can step away at any time. Aftercare & Check-Ins After big or intense sessions (lots of combat, heavy themes, or emotional roleplay), we’ll take a few minutes to check in. I’ll ask: “How’s everyone feeling?” or “What worked best for you tonight?” Players can also message or speak to me privately if something didn’t sit right or if they want adjustments. The goal is to create a fun, safe, and collaborative space where everyone feels comfortable. Epic adventures are even better when all players feel respected and supported!