"Hollow Knight: Blasted Sands"

Creating your character

We will create characters during our Session Zero as a group, but you are more than welcome to come up with a concept and ideas for them ahead of time! We'll be making characters and playing the game using the Savage Worlds Adventure 5e, so if you'd like to have a copy of the Savage Worlds character sheet for your own reference, please see the link below for the official one from Pinnacle, although you're welcome to find a different one if you'd prefer: https://peginc.com/product/savage-worlds-character-sheet-pdf-swade/ We'll also be using Fantasy Grounds VTT for our sessions, but you are not required to use it to play, it's mostly for keeping track of character stats and streamlining dice rolls. If you would like to use it, you only need the free/demo version to play (I'll provide you with info to sign on to our specific game). To pick the "race" that you're playing, please use the following wiki link as a reference: https://hollow-knight-fanon.fandom.com/wiki/Species_list You will be starting as the lower or "weaker" forms of any of the species listed, but with the option to metamorphise into a more advanced or powerful form at higher levels should you so desire (and so long as you fulfill certain character or story requirements that you'll discuss with me, the GM). We will be using a "classless" system: so, instead of choosing an archetype or class for your character you will simply distribute your statistics and build them as you see fit. This allows for a great deal of flexibility as you progress through the game! You'll also eventually have access to Special Abilities, Charms, and Tools that will change how your character moves and fights in the world!

Preparing for the session

We'll have all our game sessions on my Discord server, so you'll need to have that available for audio (and optional camera) communication. I'll provide a link to the Discord when you sign on to the adventure! And if you'd like to use the VTT you'll need the free/demo version of Fantasy Grounds, though that is optional. I'll provide the sign-on information for whoever is interested once we get the group going.

What Paul Willis brings to the table

You'll find a deep and abiding love for the universe of Hollow Knight and Silksong that comes through in my narration and world-building! There is a complex and poignant and tragic history behind the Blasted Lands written to fit the style and tone of the games that will be immediately noticeable. I'll provide an ongoing and updating custom 2D map of the Blasted Lands as you explore and uncover more areas, modeled after the maps from the video games! You'll find an expansive and huge world to explore, side quests and NPCs aplenty, and unique treasures tucked away for the wary and brave to pick up. Our game will be an even mix of exploration, story, and combat, and I promise to deliver the most dynamic and exciting experience for you that I can! I typically lean more toward the "Rule of Cool" instead of following the rules to the letter ... that being said, though, the Savage Worlds system is super fun and exciting and will give us plenty of fun and memorable moments! I don't do voices and accents professionally, but I enjoy embodying and roleplaying a wide variety of NPCs for my players to interact with! Finally, you'll find a welcoming and positive environment at my table, open to all, and a great little community of nerds to chat with on my Discord!

Homebrew rules

We'll be following the Savage Worlds Adventure ruleset, so if you'd like to familiarize yourself with that that's great! But if not, we'll be going over all the basics during our first couple sessions. Plus, a couple things will be different ... Everyone will start with the same number of points to distribute into their attributes and skills, and then everyone will receive more points as you level up and advance in the story. To begin with, no one will have access to magic spells, but there are several NPCs across the Blasted Sands who can teach special magic to those who are willing. Other relics or characters may also teach more advanced ways of traversing the world, so keep your eyes peeled! During Session Zero we will discuss your weapons and armor and other equipment: You will start out with very little, perhaps only one or two items, but will soon find more from merchants or tucked away in secret rooms.

How Paul Willis creates a safe table

I keep an open table and open Discord at all times, so players can feel welcome to come to me with any issues they might have. I want all my players to have fun and feel safe! Those are my top priorities. We'll go over a full safety checklist during our Session Zero, to make sure we are all on the same page with our boundaries. If anyone wants to discuss any safety issues with me in private, again my door is always open! We'll take a break at around the middle point of each session, and if anyone needs to step away for any other reason they can just let me and the other players know and I'm happy to put it on "pause".