Checkpoint Brooklyn

Creating your character

Character Creation will take place during Session Zero. This gives us time to build your Danger Squad together, introduce the setting, answer questions, and make sure every character fits into the squad and the tone of the campaign. Players will create post-human operatives—elite soldiers enhanced through cybernetics, genetic modification, or experimental tech. You'll choose a military role, your augmentation path, and your background prior to augmentation (e.g., ex-special forces, urban scout, medic, drone pilot, etc.). Characters will be part of a U.S. Federal Army special unit, assigned to hold and control a contested checkpoint in war-torn Brooklyn. Characters will be created using a system and toolkit provided during Session Zero (no need to bring anything unless you want to). We'll handle stats using a point-buy or standard array system, depending on group preference. You'll begin at Level 1, but you'll already be dangerous—bio-enhanced and combat-ready, thrown into the fire from Day One. Each character will be given an Army rank, which reflects your position within the unit and helps establish the chain of command. As a group, you’ll vote on two key leadership roles: Second Lieutenant (Squad Leader): Responsible for mission planning, tactical calls, and interfacing with command. Platoon Sergeant: The backbone of the team—handles morale, gear, and keeping the squad alive on the ground. These roles aren’t just titles—they’ll influence how NPCs respond to you, how certain missions unfold, and what tough choices your squad has to face. There will be no required reading, but if you’re curious about inspiration, we’re drawing tone and themes from Black Hawk Down, Ghost in the Shell, The Division, Children of Men, and Sicario. If you've played tactical RPGs, cyberpunk games, or enjoyed gritty war dramas, you’ll feel right at home. By the end of Session Zero, you'll have a squad, a mission, and a reason to fight—whether it's duty, revenge, survival, or something darker. Come ready to collaborate, build something unique, and drop into one of the most dangerous war zones in 2035 America. Let’s make your operator unforgettable.

Preparing for the session

Required Setup Join the Campaign Discord Server This is where we’ll communicate between sessions, share character sheets, discuss story developments, and handle scheduling. The invite link will be sent upon sign-up. Please join as soon as possible. Create a Free DnD Beyond Account We’ll be using DnD Beyond as our virtual tabletop (VTT) for maps, combat, and shared visuals. You only need the free account. Make sure your browser (Chrome or Firefox) is updated for best performance. Have a Mic and Stable Internet Voice chat will be handled through Discord. Please ensure you have a working microphone and a quiet space to play. Clear communication is critical in tactical, squad-based missions. Review the Session Zero Date and Be On Time Character creation and squad setup will happen together during Session Zero. This is a mission briefing, team-building session, and onboarding all in one. Missing it may delay your full integration into the squad. Optional (But Helpful) Bring a Concept or Archetype Idea You don’t need a full character sheet yet—but come with a basic idea: combat medic? burned-out sniper? ex-hacker turned scout? A rough concept helps us plug your character into the world quickly. Brush Up on Tactical or Squad-Based Storytelling If you’re new to military or post-apocalyptic sci-fi themes, you can watch or read from the tone pool: Black Hawk Down, Children of Men, The Division, Ghost in the Shell, or Sicario. Not required, but they’ll give you a strong sense of the atmosphere. No Need For: You do not need to purchase any books or content. All materials will be provided. You do not need to know the rules ahead of time. I’ll walk you through everything you need to play. If you have any questions, technical difficulties, or concerns about tone, themes, or accessibility—reach out via Discord or StartPlaying messaging. My goal is to make sure you’re fully equipped, immersed, and ready to drop into the chaos of 2035 New York with confidence. You don’t need to be a soldier. You just need to survive.

What Terrance brings to the table

What I Provide as Your GM As your GM, I deliver a gritty, cinematic, and immersive tactical experience. Checkpoint Brooklyn isn’t just about rolling dice—it’s about making hard choices under fire, commanding respect under pressure, and surviving the moral chaos of a dying world. You’ll walk away from every session with scars—sometimes physical, sometimes personal—but always earned. What You Can Expect: Tactical, Life-or-Death Combat Every bullet matters. Cover is crucial. Flanking works. Expect realistic, squad-based engagements that reward coordination, creativity, and quick thinking. Combat will be tense, lethal, and often asymmetrical. Immersive Storytelling with Roleplay Opportunities The world is morally gray and the stakes are personal. NPCs will remember your choices, and factions will react. You’ll get meaningful downtime scenes between missions—whether it’s confessions by a campfire, repairs after battle, or questioning your orders. Character Voices & Roleplay Flavor You’ll hear distinctive voices for major NPCs—commanders, insurgents, warlords, and civilians trying to survive. I balance gritty realism with cinematic energy, delivering a world that feels lived-in and dangerous. Homebrew + Realism + Rule of Cool I honor the spirit of the rules, not the letter. If something makes sense tactically, feels cinematic, and serves the story—it flies. But expect consequences. You can jump through a window under fire—but you better roll well or land on broken glass. What You’ll Get: A fully built custom campaign world set in 2035, with ongoing story arcs, evolving factions, and meaningful player agency. Access to all game materials, maps, custom rules, and session recaps. A collaborative table where every player matters. Leadership roles (Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant) carry narrative weight but don’t dominate the game. A consistent tone: military realism meets dystopian sci-fi. Think The Division meets Black Mirror.

Homebrew rules

1. Lethal Gunfire Headshots = Instant Death: If a player or NPC is hit in the head (critical hit + successful called shot), it’s an instant kill unless protected by heavy armor or cybernetic shielding. Unarmored Torso Hits = 2x Damage: Hits to the chest without armor are devastating. Players can be incapacitated in 1-2 hits. Suppression Fire: Automatic weapons can force enemies to go prone or seek cover. Suppressed enemies roll Disadvantage on actions outside cover until their next turn. 2. Injuries & Shock System Wound Table: When reduced to 0 HP, roll on the Wound Table (e.g., shattered limb, collapsed lung, arterial bleed). Some wounds are treatable. Others are permanent or fatal without surgery. Shock Checks: After taking critical damage, a player must pass a Constitution or Grit check (DC scales by damage). Failing causes shock—disorientation, panic, or unconsciousness. Painkillers & Stims: These can delay pain or boost performance, but risk addiction or worse side effects later. 3. Medical Mechanics Stabilizing a Downed Ally = Full Action + Skill Check (Medicine, Field Tactics, or Combat Medic Training). Bleeding Out: Instead of basic death saves, players lose 1 HP per round if bleeding. Tourniquets, seal foam, or a medic are needed fast. Adrenaline Surge: Once per combat, a dying player can choose to stand and act—taking one final turn before collapsing again (or dying outright). 4. Weapon Recoil & Handling Automatic Weapons Kick Hard: Sustained fire causes a penalty to hit unless braced or prone. Controlled bursts are more accurate than spray-and-pray. Weight & Draw Speed Matter: Larger weapons take longer to switch to. Players must use a free object interaction to draw a sidearm if their primary is dropped or empty. 5. Cover & Positioning Are Everything Cover Reduces Hit Chance: Half cover = -2 to attacker’s roll. Full cover = cannot be hit unless flanked. Blind Fire: Shooting around corners without line of sight imposes Disadvantage and cannot crit. Verticality Bonuses: High ground provides +2 to hit, and enemies below suffer -2 when shooting up unless using optics. 6. Communications & Noise Discipline Verbal Coordination Requires Comms: Teams must have functional radios or line-of-sight hand signals to coordinate efficiently. Noise = Risk: Firing unsuppressed weapons or yelling alerts nearby enemies. Stealth requires silence. 7. Morale & Fatigue Morale Breaks: NPCs may flee or surrender when wounded or overwhelmed. PCs must make Grit checks to keep fighting under extreme conditions (e.g., alone under fire, squadmate down). Fatigue Accrual: Extended engagements without rest impose stacking penalties to initiative, accuracy, and mental checks. These rules exist to enhance tension and immersion—not to punish. They reward players who use tactics, communicate, and think like a unit. Combat is fast, brutal, and unforgiving—just like real war. Survive the fight. Drag your teammate to cover. Make every bullet count.

How Terrance creates a safe table

Checkpoint Brooklyn is an intense, immersive, and often brutal roleplaying experience. This campaign deals directly with themes of war, trauma, body horror, authoritarianism, and moral ambiguity. It is built for players who can engage with heavy content and maintain emotional separation from their characters under pressure. This is not the campaign for players who are easily triggered or looking for a “safe space” in the traditional sense. Combat will be violent, situations will be high-stress, and characters may experience loss, betrayal, or brutal consequences. If you are not comfortable with that level of narrative intensity, this table may not be a good fit for you—and that’s okay. Lines, Veils, and Boundaries You will not dictate what takes place in the session. While we respect individual comfort, Checkpoint Brooklyn is not built to pause the story every time someone feels uncomfortable. You are stepping into the role of a post-human operator in a war zone. That includes violence, civilian casualties, emotional trauma, and impossible choices. What We Don’t Do We do not provide breaks on demand. The pacing of combat and narrative tension is deliberate. Short, scheduled breaks will be given during longer sessions, but we do not stop combat for emotional processing. We do not allow players to veto or derail scenes. This is a collaborative story, but once the action starts, it unfolds as it unfolds. We do not use open veto tools mid-game (X/N/O cards). If you have a concern or reaction, message me privately after the session and we’ll talk like adults. Know What You’re Signing Up For This game is for players who want a raw, unfiltered look at war in a collapsing society. It is designed to challenge you, stress you, and test your decisions under fire—not to coddle or comfort. If you’re looking for story-safe RP or a relaxed tone, this isn’t the game for you. If you're looking for a campaign that pulls no punches, asks hard questions, and lets you stare straight into the moral abyss while still having your squad’s back—Checkpoint Brooklyn is for you. Suit up. No one’s coming to save you.