Humble Beginnings: Lost Mines of Phandelver (Free Session 0)
Journey to the town of Phandalin, where the path to the fabled Wave Echo Cave hides lost riches, and a dark plot that endangers far more than gold.
$15.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Sunday - 11:30 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
Campaign Length / 7+ Sessions
0 / 5 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
Travel from the renown city of Neverwinder to the frontier town of Phandalin, a place where opportunity and danger walk hand in hand, of wilderness filled with treacherous wilds, forgotten ruins, and muted whispers of a mythical grotto known as Wave Echo Cave, said to hold not only legendary treasure and riches, but a power so great that others will stop at nothing to claim it. You and your companions, a group of mercenaries for hire, have been contacted by a warmed faced Dwarf with the objective of finding this cave and unlocking its potential secrets, but trouble lurks in the shadows of this mission, and maybe a plot bigger than anyone could have expected lies there, waiting for the perfect opportunity. This slightly modified core adventure is perfect for new players who want to step into the world of D&D for the first time, as well as veteran adventurers looking for a twist or two in a classic tale of exploration and heroism. Don’t worry, we’ll have a gradual introduction to the gameplay mechanics, a Session Zero for character creation and character dynamics within the group, a rule explanation for new players and a very supportive space for you to learn and ask questions. As well as plenty of opportunities for everyone to take on the role of heroes banding together to protect a growing town, explore dangerous dungeons, and face challenges that call for creativity, teamwork, and bold choices. Experience a modified adventure with a well paced story and balanced exploration, combat, and roleplay. Investigate mysterious plots, test your wits against dangerous foes, and decide who you want to be. Whether you’re new to adventuring, or a veteran, and whether you’re excited to swing a sword, cast powerful spells, or talk your way out of trouble, there’s always space at my table for your style of play, as long as it's respectful to everyone playing with you. If you’re looking for an accessible, story-driven introduction to D&D, with a lot of room for laughter, suspense, memorable moments and comfy vibes, this is the adventure for you. So sign up now and let’s begin. All you need is your imagination; the rest, we’ll discover together.
Game style
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Combat Heavy
Roleplay Heavy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(14)
1 year on StartPlaying
13 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Knows the Rules, Sets the Mood
About me
Well met, fellow travelers. I’m Sam. Though I’m also known as Valkaza or simply Valk, in many realms. With over 7 and a half years of experience as a Game Master, I love to craft immersive tabletop adventures that blend rich worldbuilding, compelling narratives, and meaningful character arcs. My passion for mythology, legends, funny shenanigans and storytelling shines through in every session, guiding players on journeys where their choices truly matter. I welcome heroes of all skill levels, from first-time adventurers to seasoned veterans, and I strive to create a safe, inclusive, and collaborative table where everyone can embrace their imagination and, specially, have fun. While I’m not a professional voice actor, or anything of the sort, you’ll still catch me diving into character voices, sometimes epic, sometimes ridiculous; because nothing should stand in the way of a great story. Your story is waiting. So what are we waiting for? Let’s roll some dice, laugh out loud and journey together.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We’ll begin with a Session 0 dedicated to building your characters together. I’ll walk you through the process step by step, introducing character creation using the Player’s Handbook 2024. All official Wizards of the Coast classes and subclasses are welcome, and I’m also open to reviewing homebrew options if you’d like to bring something unique to the table. During Session 0, we’ll take the time to discuss your ideas, answer questions, and go through each part of character creation as a group until everyone feels confident and ready. Characters will start at Level 1, and your character sheets will be created and hosted in Foundry VTT (via Forge VTT). Don’t worry if you’re new to the platform, I’ll guide you through setting up your character sheet and show you how to use the tools available during play.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
All you’ll need to get started is a free discord.com account for voice chat and a microphone with speakers or a headset so we can hear each other clearly. While Discord does allow video, it’s completely optional. You’ll also need a free account on forge-vtt.com, which is the virtual tabletop we’ll use to roll dice, explore maps, and keep track of character sheets. Most importantly, come ready to have fun, work as a team, and dive into the story we’ll be creating together. A little knowledge of D&D can be helpful, but it’s absolutely not required. I’ll walk you through everything step by step and make sure everyone feels comfortable, whether this is your first game or your fiftieth.
What Valkaza (Sam) brings to the table
You can count on my consistency, I guarantee to run sessions every week and bring a well-written adventure that weaves your character’s backstory into the adventure. As your DM, I aim to be imaginative, approachable and silly, and to encourage you to let your creativity shine, as long as it keeps the game fair and it supports your fellow players. To make the world come alive, I provide quality maps with immersive lightning, detailed tokens for players and monsters, ambient music, and even some animations. You can expect laughter, comfy vibes, safety tools and silly/goofy voices (I’m most definitely not a voice actor, but I’ll certainly try!). I believe this adventure is a fantastic introduction to D&D for new players, and I make sure beginners feel supported by myself and experienced players at the table. Most importantly, my goal is to create a fun, safe, collaborative and welcoming space where everyone can relax, have fun and build a story together. Oh, and one last thing… there will definitely be dungeons and probably dragons.
Homebrew rules
Well, first of all, drinking potions is a bonus action but administering a potion to others is an action. You can also spend a full action to drink a potion, guaranteeing max healing from it. We will be using 2014 Stealth Rules, and the 2014 Stun condition rules. Death saving throws will be whispered to DM. Both for players and enemies, flaking will give advantage on attacks.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Valkaza (Sam) creates a safe table
Before the adventure begins, we’ll have a Session 0 to get to know each other, share expectations, and review the themes of the campaign. We’ll use tools like Lines and Veils to identify any topics to avoid or gloss over, and each player will receive a short document to fill out privately for my reference. I’ll also explain the X, N, and O cards system. These can be used at any time, out loud, in a whisper, or through a private message, to let me know if something feels uncomfortable. No explanations needed; when a card is used, we’ll simply adjust. During our sessions, we’ll take short breaks to relax and recharge, and after each game we’ll have a quick check-in together about what we enjoyed and what could be even better. My goal is always to provide a fun, friendly, and welcoming table where everyone can relax, have fun and build a story together. Respectful behavior is key and non-negotiable, so we can all focus on what matters most: having a great time together telling our story.
Content warnings
Safety tools used