A Game of Crows: A Blades in the Dark Campaign 🐦‍⬛

Creating your character

All players create their first character collaboratively during Session Zero. This happens live, in-character, as part of an opening score that draws your crew together for the first time. You'll meet each other through the fiction, with play and character-building unfolding side by side on Foundry VTT. Starting crew line-up: - no Hollow, Vampire or Ghost characters until your scoundrels have explored and understood the world around them some more in-game. - Stranger background is allowed after discussion with your GM. Strangers in this game are exclusively from the Blades in the Dark universe, either time travellers or from lands far beyond the Empire’s reach. - Small or Medium framed Hulls are allowed in starting line-up, Large framed Hulls will find their bulk limits the scores they could engage with and best reserved for secondaries later. Replacement & Secondary Characters: If your character dies, retires, or otherwise needs replacing, a new scoundrel can be created during the next session with minimal disruption.

Preparing for the session

Join the Discord early and say "hello there" in the welcome channel when you're onboarded. You'll get access to your Foundry VTT game world where you can explore some material about the city you'll play in — atmospheric details, lore, and background threads will help you get a feel for the city’s shadows before we begin. No deep system knowledge is required, but familiarity with the setting and tone helps you hit the ground running. ✅ Before Session Zero, please: - Skim the basics. You'll be given access to materials and rules. Actual play videos or podcasts can help if you’re unsure how the game flows. - Think about your scoundrel: Who are they? What do they want? What keeps them awake? No full backstory needed — just a mood, a voice, or a glimpse of something broken. - Complete and return the safety checklist provided on Discord: this guides our conversations, establishing where we draw the lines or veils to ensure everyone’s comfort.

What Suse brings to the table

As your Game Master, I will deliver a rich, character-driven campaign shaped entirely by your choices. Expect grimy glamour, hard decisions, and consequences that simmer and build—all grounded in a textured, threatening Doskvol. We prioritize the Rule of Cool, theatre of the mind, and a story-rich experience over rule debates. Crucially, this is your story. The narrative that unfolds—the secrets, the rivals, the eventual rise or fall of your crew—is unique to this table and will never be played again in another one of my campaigns. Player agency drives the campaign’s future scores: your choices, ambitions, and the consequences of your actions will uniquely shape the unfolding story and opportunities. What You'll Receive - Access to a private section of a Level 2 Boosted Discord server. - Access to a Foundry VTT game world designed specifically for your crew. - Individually adjustable ambient music to enhance your immersion. - Prep-rich live sessions focused on scores, drama, and consequence—not paperwork. All downtime is narratively worked through as part of the story of the crew, not just as a tick box exercise.

Homebrew rules

This campaign includes mechanics from Deep Cuts official ruleset variant. No custom homebrew mechanics are in play at the outset, though minor tweaks may evolve naturally during play.

How Suse creates a safe table

This is a gritty, often brutal setting touching on class struggle, desperation, and moral compromise—but player safety and comfort always come first. My aim is to create a respectful, welcoming space where no one ever needs to justify their boundaries. Our Safety Toolkit Customizing the Game: Before Session Zero, you'll complete a safety checklist so I can tailor the game to avoid specific triggers. We'll hold a structured discussion around consent and boundaries at the start of Session Zero, with the ability to adjust preferences anytime. Active Tools: The game uses Lines & Veils, pause/skip/rewind mechanics, and an Open Door Policy. Each session has a short onboarding time and debrief time is also available at the end if things have been a little tense. My goal is to give all players co-production over the world and game environment so you all feel able to control your experience from a personal comfort and safety perspective. Breaks and Support: We take a 10-minute break halfway through each session. I'm also available for debriefs or to discuss any issues privately at any time. Though the game is dark, it's not hopeless—expect moments of resistance, solidarity, and humanity amid the grime.