Pact of Hands and Flame

Creating your character

hen It Happens: We'll create characters together during Session 0 (free, 2-hour session scheduled before Session 1). You're encouraged to brainstorm concepts beforehand, but we'll finalize everything together so I can help integrate your character into the world. Character Building Rules: - Level 6 starting characters - 2024 D&D 5E rules (Player's Handbook) - Ability Scores: Standard Array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) OR Point Buy - your choice - Any official race/class combination is allowed - Unusual choices (homebrew, UA, etc.) require discussion with me first - Starting equipment: Normal for your class + 500gp extra - All characters should have a reason to explore empire borders and investigate mysteries Where Characters Are Created: We'll use D&D Beyond for character sheets (free tier works perfectly). I'll help you set up your sheet during Session 0 if you're unfamiliar with the platform. World Integration - The Five Questions: During Session 0, every player answers these to tie their character to the world: 1. Which Hand guides you most? (Harvest Father = mercy, Stone Maker = discipline, Weaver = fate) 2. Who trained you—or owns your contract? (Guild? Temple? Noble? Yourself?) 3. What small act of rebellion or mercy defines you? 4. What debt would you die before paying? 5. What would you risk to tip the scales? These answers become plot hooks I'll weave into the campaign. Class-World Integration: Every class fits this world uniquely: - Clerics are ordained by the Church; you must choose which Hand you serve and record miracles - Wizards graduated from imperial Arcane Academies; all spells are registered and taxed - Warlocks are "unlicensed prophets"—you'll face scrutiny from the Church - Sorcerers are often Wildborn (born during Tremor years); you're feared and blessed - Rogues might be thieves, Bank auditors, or smugglers of forbidden relics - All casters: Magic is regulated. We'll discuss how your character navigates this. Helpful Backgrounds: The world offers these thematic backgrounds (use these or adapt published ones): - Guild Apprentice (your ledgers have a missing entry) - Temple Scribe (you copied a sermon with a blacked-out line) - Faithborne Guard (you enforce tithes; mercy tests your courage) - Pilgrim (walking the Trine Route to earn absolution) - Bound Soldier (debt bought your armor; now you fight for redemption) - Wanderer (no ledger claims you—freedom and danger) - Wildborn (born during green-sky storms; miracles happen around you) What to Bring to Session 0: - General character concept (class, background idea, personality sketch) - Questions about the world and how your character fits - Ideas for character motivations and goals - Any content boundaries or safety concerns I'll provide during Session 0: - Complete Player Guide PDF (world primer, faith system, lore) - Character creation worksheet - Help with D&D Beyond setup - Answers to all world questions - Party relationship building prompts Session 0 is free and doe

Preparing for the session

PRE-SESSION PREPARATION CHECKLIST: Before You Book: 1. Read the campaign description fully to ensure this style (political intrigue, investigation-focused, moral complexity) appeals to you 2. Consider if West Marches format works for you (player-driven exploration, monthly sessions, shared world) 3. Review content warnings and safety tools to ensure comfort level After You Book (Before Session 0): 1. Create accounts (all free): • Discord - for voice/video chat and between-session communication • D&D Beyond - for your character sheet (free tier sufficient) • Roll20 - for maps and virtual tabletop (free account) 2. Check your equipment: • Stable internet connection (video calls for 4+ hours) • Working microphone (required) • Webcam (strongly recommended but not required) • Headphones (recommended for better audio quality) 3. Fill out safety documents: • I'll send you a Lines & Veils Google Form within 24 hours of booking • Complete Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist (included in form) • This is private; only I see your responses • Takes about 10-15 minutes to complete thoughtfully 4. Join the campaign Discord: • I'll send you an invite link • Introduce yourself in the #introductions channel • Ask any questions in #session-zero-prep • Review the #world-primer channel for basic lore 5. Brainstorm character concepts: • Think about what kind of character interests you • Consider the Five Questions (listed in Character Creation section) • No need to finalize anything—we'll build together in Session 0 • Come with questions about how your concept fits the world Before Session 1 (After Session 0): 1. Finalize your D&D Beyond character sheet 2. Set up your Roll20 character token 3. Review the Session 0 recap I'll post in Discord 4. Read the "Table Boundaries" document (compiled from everyone's safety forms) 5. Vote on first destination from the Rumor Board (posted in Discord) Before Each Subsequent Session: 1. Read the previous session recap (posted within 48 hours of each session) 2. Participate in destination voting (Discord poll, usually a week before session) 3. Update your character sheet with any level-ups or equipment changes 4. Post in #character-downtime if you want your character doing anything between sessions Time Commitment: - Session 0: 2 hours (free, scheduling flexible) - Regular sessions: 4-4.5 hours, monthly - Between sessions: 15-30 minutes (reading recaps, voting on destinations, optional Discord RP) Technical Requirements: - Internet: Minimum 10 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload - If using video: Minimum 720p webcam - Quiet space: You'll need to speak clearly for 4+ hours - Backup plan: Have mobile Discord app as backup if computer crashes Questions? Message me anytime before Session 0. I'm here to help with technical setup, world questions, character concepts, or anything else!

What Ryan brings to the table

WHAT I BRING TO YOUR TABLE: 🌍 Complete Custom World: - 100+ page world bible covering three empires, hidden cosmology, 1,247 years of history - Professional-quality maps: world atlas, Irongate city, Blaelladran County, regional locations - Detailed gazetteer of cities, landmarks, and unexplored locations - Living timeline that updates based on all groups' actions - Persistent NPC relationships and faction standings 📜 Professional Materials & Handouts: - Custom Player Guide (35 pages) covering faith system, classes, society, and character integration - In-world documents: letters, Church decrees, Bank ledgers, evidence, contracts - Session recaps posted within 48 hours of each session - Rumor boards with 20+ adventure hooks updated monthly - Visual handouts for important NPCs, locations, and items 🎭 Immersive GMing Style: - Distinct voices for major NPCs (I don't do accents, but each NPC has unique speech patterns and personality) - Curated soundtrack: ambient music for different locations and mood-appropriate combat tracks - Detailed scene descriptions that engage all five senses - "Show, don't tell" approach to worldbuilding—you discover lore through play - Consequences that feel earned and logical, not arbitrary ⚔️ Tactical & Meaningful Combat: - Encounters designed with terrain, environment, and enemy tactics in mind - Dynamic battlefields using Roll20's features (lighting, fog of war, line of sight) - Combat that serves the narrative—never random encounters just to fill time - Monsters with clear motivations and realistic behavior (they retreat, negotiate, or surrender when it makes sense) - Challenge Rating scaled to party size and composition 🎲 Player Agency & Collaboration: - You choose destinations—I don't railroad - Multiple solutions to every problem (combat, stealth, social, creative) - Your ideas and plans matter—I reward creative thinking - NPCs react realistically to your choices (relationships can improve or deteriorate) - Rule of Cool balanced with Rules as Written (I'll bend rules for awesome moments but maintain consistency) 🔮 Mystery & Investigation Focus: - Ambiguous clues that require player interpretation - NPCs with conflicting testimony (none have perfect information) - Multiple possible conclusions to mysteries (some ambiguity is intentional) - Red herrings exist, but every clue means something - You won't always know "the truth"—sometimes you decide what to believe 🌐 West Marches Framework: - Location tracking system showing which places have been discovered - Consequence persistence across all groups (what Group A does affects Group B) - Between-session communication via Discord for downtime actions - Monthly session scheduling coordinated through polls - Shared world where everyone contributes to the unfolding story 📊 Session Structure & Pacing: - First 15 minutes: Recap, rumor board review, final destination confirmation - Next 90 minutes: Travel, arrival, initial investigation/interaction - 10-minute b

Homebrew rules

HOUSE RULES & MODIFICATIONS: Quality of Life Rules: - Drinking a potion: Bonus action (action if feeding to another) - Identifying magic items: Short rest with Arcana check (DC 12 + item rarity) - Bonus action spells: Can cast leveled spell + cantrip in same turn (ignoring RAW restriction) - Free object interaction: Slightly more generous—drawing multiple weapons, opening doors, etc. won't eat your action if it's narratively reasonable Combat Modifications: - Flanking: Grants advantage (standard optional rule) - Critical hits: Roll damage dice twice + add static modifiers once (as per 2024 rules) - Death saves: Start at DC 10, increase by 1 for each failed save that combat (resets on long rest). Makes death feel more dangerous over time. - Instant death: Only if damage exceeds DOUBLE max HP (instead of just max HP)—gives level 6+ characters slightly more durability - Healing from 0 HP: Gain 1 level of exhaustion (can be removed by long rest or Lesser Restoration). Yo-yo healing has consequences. Social & Investigation Rules: - Group checks: If more than half the party succeeds, the group succeeds - Passive checks: I use passive Perception, Insight, and Investigation regularly—you notice things without asking - Information gathering: Multiple approaches work (Intimidation, Deception, Persuasion, Investigation, Streetwise)—choose what fits your character - NPC reactions: Not every social check succeeds—some NPCs can't be convinced no matter how high you roll World-Specific Rules: - Magic registration: Unregistered spellcasters face in-world consequences (NPC reactions, Church scrutiny, Bank audits)—this is roleplay consequence, not mechanical penalty - Ledger Mark: All characters have one (unless Wanderer background). Affects NPC reactions and available services. - Wildborn traits: Sorcerers born during Tremor years may manifest minor quirks (cosmetic, player choice, approved together) - Tremor exposure: Spending time in Wild Zones or near portals may cause Flux effects (will discuss when relevant; never surprise mechanical penalties) West Marches Specific: - Session self-contained: Each session has a beginning, middle, and end—no cliffhangers - Discovery sharing: If you find a location, other groups can choose to go there (your discoveries become their options) - Consequence persistence: NPCs remember what any group did to them - Time synchronization: All groups exist in the same timeline; major events affect everyone Meta Rules: - Rule of Cool: If something is awesome and doesn't break game balance, I'll allow it with a skill check - Player knowledge vs. character knowledge: Use what makes sense for your character to know - Retcons: If we realize we made a significant rules error, I'll allow a one-time retcon within 24 hours - Phone/AFK: We're all adults—if you need to check a message or step away briefly, just give heads up - Spotlight sharing: I'll actively balance screen time; speak up if you feel overlooked What I Don't Change: - Core

How Ryan creates a safe table

COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY FRAMEWORK: Before Session 0 (Pre-Game): - Within 24 hours of booking, you receive a detailed Lines & Veils Google Form - Form includes Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist covering 50+ content topics - You rate each topic: Enthusiastic Yes / Yes / Maybe / No - Examples covered: spiders, betrayal, body horror, claustrophobia, fire, drowning, etc. - Your responses are private—only I see them - I compile an anonymous "Table Boundaries" document from all players' responses - This document never reveals whose boundary is whose During Session 0 (Free, 2-Hour Session): - First 30 minutes: Safety tools overview and practice - We review the compiled Table Boundaries together (no individual reveals) - I explain every safety tool available during play - We practice using the X-Card (digital button in Roll20) so it's not awkward later - Players can add new boundaries in real-time - I establish table culture: "Your safety > the game, always" - Discord channel created specifically for private safety concerns - You learn how to use every tool before Session 1 begins Safety Tools Available During Every Session: X, N, and O Cards (Digital): - Implemented as Roll20 macro buttons visible to all players - X = STOP this content immediately, no questions asked - N = I'm uncomfortable, let's veer away from this - O = I'm okay, you can explore this more - Click anytime—I see it immediately and adjust - No explanation required—I change content and move on - Private message option available if you want to explain why - Example: If an interrogation scene gets too intense, click X and we fade to black Open Door Policy: - Need to leave? Just say "I'm taking an open door" in chat or verbally - Step away for any reason: bathroom, overwhelm, emergency, no questions - Return when ready—no explanation needed - I'll give you a quick summary of what you missed - Taking open door is NOT dramatic—it's you taking care of yourself Structured Breaks: - Minimum every 90 minutes, usually at scene transitions - I announce: "10-minute break, back at [time]" - Longer breaks if anyone needs them - Breaks are also a chance to use N/O cards privately via message - After breaks: "Everyone good to continue?" Check-In Questions: - At scene transitions: "Everyone good?" - Before potentially intense content: "We're about to enter [situation], everyone comfortable?" - I watch body language (if cameras on) and read chat for distress signals - Creating space for players to use safety tools without pressure After Each Session: Debriefing (Last 10 Minutes): - "Let's step out of character now" - Discuss what went well - Process any intense moments together - Separate character feelings from player feelings - Example: "That betrayal scene was rough—everyone okay?" Stars and Wishes (Post-Session Discord): - Star ⭐ = Something you loved this session - Wish 💫 = Something you hope for next session - Helps me adjust content and pacing - Anonymous option available via private message