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Sand and Steel (Forgotten Realms, 2024 5e) - Free Session 0
The gears of conquest power the machines of war. Battle cries ring out like a song, marching to the beat of oblivion.
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Saturday - 7:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 2 hours
Campaign Length / 5+ Sessions
0 / 5 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
Title: Sand and Steel Setting: The Contested Frontier of Solara "Pasha Draxius Daals seeks to forge an empire with blood and steel. Nomarch Khepru fights to save his nation in the sand. But the land holds secrets that will betray them both." Game Description: Welcome to Sand and Steel, a campaign of ambition, survival, and political espionage set against the backdrop of an impending war. You are agents operating on the unforgiving frontier of Solara, a vast, arid territory caught between two sovereign powers: the aggressive, expansionist Imperion Empire and the pragmatic, conservative Zameth homeland. Your missions will force you deep into the monster-filled interior, where every mile of mapped land and every discovered resource is a potential weapon in a cold war. You will be hired to map mineral claims and secure supply lines, but quickly find your loyalty divided between the Perion's pursuit of a glorious Imperion Empire and the Zameth effort to contain that reckless power grab. This game is for players who enjoy morally gray choices, military and political intrigue, and detailed logistical challenges. We will focus heavily on exploration and grounded threats; powerful magic exists, but the primary dangers are the unforgiving terrain, exotic monsters, and the high-stakes political consequences of failure. If you love tracking resources, investigating clues like geological instability and casualty reports, and being forced to weigh patriotic duty against moral principle, this is your campaign. While this is a high-stakes campaign, new players are absolutely welcome! Our focus will be on narrative choices and the consequences of your actions on the global stage, ensuring every character feels like a critical piece of the looming geopolitical disaster. The world of Sand and Steel is grounded in the clash of cultures—the rational, ambitious ethos of the Perion clashing with the traditional, logistical wisdom of the Nu'an (Zameth). The land itself is not passive: it is actively fighting back. Ancient ruins of the elusive Cindellin (Fire Elves) are not dead relics, but sources of unpredictable phenomena—from collapsing tunnels and toxic mineral runoff to attacks by unique, powerful creatures. Your greatest enemies will not be dragons, but the lies told by high-ranking officials and the lethal scarcity of water and stability in the arid lands of Solara. Prepare to map, survive, and decide which nation's survival is worth the price of war.
Game style
Rules as Written (RaW)
Hexcrawl / Exploration
Roleplay Heavy
Combat Heavy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(2)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Teacher, Creativity, Knows the Rules
About me
Ever since I took a course in University on Medievalism in Games and Dungeons & Dragons was one of the course topics, I had an interest to play, but never found my passion for it after I finally decided to give it a go after graduating. What led me to this decision was inspiration (bardic and heroic) from Viva La Dirt League's (VLDL) D&D Campaign, a channel of content creators from New Zealand that I had been following for a while for their other skits, such as Video Game Logic. I started GMing 5e (2014), but switched to primarily the 2024 ruleset, although I prefer a combination of each, and I am more than flexible enough to accommodate either system in (my) games. I have been GMing since late 2023, enjoying the challenge of getting better with each session. Some of my favourite pastimes within D&D is homebrewing monsters, encounters, spells, magic items, and more to bring the lore of (my) worlds to the 5e system, taking inspiration from other great GMs out there. Admittingly, I have only really played D&D as a TTRPG system, although I have played modified or custom systems for shorter campaigns, adventures, or one-shots. I use D&D Beyond and Discord to run online games, and prefer those platforms due to my familiarity with them. I look forward to sharing in more adventures there (and in person).
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Character creation will be done on D&D Beyond during Session 0. You can use any species and subclass, be it official, third party, or homebrew content. - stats: manually rolled. Roll 2 groups, choosing the better one - HP: manual or fixed (Player choice) - starting Level: 1 (Milestone levelling) - Refer to the Player's Handbook (2024) and Free Basic Rules (https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/br-2024) - We will be using the Forgotten Realms source books and supplements. I have enabled content sharing for these books. - More info in the Discord server
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Hi everyone! Welcome to Steel and Sand, a campaign centred around political intrigue, conquest, and exploration of a contested frontier! Beginners and veterans are all welcome! If you are looking for a campaign based on the Forgotten Realms books in Faerûn, this campaign uses these supplements in a homebrew world. Most things will be familiar, just reskinned to fit in my homebrew world that I've created for all my D&D campaigns. If that interests you, you're in the right place. Welcome! We will be using 2024 5e ruleset and homebrew creations. If you wish to use any other content from another source book, please talk to me first. Here are the materials to help you get started: D&D Beyond Basic Rules: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/br-2024 (please get familiar with How to Play and navigating your Character Sheet) You will need to create a D&D Beyond account if you don't have one already. Link to the campaign: https://www.dndbeyond.com/campaigns/join/72023772700752552 You can create character through the campaign link, or this link takes you to the character builder. I am more than happy to assist with character creation.(https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/builder). It's easier just to create a character for that campaign, though. Discord Server link: https://discord.gg/xVX8gbFq
What Eric the Ready brings to the table
I bring my own homebrew world and lore, incorporating official and homebrew content into our campaigns. My alchemy formula: - A generous dash of atmosphere. I utilize carefully selected ambient music and sound effects to set the tone for every scene, from the bustling noise of a city market to the unsettling quiet of a haunted ruin. For key NPCs, I embrace distinct voices and mannerisms to make them feel truly unique and memorable. - A splash of creativity and imagination. While I will challenge you with intelligent and strategic monsters, our game emphasizes creative problem-solving over simple brute force. The environment is always a factor, and I reward players who think outside the box and use their wits to overcome obstacles. Expect (some) puzzles and (minimal) riddles, social encounters, and moral dilemmas to be as frequent as combat. - A measure of collaborative freedom and storytelling. While I embrace the Rules as Written to ensure fairness and consistency, I am a firm believer in the Rule of Cool. If a creative idea sounds amazing and doesn't completely break the game, I will do my best to make it happen within the rules. I will also be upfront about my rulings, and I encourage open discussion to ensure everyone has a fun and positive experience. - A pinch of inspiration. The world we explore is a homebrewed setting built on a fantastic foundation, but it is not static. I will integrate your character's backstories, goals, and even their small-town quirks into the living, breathing world. Your actions will have a tangible impact on the story, and your choices will define the fate of the realm. **Note: As the Game Master, I am the final arbiter of the rules. While I will always listen to your arguments and perspectives on a ruling, the ultimate decision on game mechanics and what becomes canon for the world rests with me to ensure a consistent and enjoyable experience for all.** Let's tell stories together!
Homebrew rules
A House Rules document will be provided for Session 0 and is linked in the Discord server.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Microphone
Computer or Mobile Device
Pen & Paper
Webcam
Platforms used
Safety
How Eric the Ready creates a safe table
All forms are available in the Discord server, including: - Player Safety & Consent to Gaming Form - D&D Session Recording Consent Form - All tracking sheets from the 2024 DMG (especially Game Expectations)
Content warnings
Safety tools used