Escape from Arctu

Creating your character

Character creation happens before Session 1. Players come in with a clear concept of who they want to play—personality, theme, abilities, fighting style, and the kind of hero they imagine becoming. From there, I help translate that concept into a balanced starting kit so the character feels powerful, fun, and fair for the whole group. This game does not use traditional classes. Instead, you tell me the abilities, style, and flavor you want, and I balance the mechanics around your idea. You’ll start with a small set of core moves that match your concept, and you’ll upgrade or expand them over time as the story progresses. New powers are earned through exploration, milestones, and player choice—not rigid level charts. Stats use a simplified standard-array approach. You’ll choose your strongest and weakest areas, but numbers stay clean and easy so your character concept matters more than min-maxing. No books required. Everything is fully homebrew, collaborative, and tailored to your vision. If you can imagine it, we’ll shape it, balance it, and make it work in Arctu.

Preparing for the session

1. Join the Discord server. All communication, scheduling, and character discussion happens there. Once you sign up, I’ll send you the invite link. 2. Have access to Owlbear Rodeo. This will be our virtual tabletop for maps and combat. No download needed—just a browser. I’ll provide the room link before each session. 3. Come with a character concept. You don’t need mechanics or numbers yet—just the idea of who you want to play. A short description of your character’s vibe, powers, and style is enough for us to build from. 4. (Optional) Prepare your own character tracker. You can use any format you like—Google Doc, Notion, paper, whatever works. I’ll also keep a full version on my end to ensure everything stays consistent.

What Jacob brings to the table

As a GM, my goal is to make Arctu feel personal, dynamic, and driven by your characters. Every player’s backstory will matter, and each character will have their own arc woven directly into the realm. Escaping Arctu is the destination, but what your character learns, builds, and becomes along the way is just as important. I design enemies, encounters, and loot with intention. Challenges will feel tense and tactical, but always fair. Loot isn’t just “+1 gear”—it shapes the world, the story, and your character’s growth in meaningful ways. Expect character voices, ambient atmosphere, and high-energy moments. I use voices and tone shifts to set scenes, and combat can get fast, intense, and strategic. Most importantly, I play with a strong Rule of Cool mindset. Creativity, ingenuity, and player fun always come first. This is not a strict RAW game—mechanics support the story, not restrict it. The world may push back, and the journey may be tough, but it should always feel exciting, collaborative, and worth experiencing together.

Homebrew rules

This game uses D&D 5e as the backbone, but the majority of abilities, features, and powers are fully homebrewed to match each player’s character concept. Nearly all mechanics still feel familiar to 5e players, but the specifics are tailored to the story and the abilities you create. Most homebrew rules are light, flexible adjustments made to support fun, pacing, and player creativity. Some rules may be decided in-game based on player preference or what best fits the moment. A few consistent changes include: Lower AC values early on for both players and enemies, to speed up combat and reduce long sequences of misses. Custom powers and abilities that function like 5e abilities but are built collaboratively for each character. Rule of Cool priority: creative ideas are encouraged and often rewarded with narrative advantages or mechanical flexibility. If you know 5e, you’ll be right at home, just expect more customization and smoother pacing.

How Jacob creates a safe table

Player safety is a priority at every stage of this game. Before Session 0, when I meet with each player individually to build and balance their character, we will also review Lines and Veils together. This lets each person set boundaries privately and clearly. During Session 0, I will present all the group’s Lines and Veils (anonymized as needed) so we have a shared understanding of what is and isn’t okay at the table. We’ll confirm tone, themes, and comfort levels as a group. After each session, I offer light debriefing for everyone, along with individual check-ins if needed. My goal is to ensure players feel safe, supported, and able to enjoy the story without discomfort or pressure.