Countess of Blood: a 5e Gothic Horror [Short Campaign]

Creating your character

Players are invited to create characters using the 2024 ruleset. Subclasses and species from 2014 may be utilized as well, particularly those sublclasses that were not reprinted and any species from Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. -Stats can be rolled with the standard 4d6 dropping the lowest done 6 times and then assigned as desired. -Milestone leveling. -Players can opt for fixed or rolled HP. -In addition to standard starting equipment, players may also start the game with 150gp that can be spent on any supplies from the Player's Handbook along with 1 uncommon and 1 common magical item that should be explained in their backstory. Players are also invited to build their own lore from the places their characters are from and contribute to the world's lore as a whole.

Preparing for the session

A mic is necessary and a webcam is strongly encouraged in order to provide a more personal experience for all players. Voice and video will utilize Discord (link will be sent on joining the campaign). Headphones are also strongly suggest to prevent feedback/echoing. Players will also need a free D&D Beyond account, as this will be used for character sheets and combat maps. Content sharing will be offered on DnDBeyond.

What Erin (aka TravelNerding) brings to the table

A D&D Beyond campaign link will be provided with content sharing turned on, making most official content available to all players. Audio and Video will be hosted on Discord, while DnDBeyond will be utilized as required for battle maps.

Homebrew rules

Brutal criticals - critical hits deal maximum damage plus a roll of all the damage dice. All characters also get my homebrew "Gothic Hero" feat - player characters can choose to roll a critical hit on an attack roll in exchange for two levels of exhaustion.

How Erin (aka TravelNerding) creates a safe table

Please be advised that this is a gothic horror game that will feature descriptions of blood, gore, violence, death, and madness. This storyline also deals with themes such as patriarchal viewpoints and the silencing of women's voices (with the goal to both see the harm they cause as well as subvert and alter those views, granted) and prospective players should take into consideration their own comfort levels in exploring those themes. Prior to session zero, all players will be asked to fill out a survey regarding lines and veils. These lines and veils will be given to all players in an anonymously compiled fashion. Players will be expected to adhere to lines and veils. The X card will be available for use in a displayed or messaged fashion (depending on the individual player's comfort level) during games. A roughly 10 minute break is planned for mid 3-hour session but additional breaks can be taken if needed by the group. Players are also welcome to step away if needed. Debriefing as well as Stars and Wishes will be utilized at the end of each session.