The Shadow of Arcanix Heights: An Eberron Story (Levels 1-15)

Creating your character

After joining the campaign, players will receive access to a D&D Beyond campaign page with shared content enabled. You are welcome to sketch out rough character concepts before Session 0, but all characters will be finalized collaboratively during Session 0 to ensure party cohesion and strong ties to the setting. Characters will begin at Level 1 using D&D 5e (2014) rules. Ability scores will be rolled, using 4d6 and dropping the lowest die, repeated six times to for the six ability scores. All rolls must be made transparently and in good faith; dishonesty with dice rolls or character mechanics is grounds for removal from the campaign. Players may use any preferred online or offline character creation tools. All Official WotC content published before 2024 is allowed. Homebrew and third-party content may be used with prior approval before the campaign begins. Characters should feel appropriate for a Level 1 starting point, but Eberron treats Level 1 adventurers as already among the exceptional. Your character may have real experience, education, or past action—just not legendary status or world-altering power. Finally Your character should have a reason to join an expedition to Xen’drik and be open to working as part of an organized expedition. To help set expectations, here are examples of Level 1 Eberron-appropriate concepts: 1. A scion of Dragonmarked House Lyrandar, you were raised on privilege and pedigree. Though groomed from birth for magical education amongst the elites, no one knows about how unstable your sorcery becomes under real pressure. 2. You're a member of Aundair's nobility. Your family’s wealth bought you access to forbidden tomes and grimoires, fostering a lifelong interest in the occult. Arcanix’s libraries hold knowledge you crave—but some knowledge costs more than gold. 3. You are the son of a Cyran clockmaker. When you were just an infant, you were forced to flee the Mourning and traveled as a refugee until your father got a job in Aundair. When you showed promise with magic, he worked hard to make sure you would get the chance to study at Arcanix University.

Preparing for the session

Before Session Zero, players should have access to the following: 1. A Discord account (used for voice, scheduling, and announcements) 2. A microphone for voice communication 3. A webcam (encouraged but optional) 4. Dice or a digital dice app 5. A Character sheet (digital or physical; D&D Beyond and Roll20 are supported) Session 0 will cover character creation, expectations, safety tools, and campaign tone to ensure everyone starts on the same page. Before or during Session 0, players must complete the Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist, which will be provided as a PDF. They will submit the completed checklist to the GM via Discord or StartPlaying private message. Finally, players should come prepared to play with a positive, collaborative attitude and a willingness to engage with exploration, roleplay, and group storytelling.

What DM Wyatt brings to the table

Our main digital toolsets are D&D Beyond for character creation, maps, stat blocks etc., Discord for online connection, and Roll20 as a VTT. I use situational ambient music as long as bandwidth allows for all players. I encourage players to identify and share songs, art, and/or mannerisms/accents that reflect their character, but nothing is required besides dice and suspension of disbelief. I do voices for NPC's but there's no pressure at my table to do anything you're not comfortable with. I encourage my players to approach roleplay scenarios in whatever ways feel most natural to them. As a GM, I specialize in the Dungeons and Dragons 5e 2014/Legacy Rules. I am homebrew-friendly but I also claim veto power on any rules extensions that I deem to be detrimental to the game. My favorite setting to GM in is Eberron, and in that setting as well as any others where it is appropriate, I allow firearms as a weapon type. I'm very open-minded in rules adjudication, so if you're thinking of something and I can think of a way to make it work, I will let you make any attempt. On the topic of NPC's, I include a small roster of companion NPC's in campaigns that I intend to last longer than 4 weeks. These companions are crafted in the spirit of BioWare games like "Baldur's Gate," "Dragon Age," and "Mass Effect." They have backstories that intersect with player goals and flesh out parts of the setting that aren't directly involved in the narrative while filling combat and utility roles that may not be covered by the PC's. These companion NPC's are optional features and are not DMPC's. They exist to add to the player experience, not to supplant it. As a GM, I do my best to make combat quick, satisfying, and unintrusive. I invite players who like min/maxing to do so with the knowledge that it is the GM's job to design scenarios that challenge everyone at the table. No character is too powerful to to be killed. In light of that, I encourage all of my players to create characters that they feel are both narratively and mechanically satisfying to play. My games are collaborations, not competitions. Finally, I have a few non-negotiable house rules. If you are a fan of vanilla 5e, I understand that these rule changes may seem drastic, but my games have never been better than when using these house rules.

Homebrew rules

This campaign uses several intentional house rules designed to increase player agency, tactical depth, and engagement with downtime and exploration. These rules will be explained in detail during Session 0, and reference materials will be provided. 1) Level One Feat Players may select one feat for their character at level 1. 2) Reworked Action Economy I replace the standard distinction between Actions and Bonus Actions with a three–Action Point system inspired by Pathfinder 2e. Each character begins their turn with three actions. Any action normally allowed by your character sheet (attacks, spells, item use, class features, movement, etc.) costs one or more actions, depending on complexity. This allows for greater flexibility and creativity within a turn For example, a carefully aimed attack intended to guarantee critical damage might cost two actions instead of one, enabling high-risk, high-reward plays while keeping the action economy balanced. This system gives players more meaningful choices each round and provides a clear framework for creative rulings. 3) Revised Rest & Downtime This campaign places strong emphasis on downtime, travel, and living in the world. Short Rests last 8 hours and restore all HP, spell slots, class resources, and item uses at the cost of one Hit Die. Long Rests require at least 24 hours of downtime. This makes Long Rests intentional windows for, crafting, professions, shopping, social roleplay, base-building, training, research, and personal projects. Effective use of downtime activities can lead to long-term narrative or mechanical rewards, such as new magic items, feats, or ability score increases. 4) Dodge & Parry To add a more dynamic defensive option, this campaign includes a dodge/parry mechanic inspired by action games. As a reaction to an enemy attack, a player may attempt a Dodge (Dexterity Saving Throw) or Parry (Strength Saving Throw) using the enemy’s attack roll as the Save DC. On a success, the attack is negated and the player may make an opportunity attack. On a failure, the attack resolves normally (using the character's Armor Class to determine if the strike deals damage or not). Additionally, a player may Hold an Action to prepare an extra dodge/parry. This house rule has two simple caveats: first, this mechanic cannot be used against spells or effects that already require saving throws, and second, attacks from Large or larger creatures cannot be parried, only dodged. This system rewards positioning, timing, and tactical awareness without replacing core 5e defenses.

How DM Wyatt creates a safe table

Session 0 is free and mandatory for all prospective players. It is where we get to know one another and establish a foundation of trust for the rest of our games. I encourage all prospective players to send me PDF copies of at least one (1) complete copy of the Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist before the Session 0. Resources will be provided for you upon subscribing to the campaign. Every session will include at least one break of at least 15 minutes per every 2 hours of play wherein all players are encouraged to hydrate, stretch, perform child care, and/or address any other mid-session personal needs. Beyond this mandatory break, I have an Open Door policy during play, meaning players are excused to step away from the table for any reason without the need for explanation. The game will go on in your absence but there will never be any sort of negative reprisal on you or your character for needing to stepping away. After every session, we'll perform at least 10 minutes of debriefing and aftercare wherein the events of the session will be recapped and players are encouraged to give their theories and feedback, or otherwise share their emotional needs and experiences with the group. During this time, WE LISTEN AND WE DON'T JUDGE. No amount invalidation will be tolerated. Outside of sessions, all players who subscribe to any of my campaigns will be invited to my discord server as Players, where they are free to message me privately to address any issues they feel are negatively impacting their play experiences. This can also be done on StartPlaying as well. These private conversations will be saved for legal security purposes but otherwise are completely confidential. Accusations of sexual harassment and/or discrimination will be taken with the utmost severity, resulting in the removal of the offender from the party and the immediate death of their character in the narrative upon the start of the next session without exception. Refunds will be only be issued in accordance with StartPlaying's guidelines.