Age of Umbra: The City of Phoenix Burning - Daggerheart [Pbp]

Creating your character

Come to Session Zero with character concepts, but be ready to adapt and create your heroes as a group. To ensure a smooth and collaborative start to our campaign, please follow this guide for character creation. 1. Timing & Session Zero Character creation will be a collaborative activity during our dedicated Session Zero, held before the first official adventure. This allows us to build a cohesive party, establish character connections, and align on the campaign's tone together. 2. Official Materials For this campaign, use the provided Daggerheart System Reference Document (SRD). This ensures balance and a shared understanding of the rules, as the full Core Rulebook . 3. Starting Level & Creation Steps All characters begin at Level 1. We will follow the SRD's 9-step process during Session Zero, with the following specific rulings: * Step 3 (Traits): Use the Standard Array. Assign these modifiers to your six traits in any order: +2, +1, +1, +0, +0, -1. * Step 5 (Equipment): Choose from standard Tier 1 options. You may re-flavor the appearance of weapons and armor to fit your concept, but their game statistics remain unchanged. * Step 7 (Experiences): You begin with two +2 Experiences. They must be specific but not grant new mechanical abilities (e.g., "Guild Assassin" is good; "Invulnerable" is not). I am happy to help refine ideas. * Step 9 (Connections): This is a mandatory, collaborative part of Session Zero. We will actively brainstorm and establish relationships that bind the party together. 4. Character Sheets & Tools You may use either the provided fillable PDF character sheet digitally or a physical print-out at the table. 5. Homebrew & Re-flavoring Policy I welcome discussions about re-flavoring existing mechanics to better suit your character's narrative (e.g., a "Warhammer" that looks like a giant stone fist). However, I am not allowing custom homebrew mechanics, classes, ancestries, or domains for this campaign. Summary: *When: Collaborative Session Zero. *Rules: Daggerheart SRD only. * Level: 1. * Stats: Standard Array. *Goal: Build an interconnected party.

Preparing for the session

Please have a Discord account, as the game will be hosted entirely there. Once confirmed, you’ll receive an invite to my Discord server for in-character scenes, dice rolls, and OOC chat.

What War_Master brings to the table

I create stories that feel lived-in, emotional, and atmospheric. The City of Phoenix Burning is a campaign where characters matter just as much as the world around them — their hopes, fears, faith, contradictions, and the choices that define them. Your posts are not just actions: they are character expressions, emotional stakes, fragments of a shared myth we are building together. This is a **Play-by-Post** experience, which allows for slower pacing, thoughtful writing, and meaningful character development. Every scene has room to breathe. Every decision can echo. 🎭 GM Style * I focus on character-driven storytelling, emotional narrative arcs, and meaningful themes. * I use the Rule of Cool when it supports drama, momentum, or symbolism; the story comes first. * Rules are kept clear and consistent, but never overshadow the emotional stakes of the moment. * I encourage descriptive writing that gives insight into thoughts, motives, and internal conflict. * Posts should feel like scenes from a shared novel, not just dice rolls. 🔊 Atmosphere & Presentation * Ambient music playlists and thematic tone boards are provided to set mood. * Visual references and environmental prompts help you picture the world. * NPCs speak with recognizable tone and cadence — not silly voices, but emotional presence. * I write in cinematic, sensory language, leaning into imagery, symbolism, and metaphor. ⚔️ Combat & Conflict * We will use Foundry VTT for maps, combat, and spatial clarity when necessary. * However, the primary focus is interpretation and theatre of the mind. * Combat emphasizes emotion, motivation, and consequence, not just tactics. * Victory is not always clean. Failure is not always defeat. Every outcome moves the story. 🕯️ Themes & Tone This campaign explores: * Hope in the face of despair * Power, belief, and the cost of conviction * Human connection in a collapsing world The tone is dark fantasy with spiritual and mythic undertones, but not grimdark for shock value. Darkness matters because light matters. 🤝 Communication & Player Support * A Session 0 is provided to define tone, themes, expectations, and boundaries. * Safety tools: (Lines & Veils + X/N/O) ensure that everyone plays comfortably. * I offer guidance for character arcs and development throughout the campaign. * I am consistently available on Discord for questions, conversation, or post-scene processing. ⭐ What You’ll Receive * A shared story of weight, mystery, and emotional depth * A GM who values collaboration, trust, and creative expression * A space to write characters who feel like real people * A campaign where your choices

How War_Master creates a safe table

Player safety is always the foundation of my games. Every story may explore dark or emotional themes, but player well-being always comes first. Before the campaign begins, I host a Session 0 to discuss expectations, tone, and personal boundaries. During this session, we review a Lines and Veils document (shared digitally) so players can set clear limits on what content is off-limits or fade-to-black. I use X, N, and O cards digitally — players can message me privately or use simple text indicators in chat at any time. All concerns are addressed immediately and respectfully, no questions asked. After major narrative moments, I check in through private messages or group posts for aftercare, making sure everyone feels comfortable and supported with where the story is going. My goal is to create a safe, inclusive, and respectful space where players can explore heavy themes with trust and creativity — knowing that the real world’s comfort always comes before the game world’s tension.