Beyond the Mists | Curse of Strahd | Gothic Horror Vampire

Creating your character

SESSION 0 WILL BE FREE Characters will be made at session 0 using D&D 5.5 (2024) rules. Stats will be chosen using point buy method. Characters will start at level 2. Create a free account on D&D Beyond- this is a great tool for making character sheets, as it makes things smooth and easy. Homebrew is okay with prior approval, and I have many options as well if you would like to choose them.

Preparing for the session

You will need the following accounts, which you can set up for free: -Roll20: This is where I will be hosting the battlemaps, images, and music. -D&D Beyond: This is where we build character sheets. -Discord: This is where we will have our video chat during the game session. We will play with cameras on so that we can see each other's reactions and get more into the game. We will use the Deck of Player Safety at Session 0 so that everyone knows what to avoid.

What Johnathan brings to the table

I have a Master Tier D&D Beyond subscription providing you with all of the books in my library, as well as a Pro subscription on Roll20 to do the same there. I play music to provide ambience during the game session to immerse us more fully. I enjoy the Rule of Cool when it is fitting. I want to create awesome stories with you! I try my best to make unique voices for my NPCs.

Homebrew rules

1) Death saves are replaced by levels of Exhaustion. When you fail a Death Save, you gain a level of Exhaustion. If you succeed three Death Saves, you are still stable at 0 hp. 2) Natural 20/Natural 1 on skill checks give a conditional +2/-2 on the final result of the roll. 3) When a creature rolls a Natural 1 on an attack roll, enemies within melee range of them can make an opportunity attack. 4) If you roll a critical hit, you double your damage done including modifiers. 5) Using a healing potion as an Action heals you the full amount. 6) I do not require multiclass requirements. Just a roleplay reason for the multiclass. 7) You can choose to give yourself Heroic Inspiration during a d20 test, but doing so gives me Villainous Inspiration. I can spend it to have you reroll a d20 test. 8) Counterspell: You make a spellcasting check (DC 10 + the spell's level) to interrupt the casting of the spell rather than the creature making a Constitution Saving Throw. 9) Hunter's Mark: When casting this using the Ranger's Favored Enemy feature, it does not require concentration, but is cast at level 1.

How Johnathan creates a safe table

You will need to fill out a Deck of Player Safety (DOPS) at session 0. This just lets me know where your hard lines of things that you do not even want in the game, and what might be hinted at but not outright said. I will discuss these with everyone so that we are all on board with it all. My X, N, & O cards are digital on Roll20, so they are pretty easy and obvious to use. After each session, I'll make sure everyone is doing okay, especially if any big emotions occurred doing the game. I don't want something that could have easily been avoided be something that drives you away from the game.