Monte Cook's Ptolus The City of Magic and Adventure

Creating your character

We will be starting at level 1 to introduce you to the world of Ptolus. Don't worry, you will level quickly for the first few levels. All Wizards of the Coast books are acceptable as is anything in my World Anvil site. 3rd party books are acceptable after approval. We will go over character creation in a free Session 0 as Ptolus has some differences from WoTC. Some Ptolus specifc rules 1. No rangers, druids or artificers. 2. Races can be Ptolus elves (see Player's Guide), Ptolus dwarves (see Player's guide), humans, halflings, gnomes 3. Backgrounds: In addition to the standard backgrounds, there are the following: Alchemist’s apprentice, Arena fighter , Artisan’s apprentice , Carriage driver , City Watch guard, Clerk in office , Clerk in shop , Conservatory student , Gang member , Gardener , Imperial soldier ,Laborer , Messenger , Sailor Sea , Servant , Squire Knight or other noble , Stablehand , Temple acolyte , University student , and Wizard’s apprentice

Preparing for the session

Before the free Session 0 please do the following: 1. Have Discord installed and a profile created (let me know the profile name in Session 0). 2. Create an account on World Anvil (let me know the account name in Session 0) 3. Create an account on Roll20 (I will let you know the campaign link in Session 0). 4. Have a character idea or 2 Preferably before Session 0 but definitely before the first session, please read the Player's Guide to Ptolus. It is free to download at https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/a-players-guide-to-ptolus/.

What Vicki brings to the table

This is a player-driven campaign first and foremost. I don’t believe in forcing the story down a single path — instead, you decide what matters, where you go, and what kind of heroes you become. Ptolus is packed with factions, secrets, ruins, and opportunities, and together we’ll choose which threads to pull. If the group wants political intrigue, dungeon expeditions, faction play, or something entirely unexpected, the campaign will grow in that direction. Your character’s backstory is not just flavor — it is fuel for the campaign. The more your character is tied to Ptolus, its people, and its history, the more personal and impactful the story becomes. Allies, rivals, unfinished business, and buried secrets from your past can and will surface in play. We’ll begin with an urban-focused adventure to establish the city, your connections, and the tone of the campaign. From there, the direction is entirely up to the group. The city opens outward into ancient ruins, hidden cults, political power struggles, and dangers far older than Ptolus itself — and you choose which doors to open. I place a strong emphasis on roleplay, meaningful choices, and letting consequences matter. While I may not deliver a wide range of character voices, I focus on clear motivations, strong personalities, and memorable interactions. Expect NPCs who feel distinct because of what they want, not just how they sound. On the tactical side, I excel at creating detailed, custom maps. Expect frequent use of hand-crafted battle maps and locations that support both cinematic combat and immersive exploration. If you’re looking for a collaborative table, a responsive world, and a campaign that adapts to your characters rather than the other way around, you’ll feel right at home here.

Homebrew rules

1. Drinking a healing potion as a full action is max hit points. You need to roll for hp if you drink it as a bonus action. 2. Special rules for lockpicking and trap disarming.

How Vicki creates a safe table

Before the game, everyone will fill out Monte Cook's RPG Consent Checklist. During session 0 I will cover what topics are out of bounds, with reminders as necessary. During the game, we will use Roll20's Safety Deck (green, yellow, red cards). The first 4-6 weeks I will check in after every session to see how things are going, then every 4-6 weeks after that.