Play as Anything! Candlekeep Mysteries Reimagined

Creating your character

I adore working with my players to make sure their characters and their backstories make sense within the setting and matter to the overarching story of the campaign. Since this module is an anthology series that inherently pulls characters from across the globe, nearly any sort of character works well in this setting. The main string that connects the party members is that they work for Candlekeep, so any sort of mercenary or gun-for-hire will find their place among the ranks quite easily. Perhaps they’re an outlaw serving a sentence, a veteran soldier staying true to their country’s loyalty, a spy keeping tabs on various other nations, or a poor gambler who’s been swindled into working for the Grand Librarian, anything is possible! You could even be a sentient toaster! I’m serious! Since this campaign will be utilizing the Horrors and Hellscapes system, I’m more than happy to lead players through their first character creation, free of charge. The system is inherently modular and point-based, so making a character is as easy as choosing what options and powers you want, with no inherent restrictions or overbearing rules. I also have a collection of premade characters that you’re more than welcome to alter and change later once you have a firmer grasp on how the system works. Because the system is designed as a universal one that prioritizes creative freedom, believe me when I say that any power fantasy is possible. If there’s a certain class or subclass from a different game system you’ve been excited to play but haven’t been able to, or you’d like to try and create a character with a wholly unique gameplay style, this system will cater to your every need. To gain access to the docs I use for character creation, just shoot me a message!

Preparing for the session

All you need to bring is a Discord and Roll20 account, a stable internet connection, and a working microphone. A webcam is also encouraged but completely optional. Also, a love for adventure! I’ve been running games for years with all sorts of players, and I’ve found that no matter your experience with ttrpgs, your ability to do roleplay, or your knowledge of combat and numbers, the best thing to bring is a hunger for exciting stories and marvelous worlds. With a positive attitude and a love for your fellow player, the world can be yours!

What Daniel L brings to the table

I’ve ran Candlekeep Mysteries plenty of times over the years and have made lots of changes both big and small to many of the quests within the anthology, all of which function to make each quest feel unique and interesting. The whole of Candlekeep’s role in the story has also been overhauled to make it a much stronger presence in the world, which I’ve found to be really fun for this campaign. My hope is to bring you an unforgettable experience where you can play out your power fantasies to your heart’s content! The maps I utilize take full advantage of dynamic lighting within roll20, and I’m extremely well versed when it comes to improvising and improving adventures or characters on the spot no matter what the group wants to go with. This story is yours, so please, do as you wish!

Homebrew rules

This campaign will be running through an enhanced form of the Candlekeep Mysteries module from WotC, though instead of using the typical D&D system, this game will use the Horrors and Hellscapes system, a vttrpg system designed by me! If you’re familiar with the Dungeons and Dragons system, you’ll be able to learn this one very easily. Horrors and Hellscapes takes all the things you love about other ttrpgs and breaks them free from their bindings. The entirety of the core rules are centered on the idea of power fantasy and creative freedom. I promise you, there is no character idea that isn’t possible! Want to play as a non-human race? Perhaps a monster, an animal, or even an inanimate object? It’s all possible with this system, and all balanced within itself so that no player feels like they have an unfair advantage over the others. Regular races you’re familiar with such as Humans, Dwarves, Elves, and Tieflings are also all well supported in this system, as is anything else you could possibly come up with. Seriously, I dare you to come to me with your most imaginative character fantasies! I WILL make them real. More than just race options, the system comes with a whole slew of 12 classes and 43 subclasses, all very unique to one another to provide a gameplay experience that you won’t find anywhere else. If you’d like to learn more about the system, you can read more about it for free in the link in my profile, or message me directly!

How Daniel L creates a safe table

Having ran more than 1,000 games over the past 7 years with all sorts of people, I welcome players of all ages and backgrounds and am happy to teach new players the ropes of the game without needing to slow things down. I always run a session 0 for groups, and a small meeting with individual players if they want before any games begin in case they'd like to meet me one-on-one. If there are any needs that a player has, whether that be avoiding certain triggers, being mindful of certain character traits, or literally anything else, I am always more than happy to alter my games to accommodate them. Players are always welcome to message me outside of session hours if they have questions or concerns of any kind. If there's anything I can do to make your experience in my games better, please let me know!