Phandalin - Learn D&D and Save Your Hometown [LGBTQIA+ Friendly]

Creating your character

We'll start at level 1. BEFOREHAND I recommend showing up to session 0 with 1-3 character concepts in mind as a starting point. SESSION 0 First, I'll talk a bit about the setting and premise. Next, players can talk about preferences, hopes, and limits for the campaign. Third, I'll go over some housekeeping rules about tech and social rules. Fourth, we'll talk about characters together. STATS 1. Remember, we're using Tasha's rule: there are no locked racial stats. Put your +2 and +1 wherever you like. 2. You may roll a stat array *in front of the group* twice: 4d6, drop the lowest, six times, assigned to stats in any order. You get two chances. 3. If you're not happy with either array, or do not wish to roll, you may use standard point buy instead. CONCEPT Each player should share their preferred character concept to the group, or if they need to narrow it down or come up with a new one, may do that with the group. CONNECTIONS Each player must pick some connection to one of the factions I will provide, or some other group in the setting. This guarantees at least one meaningful NPC contact to start. It is also recommended each player connects their character to at least one other character in some way: any kind of shared experience, relationship, etc. MECHANICS 1. I will at least go through the character sheet settings with everyone in session 0. 2. No homebrew, no encumbrance. 3. Make sure Alice adds you to the DnDBeyond campaign for book access if you don't already have it. 4. D&D 5e (2014) characters may start with a feat, as new D&D (2024) characters get one by default. 5. All official WotC content is allowed. No spells, races, or classes are banned, though some NPCs may do a double-take at a planeswalking elephant woman, for example. Let me know about any third party published content on DnDBeyond before using it, but it'll probably be allowed, too. FINISHED SHEET 1. The work of filling out a full character sheet and spells doesn't need to be a stressful timed session 0 assignment. Once everyone knows the final character concepts for the group, you're free to go. 2. If you're newer and need help, I'm happy to provide it in the session 0 window. Otherwise, message in the game channel! 3. In general, you must have everything ready by session 1 to respect the smoothness and session flow for the other players.

Preparing for the session

DISCORD For anytime group chat and voice calls during session. 1. Create an account @ https://discord.com/ 2. Join our server @ https://feypop.com/join 3. In Discord, ping Alice (@feypop) and say which game you're in. 4. When confirmed, you will get access to the game channel! ROLL20 For our virtual tabletop, maps, combat, and seeing dice rolls. 1. Create a free account @ https://roll20.net 2. Join the campaign via the pinned link in the Discord's game channel. DNDBEYOND For creating characters and rolling dice. 1. Create a free account @ https://dndbeyond.com 2. Join the campaign via the pinned link in the Discord's game channel.* * (This will give you access to Alice's collection of book content when making a character, if you don't have any!) BEYOND 20 A browser extension that connects your character sheet to Roll20 and Discord. 1. Install it from here for your browser of choice: https://beyond20.here-for-more.info/install

What Alice brings to the table

Rules as written is usually just fine. Big rule of cool moments that make sense are typically allowed once per idea, to reward a novel creative scene, but not to break the game with cheesy gimmick spam. I've studied all official media set in Phlan and the surrounding Moonsea North region, so we can have a deep experience in a city with history and quite a few named locations and NPCs. I want to give you that feeling of an authentic place you can know, explore, and become a part of. That said, we come first. The world serves our story. This game takes place in *our* Forgotten Realms. There is no pressure to know anything or worry about sacred canon. We make small changes to tell a cool story, incorporate your characters and your backstories, and change and add new NPCs and locations. It's like adapting books for a movie or tv show. Telling our story is the top priority. I'm also happy to roll with the tone of the group. I'm accustomed to players liking more whimsical, sitcom style play, and I'm happy to set up situations or play along with improv bits. If we want to get more serious and played straight, we can adapt that way, too. I find a game usually flows back and forth, and heavy stakes hit best when an often silly, sentimental world sometimes "gets real". I love enabling character arcs, using your backstory, and roleplay in general. By the time you're fighting a final boss, you should feel like a hero and know what you're fighting for. I want this town to feel like home, lived in by people with personalities and wants of their own, and just maybe a place worth protecting. I want to try to cultivate a campaign with at least a little heart. Sometimes, I like to open or end a session with a narration. Even if it's mysterious at the time, it's fun to set the tone or build up some cinematic lore.

Homebrew rules

Drinking a potion is a bonus action. No racial-locked stat bonuses; Tasha's rule. Put your +2 & +1 where you want! Use updated spells where available, especially for healing spells. You may freely use 2014 or 2024 character options. Unearthed Arcana character options may be permitted, in their most recent version, pending GM approval.

How Alice creates a safe table

Bigotry will not be tolerated. SESSION 0 In session 0, we will go over the following, which can be shared publicly or privately: 1. What do we want to see in our game? This can be specific or general; character goals, player bucket list items, tone expectations, anything. 2. What rating would our game be? Why? Usually, around PG-13. 3. What do we not want to see in our game? This can include anything for any reason, whether it's traumatic, awkward, or simply boring. At a baseline, I avoid: * any "on-screen" sex to avoid creepy behavior. * roleplay flirting or romance with PCs, to avoid awkwardness and parasociality. * spiders, simply because it's so common a fear, odds are I'd have to cut and re-plan anyway. * PvP or PC death without player consent. These lists can be updated and changed at any time. DURING PLAY: Players may, for any reason, type publicly or privately: 1. O, to mean green light, this is awesome, keep going. 2. / or N, to mean yellow light, this is uncomfortable, let's pause and figure something out. 3. X, to mean red light, let's take a break and consider maybe retconning, rewinding, or having one or all of us stop for the day. AFTER PLAY: In the Discord, as the call winds down or anytime in text chat, users may share publicly or privately: 1. What went well? Why? (Let's do more stuff like this in the future.) 2. What didn't go well? Why? (Let's learn lessons and avoid stuff like this in the future.) There is no pressure or expectation to say anything on either of these. It's also usually a good time to update our "what we want" and "what we don't want" session 0 lists, if inspiration strikes. ===== Everyone makes mistakes, and it's ok to evoke any of these at any time for any reason. It doesn't mean anyone's weak. It doesn't mean anyone's bad. We're just people who want to solve problems together for each other's sake. It's ok. It's a bigger deal to hold in a real problem than to speak up about it. ===== BREAKS: 1. If you need to grab something real quick or take a quick bio break, that's fine, just mind turn order and remember to mute your mic. 2. It's ok to eat and drink during session. I often will, because medically I can burn out and pass out otherwise. Snacking hobbits are welcome here. If you have gross eating sounds though, just go on push to talk as-needed. Be respectful. 3. I will usually try to have a 5-10 minute intermission in the middle of session. If it's getting about time for a break, anyone may call for one. 4. Casual conversation as people show up and warm up or cool down afterwards is welcome and expected, but I'd like to officially start playing no more than 15 minutes after the official start time. 5. Casual conversation and out-of-character commentary is ok within reason, but I may need to reign it in for time and the sake of the other players. With exceptions, I usually try to hit at least three major scenes or beats per session, or roughly one per hour, to keep the story moving.