The Toymaker's Midnight Hour

Creating your character

We’ll begin with a free Session Zero where I’ll introduce the campaign’s tone, themes, and expectations. I will also distribute safety tools so everyone feels comfortable at the table. This will also be the time to go over the homebrew rules I use at my table, discuss boundaries, and make sure everyone’s characters fit into the larger story. Characters will be created outside of the session in Foundry VTT and over Discord. You’ll have 1–2 weeks before the campaign begins to finalize your character, during which I’ll be tailoring the puzzles, challenges, and narrative threads of the campaign directly around the choices you make in character creation. Some puzzles and encounters will explicitly tie into your character's fears, regrets, and memories, so your input will directly shape the game. For character creation, please prepare: Species/Race Class & Subclass Name and Physical Description An Established Fear (something that truly unsettles your character as well as what that fear response is) Last Known Location (what were they doing before they arrived here, were they retired? with another adventuring party, in a prison? the choice is yours!) At Least One Happy Memory(something held dear to your character, something that brings them comfort) At Least One Regret(something your character deeply regrets and keeps hidden away) Alignment (all alignments are allowed, though no PVP) Characters will begin at Level 10, powerful and seasoned adventurers. We’ll be using the 2024 ruleset as the primary foundation. All official published 5e material is allowed, and some homebrew/UA is welcome with approval to ensure it fits the tone of the campaign.

Preparing for the session

Before the campaign begins, here’s what you’ll need to do: Join the Discord Server – I’ll create a private server for your party, which will serve as our hub for session updates, discussion, and coordination. Schedule Foundry Access – Character creation will be done in Foundry VTT. Please reach out to me to schedule a time to build your character.

What Tiny Kobold Hands brings to the table

As your GM, I focus on creating a deeply immersive experience that balances story, tension, and player agency. You can expect: In-depth and Quick-Reference Character Build Guides – Whether you want a deep dive into mechanics or a fast overview, I provide resources to make character creation and gameplay smooth and intuitive. Immersive Atmosphere – I use music, ambient sounds, and descriptive narration to pull you into the world, setting the tone for suspenseful, eerie, or cinematic moments. Flexible, Rule-of-Cool Gameplay – I prioritize fun and creativity over rigid adherence to rules when it enhances the story or player experience, while still respecting the core framework of the 2014 5e ruleset. Character Voices- I’ll try my best to give each NPC their own voice and personality—some will be better than others, but all are meant to add immersion, humor, and depth to the story. Story-Driven Challenges – Puzzles, mysteries, and encounters are designed to test creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, often tying directly to your characters’ fears, memories, and regrets. Tactical and Meaningful Combat – When combat occurs, it’s tense, strategic, and consequential, designed to challenge players while rewarding clever approaches. Collaborative Storytelling – I weave your character’s backstory, choices, and personal arcs into the narrative, so your actions and backstories genuinely shape the campaign. Player Support – I’m available to answer questions, discuss homebrew rules, and help troubleshoot character builds or strategies outside of sessions. Overall, my goal is to create a game where immersion, tension, and character-driven storytelling take center stage. You can expect a cinematic, engaging, and suspenseful campaign that rewards curiosity, cleverness, and roleplay while embracing moments of creativity and fun.

Homebrew rules

Birth Sign Boon – All characters start with a special boon dependent on a special birth sign. Death Save System – Death saving throws become progressively more difficult the more your character dies and is revived. Flanking Bonus Instead of Advantage – Flanking provides a +2 bonus to attack rolls rather than granting full advantage. Potions as a Bonus Action – You can drink a potion as a bonus action, but require a roll to determine effectiveness. Action to avoid the roll. Help Action for Skills – To assist another player’s skill check, you must be proficient in that skill. If not proficient, you may pitch a creative idea to justify your ability to help. Hidden Death Saving Throws – Your death saving throws are rolled secretly to keep suspense high.

How Tiny Kobold Hands creates a safe table

I use is a consent checklist, which is based on the Lines & Veils system. Before the campaign begins, I send all players a form that lets them mark content as green (okay), yellow (okay only if it’s veiled/offstage), or red (a hard line that won’t appear in the game). There’s also space to list specific triggers or boundaries. After everyone fills it out, I compile the responses into a single master sheet. That way, no one knows who set which boundaries, but the whole table has a clear understanding of what’s safe and what isn’t. This ensures we’re all on the same page before the game begins and makes the table more comfortable for everyone.