Learn To Play Dungeons & Dragons! 🌊 THE SHADOW OVER TIDEFALL!

Creating your character

🛠️ CHARACTER CREATION: YOUR HERO, YOUR WAY To ensure we can jump straight into the action at the docks of Janhelm, you have two options for your character: Option A: The Independent Builder (DIY) If you want to build your own hero from scratch, please use the following guidelines: System: D&D 2024 Rules (5th Edition). Level: 3. Stats: Standard Array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) or Point Buy. Backgrounds: Use the 2024 Background rules (which include your +2/+1 Ability Score Increases and an Origin Feat). Equipment: Starting equipment from your Class and Background, plus 50gp of extra supplies (or a single "Common" magic item of your choice). Flavor Tip: Characters with a connection to the sea, sailing, or coastal survival will feel right at home! Option B: The Ready-to-Play (Pre-Generated) Don't have time to build a sheet? No problem! I have a roster of pre-created characters ready to go. These are fully optimized for the 2024 rules and include: 🌊 The Wave-Breaker (Fighter/Paladin) 🏹 The Coastal Scout (Ranger/Rogue) 🔥 The Storm-Caller (Wizard/Sorcerer) 🐚 The Tide-Priest (Cleric/Druid) 🎻 The Sea-Shanty Singer (Bard) Note: If you choose a pre-gen, just let me know your preferred playstyle (Melee, Ranged, Magic, or Support) and I’ll send the sheet your way!

Preparing for the session

The only steps you must take before the first session are as follows. 1. Send a friend request to Apollosinc on Discord 2. Contact me by cell phone to introduce yourself 3. Join the Discord Server I'll send you

What Mason brings to the table

My GM style is focused on immersion, creativity, and player agency. I regularly use voice changers and character voices to help bring NPCs to life and make the world feel dynamic and memorable. I also enjoy using ambient music and sound effects when appropriate to enhance the mood, whether it’s a tense combat encounter, a quiet moment of exploration, or an emotional roleplay scene. I embrace the Rule of Cool over strict Rules as Written. If something is creative, cinematic, and fits the moment, I’m usually happy to let it happen—even if it bends the rules a bit. That said, I still maintain enough structure to keep the game balanced and fair for everyone at the table. In terms of gameplay, I aim for a well-rounded mix of combat, puzzles, exploration, and meaningful interactions with NPCs. Combat is engaging and tactical without being overwhelming, puzzles reward teamwork and clever thinking, exploration feels rewarding, and NPC relationships matter and can significantly impact the story. Overall, players can expect a game that values fun, immersion, and collaborative storytelling, where their choices truly shape the world and the narrative.

Homebrew rules

🎲 Combat & Action Economy 1. Bonus Action Potions Drinking a healing potion is a bonus action Feeding a potion to another creature is a bonus action ✔ Speeds up combat and encourages risk-taking 2. Cleave Through (Minions Rule) If a melee attack reduces a creature to 0 HP, excess damage can carry over to another adjacent enemy ✔ Makes martial characters feel powerful 3. Flanking Lite Instead of advantage, flanking grants +3 to hit ✔ Avoids advantage stacking and keeps tactics meaningful 4. Max Damage on Critical Hits On a crit, deal maximum weapon damage + roll damage dice ✔ Makes crits feel extra impactful 🧙 Magic & Spellcasting 5. Flexible Spell Flavor Spell effects can be cosmetically reflavored (fire → lightning, vines → shadows, etc.) without mechanical changes ✔ Encourages creativity 6. Concentration Save Bonus Casters add proficiency bonus to Concentration checks ✔ Helps casters maintain key spells at higher levels 7. Ritual Casting Expanded Any known/prepared spell with the ritual tag can be cast as a ritual, even if not prepared ✔ Rewards utility play 🧠 Roleplay & Story 8. Heroic Inspiration Each session, each player gets one inspiration they can give to another player in a moment of need. ✔ Encourages teamwork and rule of cool moments 9. Cinematic Advantage (Rule of Cool) Clever plans, great roleplay, or cinematic descriptions may earn advantage or minor bonuses ✔ Reinforces creative thinking 10. Fail Forward Rolls Failing an important check still progresses the story, but with complications ✔ Keeps momentum and avoids dead ends 🗺️ Exploration & Travel 11. Group Skill Checks For any ‘group roll’, any player with proficiency may roll; any player without proficiency may roll with disadvantage. ✔ Rewards proficiency, keeps the game going faster with fewer group rolls 🛠️ Character Customization 13. Free Feat at Level 1 Characters start with one non-combat or flavor feat ✔ Encourages unique builds and backgrounds 💀 Death & Danger 14. The Dying Condition When you hit 0 hit points, you gain the dying condition. On your turn, you can either roll a death saving throw as normal or you can do one of these things: Take an action which will give you 3 points of exhaustion Take a bonus action which will give you 1 poe Take a reaction and/or Take half of your movement speed which will give you 1 poe 1-10(death at 10) below is the minus to all d20 rolls you have at each poe level 2= -1 4= -3 6= -6 8= -10 9= -15 15. Lingering Injuries Dropping to 0 HP or suffering a massive crit may cause a minor lasting injury ✔ Raises stakes and narrative weight 16. Death Saves in Secret The GM rolls death saves privately ✔ Increases tension and urgency

How Mason creates a safe table

🎭 The Three-Strike Safety System The goal of this system is to keep the table safe, respectful, and fun for everyone while still allowing intense storytelling and roleplay. It is not punitive—it’s a structured way to handle boundaries and issues before they become bigger problems. What Counts as a “Strike”? A strike may be given for: Ignoring or pushing past established content boundaries or lines Making another player uncomfortable after being asked to stop Repeated disruptive behavior (derailing scenes, hostile play, excessive rules-lawyering) Targeted harassment, insults, or unwanted in-character behavior Any behavior that breaks table trust or safety Strikes are behavior-based, not about mistakes, misunderstandings, or honest roleplay errors. 🟡 Strike One — Warning & Clarification The GM pauses the game briefly (publicly or privately) The issue is clearly explained Expectations are restated No penalty beyond the warning 💬 “Hey, that crosses a boundary we discussed. Let’s adjust and move on.” This is a chance to course-correct with no lasting consequences. 🟠 Strike Two — Timeout & Check-In The GM calls for a short pause A private conversation happens (during or after session) The behavior must stop immediately GM may apply a minor in-game consequence (scene fade, NPC reaction, etc.) 💬 “This is the second time this has come up. We need to stop this behavior going forward.” This strike is about protecting the group and ensuring the player understands the seriousness. 🔴 Strike Three — Removal The player is removed from the session or campaign This may be temporary or permanent, at the GM’s discretion No debate at the table; discussion can happen later if appropriate 💬 “This behavior has continued after multiple warnings. For the safety of the table, you’ll be stepping out of the game.” This step is used only when necessary to protect players and the group dynamic. 🛡️ Additional Notes Any player may quietly alert the GM if something feels wrong The GM may skip directly to Strike Two or Three for severe issues This system applies to everyone, including the GM Safety tools like Lines & Veils, Fade to Black, and X-Card–style pauses still apply alongside this system 🎲 Philosophy This system exists to: Encourage accountability without fear Give players room to learn and adjust Protect immersion and emotional safety Ensure everyone feels respected at the table Fun is mandatory. Discomfort is optional.