Learn to play, Phandelver and Below: Shadow of an Eldritch Flame
A dark force stirs beneath the frontier town of Phandalin, where ancient magic, buried secrets, and twisted ambitions threaten the realms above.
$15.00
/ Session
Details
Monthly / Sunday - 9:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–3.5 hours
0 / 5 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
Free session 0! Scheduled collaboratively at the end of each session to ensure flexibility and accommodate all players' availability. Welcome to Phandelver and Below: Shadow of an Eldritch Flame, an expanded and reimagined campaign set in the iconic Forgotten Realms. What starts as a simple job in the quiet frontier town of Phandalin soon reveals ancient secrets, mysterious powers, and growing dangers that reach far beyond the surface world. This campaign blends content from Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk and Dragons of Icespire Peak, with original storylines and lore woven throughout. The result is a rich, interconnected narrative that adapts to your party’s choices and actions. Whether you are battling strange creatures, navigating tense political situations, or delving into the shadowy depths of the Underdark, the story will grow with you. All three pillars of play are featured—roleplay, exploration, and combat—with plenty of opportunities for character development and creative problem-solving. I welcome players of all experience levels, from first-time adventurers to seasoned veterans. New players will find a supportive, welcoming environment with clear guidance. Experienced players will find a world full of depth, choices that matter, and a story with real weight. If you’re looking for a campaign where your decisions drive the story, where character arcs matter, and where mystery and magic run deep, this is the table for you.
Game style
Combat Heavy
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
Less than a year on StartPlaying
About me
Hey, I'm Josh, a neuroscience PhD with a lifelong passion for everything that blends imagination, strategy, and storytelling. I’m a developmental neuroscientist by day and spend the rest of my time enjoying life with my family, climbing, and diving into the worlds of tabletop roleplaying games. I grew up reading Forgotten Realms novels, and that early love for fantasy naturally led me to Dungeons & Dragons. When I’m not in the lab, you’ll usually find me climbing (indoors and outdoors), exploring new systems and settings in the TTRPG space, or deep into a board game or video game session. Tabletop RPGs have long been one of my favorite ways to connect with people and tell collaborative stories. I aim to help players feel welcome, excited, and empowered to make bold choices and shape unforgettable adventures. For me, these games are about more than just rolling dice. They're about shared experiences, unexpected moments, and the joy of shaping a story as a group. I’m excited to bring that energy to your table.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Session 0 (Free): Players will have a species/background chosen and the start of their character sheet filled out. In the future, characters will be created using rolled stats (4d6 drop the lowest).
What to expect
Preparing for the session
You will need at least a mic but a mic and webcam preferred. Need access to Google Meet. You should prepare a back up character of the appropriate level and maintain the character at the appropriate level. Dice to roll or electronic dice roller. Note taking tool. Character sheet management tool.
What Dr. DM (Josh) brings to the table
Tools & Resources: Google Meet: We’ll use Google Meet for video and voice, keeping the experience personal and easy to access. Optional Ambient Music: I run ambient soundscapes through a secondary Google Meet room for those who want an extra layer of immersion. Physical Rulebooks: I use the 2024 Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, Monster Manual, Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk, and Dragons of Icespire Peak as my main references. Custom Content: Expect flavorful custom twists, homebrew lore, and expanded worldbuilding that builds on the core material. GM Style: Character-Driven Storytelling: I love incorporating backstories and player goals into the unfolding plot. Your character will matter to the world. Immersive Roleplay: I do voices to the best of my ability and bring NPCs to life with personality, quirks, and purpose. Tactical and Purposeful Combat: Fights are meaningful, well-paced, and balanced to feel challenging without overshadowing story or roleplay. Rules Approach: I mostly stick to the rules as written, but I stay flexible for those special "Rule of Cool" moments that enhance the story. Leveling: We use milestone leveling to reflect major story beats and player choices. Hit Points: HP is rolled at advantage on level-up (roll twice and take the higher result). Attunement: I stick to the core 3-item attunement limit, but love giving out magic items—especially small magical trinkets that offer flavorful effects, situational boons, or temporary bonuses. Player Expectations: Engagement: I expect players to stay present, pay attention, and actively participate in the unfolding story. Respect: A respectful table is key. Everyone deserves a safe, inclusive space to play. Collaboration: This is a shared storytelling experience. I encourage players to contribute ideas, flavor, and character moments to help build something memorable together.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Pen & Paper
Microphone
Internet
Platforms used
Safety
How Dr. DM (Josh) creates a safe table
Safety & Expectations Open Door Policy — leave or pause at any time, no explanation needed Aftercare and debriefing at the end of each session Stars & Wishes for regular feedback and shared growth Respectful, inclusive table culture — no harassment or boundary-pushing What Is D&D? Introduction to D&D and its three central pillars: combat, social interaction, exploration Collaborative storytelling where your decisions matter Setting & Tone Forgotten Realms is the base setting; may draw inspiration from Eberron, Greyhawk, Spelljammer Players set hard and soft content limits in advance Tone is group-defined during Session 0 (serious, whimsical, grimdark, etc.) Session 0 Adventure Light in-world adventure where you roll stats during play Opportunity to discover character abilities through action Future characters use 4d6 drop the lowest for stats Other Gameplay Details
Content warnings
Safety tools used