Madness, She Wrote (A Brindlewood Bay Mystery)

Creating your character

How Should Players Create Their Characters? We will create characters together during our Session Zero. Brindlewood Bay is a very rules-light game, so you do not need to prepare anything ahead of time or worry about complex stats. The system does not use levels, classes, or point buy. Instead, you will choose your Maven’s background, personality, hobbies, cozy activity, and a few starting Moves that shape how she approaches mysteries. During Session Zero we will: Walk through the character sheet step by step as a group Discuss tone, boundaries, and comfort levels Create the Mavens and decide how they know each other Establish a few shared NPCs and details about the book club Tie your Maven into the legacy of Maeve Fletcher No books or outside resources are required. Everything you need will be provided during the session. New players are completely welcome, and I will guide everyone through the process so that each Maven feels distinct, grounded, and fun to play. By the end of Session Zero, you will have a fully created Murder Maven, a shared sense of community, and the foundations of the mystery that will begin in our first full episode.

Preparing for the session

I run my games using my personal FoundryVTT Server (which you will not need to install anything ahead of time for). I use Discord for campaign organization, note taking and optional in-between session roleplay. For Voice I use Google Meet and being on camera is entirely optional. I tend to describe things with my hands so I will likely be on camera during the games.

What AaronDungeonMaster brings to the table

You can expect a very story-focused game with strong atmosphere, memorable NPCs, and a balance of cozy humor and slow-building mystery. I focus on character-driven storytelling rather than rules crunch, and Brindlewood Bay is ideal for that style. The system has no tactical combat, so the spotlight stays on investigation, relationships, and uncovering the truth. I provide the following for players: A clear and welcoming Session Zero Easy-to-use digital tools and character sheets Mystery handouts, letters, and visual aids when useful Light ambient music to set the tone Distinct character voices and mannerisms for NPCs Recaps, clues, and session notes to help keep the story flowing My GM style leans into collaboration and player ideas. I enjoy saying “yes, and” or "no, but" when players follow their instincts or notice something interesting. I also take care to keep the game grounded so the cozy tone stays intact even as the supernatural elements rise. Players can expect a mix of warm roleplay, clever deduction, and a creeping sense that something stranger is moving beneath the surface of Brindlewood Bay. I take safety and comfort seriously, and we will check in regularly to make sure everyone feels supported and fully able to enjoy the mystery. I use Monte Cook's Consent in Gaming Checklist to help establish clear boundaries early on. The goal is a game that feels fun, welcoming, and rich with story while always respecting the boundaries of the group.

How AaronDungeonMaster creates a safe table

Monte Cook's Consent in Gaming Checklist as well as the Lines and Veils system and a solid session zero are the primary tools I use for Safety at my table and I take if very seriously. I am a firm LBTQIA+ Ally and establish preferred pronouns early so that all can feel comfortable at my table. I do not support the "Frost Giants" and will not tolerate players at my table who do.