🌑Etheros: Valley of Thorns🌑🎲Beginner Friendly🎲

Creating your character

🧝‍♂️ Character Creation ⚜️ If you're brand new to D&D, don't worry — we’ll schedule a dedicated onboarding session before your first game. This may include a guided walkthrough of character creation and a short “tutorial” scene to introduce key mechanics and help you settle into your role. ⚜️ Session 0 is completely free and designed to help you settle comfortably into the world. It includes full character creation and often a light roleplay segment that lets you explore moments from your character’s backstory. You'll shape how your character arrived in Grayspire Landing, how they met their allies, and what personal threads they bring into the story. ⚜️ Session 1 is typically longer than normal, offering a rich, immersive introduction to the campaign. It ensures that you don’t just start with stats — you start with purpose. As part of this collaborative process, you may receive custom items or unique abilities tied to your backstory, helping you feel distinct and meaningfully connected to the party. Starting Level: 3 Creation Tools: D&D Beyond Stat Generation: Point Buy Allowed Sources: Most official books are permitted. You’re welcome to ask about third-party or UA content.

Preparing for the session

🎒 How to Prepare for the Game Required: 🎤 A clear, functional microphone (no underwater audio, please!) and a stable internet connection 🎧 A free Discord account — this is where we’ll handle voice, updates, and general communication Preferred: 🥗 Come rested and ready to engage — Etheros can be intense, and food may be scarce in the wildlands. Hydrate, grab a snack, and settle in for adventure. 📖 No need to read all the rules, but having a basic understanding of D&D 5e helps. New players are very welcome, and I’ll walk you through anything you need. Optional, but Encouraged: 🎥 A webcam isn’t required, but it can make the table feel more connected ⚜️ Bring a few backstory ideas, even rough ones — we’ll shape them together and weave them into the world 🪄 Feel free to bring art, inspiration boards, or character vibes. This is your story too!

What Elio brings to the table

📦 What I Bring to the Table 📕 I use a wide range of creative tools like Dungeon Alchemist, various worldbuilding books, and Foundry VTT — which helps streamline encounters, rolls, and exploration. That means less time on math… and more time figuring out how to steal that horse from the stable without waking the guards. 📘 I also draw from resources like the Gamemaster Book of Puzzles and Dungeons (and more from that series) to bring dynamic puzzles, thematic traps, and clever challenges into the game. Expect encounters that reward thinking and sometimes punish recklessness — but always with style. 🎨 I create custom visual assets using AI and personal editing — from scene illustrations to item handouts. These help bring the world to life in a distinct visual way. 🧰 I create a wide range of custom in-game items, from unique gear and tools to rare regional materials. You can expect to find a world where equipment feels grounded and functional — no generic loot drops here. Whether it’s a finely crafted longbow from a local hunter or a lantern modified for deep cave travel, items in this world are made to feel real, contextual, and meaningful, helping immerse you deeper into the setting. 🧭 Maps come from public sources or made through Dungeon Alchemist and tailored to the session’s tone, scale, and lighting for a truly immersive feel. 🎧 You’ll also gain access to a private Discord server, not just for our campaign, but as a space to connect with others who love D&D. Whether you're sharing art, character ideas, or just chatting between games — you’ll find community here.

Homebrew rules

1. Pop & Shoot (Dynamic Cover Rule) • If you’re within 5 feet of cover (like a wall or column), you can lean out to attack and automatically return to cover on the same turn. • No extra movement needed, but you must declare it before rolling. 2. Potions as Bonus Actions • Drinking a potion (e.g., healing) on yourself only takes a bonus action. • Administering a potion to someone else still takes a full action. 3. Wounded Saves (Stacking Death Penalty) • If a creature drops to 0 HP multiple times in one combat, each time after the first, they start death saves with 1 failure. 4. Fail Forward (Narrative Momentum) • Failed skill checks may still progress the story, but with complications or unexpected outcomes. This rewards creativity and keeps momentum. 5. Wild Magic Zones (Valley of Thorns Specific) • In strange regions like the Valley of Thorns, magic may behave unpredictably. The DM may add flavorful or chaotic side effects to spells.

How Elio creates a safe table

I use a Lines & Veils form before Session 0 to understand player boundaries — responses are private and respected. Session 0 includes tone, character creation, party expectations, and safety tools. After each game, I’m available to check in or talk through anything that came up. Games are flexible in pacing, usually 3–5 hours, with a focus on immersion, exploration, and atmosphere over rigid rules. I prioritize a chill, story-driven experience where creativity and comfort come first.