The Red Hand of Doom — A Gritty War Campaign for D&D 5e

Creating your character

CHARACTER CREATION GUIDELINES This campaign assumes motivated characters with real ties to the world. You are not random adventurers passing through—the Elsir Vale matters to you. All officially published D&D 5e material is allowed. Homebrew and third-party content are not used. Ability scores are generated using Point Buy. Standard starting equipment from your class and background is used. Every character must have a reason to care about the Elsir Vale. This does not need to be complex, but it should be meaningful. You might have grown up in or near Drellin’s Ferry, served a local lord, militia, or caravan company, have family or unfinished business in the region, or arrived for work and stayed longer than planned. Each character must define one friend or ally in the Vale and one rival, enemy, or strained relationship. These can be individuals, organizations, or personal connections, and they will be used actively in play. Your character should have a clear motivation. This can evolve over time, but it should give them a reason to act when pressure mounts. That motivation might involve protecting someone or something, gaining influence or security, correcting a past failure, or confronting a threat you believe is coming. Each character should also have one meaningful secret. This does not need to be shocking or villainous, but it should matter if revealed. Secrets create tension and choices and may complicate situations without being used to punish the character. This is a gritty war fantasy campaign. Characters can be heroic, pragmatic, idealistic, or flawed, but they must be willing to engage with the world and act. Joke characters or lone-wolf concepts will not fit the table. If you would like help tying your character into the Elsir Vale, that can be done before play begins.

Preparing for the session

PLAYER PREPARATION Before the first session, players should complete the following steps. Create a free account on The Forge, which is used to host the Foundry VTT game. Have an active Discord account for voice chat and table communication. Access to D&D Beyond is optional but supported if you prefer to manage your character there. Players should use a reasonably modern computer capable of running Foundry VTT with animated maps, along with a stable internet connection and a working microphone. A webcam is optional but preferred. An updated web browser such as Chrome or Firefox is recommended. The game will be run in Foundry via The Forge, and no purchase of Foundry is required. An invite link will be provided before the first session. Players are encouraged to log in ahead of time to confirm that everything loads correctly. Voice chat will be handled through Discord during sessions. An invite to the campaign server will be provided before play begins. Push-to-talk is recommended but optional. Characters should be created using the provided character creation guidelines and submitted for review before the first session. Be ready to briefly introduce your character and their tie to the Elsir Vale. The campaign begins with the party already working together in a loose, professional capacity. A shared backstory is not required, but characters should reasonably know and trust one another. The campaign does not begin with strangers meeting for the first time. If technical issues come up before play begins, assistance is available to help get things set up.

What David Amodeo (Actual Play Entertainment) brings to the table

WHAT I PROVIDE AS A GM I run a prepared, structured game with a clear direction and room for player choice. Sessions are planned in advance, encounters have intent behind them, and the campaign is paced to keep momentum without rushing important moments. Combat is tactical and consequential. Enemies use terrain, positioning, and coordination, and fights are designed to reward smart decisions. I run combat rules as written where possible so players can rely on the system, but I’m comfortable making quick rulings to keep things moving when needed. The goal is clarity and fairness, not gotcha moments. I use Foundry VTT with high-end animated maps, dynamic lighting, and premium assets to support tactical play and atmosphere. Visuals are meant to clarify the battlefield and enhance immersion, not distract from decision-making. Roleplay is supported with distinct NPC personalities and consistent characterization. I do use character voices when it feels natural, but clarity always comes first. Dialogue, social pressure, and political tension are used to shape the world and create consequences, not to stall play. Music and ambient sound are used sparingly to support tone, especially during combat or tense scenes. Silence is also used deliberately when it serves the moment. My GM style emphasizes consequence and follow-through. Player choices matter, success is earned, and failure changes the situation instead of being ignored. There is no plot armor, but the game is never adversarial—the challenge comes from the world, not from me trying to beat the players. The expectation at the table is focus, engagement, and respect for everyone’s time. In return, players can expect a consistent, challenging, and immersive campaign that delivers on what it promises.

How David Amodeo (Actual Play Entertainment) creates a safe table

SAFETY & TABLE CULTURE Player comfort is a priority at this table. This is a gritty, war-focused campaign with difficult material, but the goal is always for everyone to feel safe engaging with it. This table is for everyone, as long as you show up in good faith and treat the other players with basic respect. Harassment, bullying, or consistently disruptive behavior won’t be tolerated. You don’t need to agree with everyone at the table, but you do need to be able to play cooperatively. An open-door policy is in place at all times. Players can step away, pause, or raise concerns without needing to justify themselves. During the first session, we will go over tone, boundaries, and the safety tools in use so everyone is on the same page before the campaign fully begins. At the end of each session, we will use a Stars and Wishes check-in. This is a short, optional moment for players to highlight what they enjoyed and share anything they would like to see more or less of. It helps keep communication open and the game responsive without disrupting play. I also pay close attention to table balance. Everyone should have time to contribute, make decisions, and be part of the action. Spotlight is shared intentionally so no one is sidelined and no single voice dominates the table. The goal is a demanding but supportive environment where players can take risks in character, engage with heavy themes, and trust that the table is being run with care, fairness, and respect for everyone’s experience.