Ghosts of Duskvol - a Blades in the Dark Campaign

Creating your character

We will create our characters in Session 0

Preparing for the session

Join the Discord. Buy some dice. Steal a pencil.

What Thee Silvery Bard brings to the table

GM Style & Table Expectations • Character voices & ambience: Yes — I use light character voices and strong vocal characterisation (accents, tone, cadence rather than full theatre). I also use ambient music and soundscapes to support mood, tension, and pacing, especially during heists, downtime, and supernatural moments. It’s there to enhance immersion, not overpower play or slow things down. • Combat style: Combat in my games is fast, cinematic, and fiction-first, rather than tactical or grid-heavy. Expect high stakes, desperate choices, and momentum over precise positioning. Violence is dangerous and consequential, and often just one tool among many — deception, pressure, and planning matter just as much as blades and pistols. • Rules vs Rule of Cool: I run rules-aware but flexible. I respect the system and its intent, but I’m absolutely willing to bend or interpret rules in favour of drama, clever ideas, and strong fiction. If something is cool, characterful, and fits the tone, I’ll usually find a way to make it work — with consequences where appropriate. Overall, you can expect a collaborative, story-driven game where player agency matters, failure is interesting, and the city responds to what you do. The goal is tension, atmosphere, and memorable moments — not rules lawyering.

How Thee Silvery Bard creates a safe table

Player Safety & Comfort Player safety and comfort are non-negotiable at my table. Dark themes and emotional moments only work when everyone feels safe, respected, and in control of their experience. • Lines & Veils: Before the campaign begins, I’ll share a Lines & Veils document for players to review and add to privately. This ensures boundaries are set early and respected throughout play. Anything marked as a Line will not appear in the game. Veiled content may exist but will fade to black. • Session 0: Session 0 is used to align expectations and build trust. We’ll cover: • Tone, themes, and content warnings • Safety tools and how to use them • Player boundaries and comfort levels • Character and crew concepts • How consequences, trauma, and harm are handled in play • Table etiquette, communication, and pacing • X, N, & O system: I use digital safety tools. Players can signal X, N, or O via chat, private message, or agreed-upon emoji during play. No explanations are required in the moment — the scene will shift immediately and we’ll move on without spotlighting anyone. • During play: I keep a close eye on tone and player reactions, regularly checking in if a scene gets intense. I’m happy to pause, redirect, or rewind at any time. Safety tools are always active — not just at the start. • Aftercare: After emotionally intense sessions, I allow space for decompression. This might include a short cool-down chat, tone-reset conversation, or private follow-up messages to check in with players. Players are always welcome to message me between sessions if something didn’t sit right or needs adjusting. My goal is a table where players feel supported, heard, and safe enough to take creative risks. Horror, tension, and drama should be exciting — never uncomfortable or harmful.