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Arena Brawl! - a lvl 11 D&D One-Shot
Some enter the arena by choice, some by demand. But all fight for the prize. The game is simple… conquer or perish.
Free
Details
Once / Tuesday - 2:00 AM UTC
Feb 17
Session Duration / 2–3 hours
5 / 5 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
5/5
About the adventure
The drums of the arena thunder through its dark halls and corridors. But when you emerge into the sunlight, the sight takes your breath away. A vast arena surrounded by thousands of onlookers filling the stone walls with roaring applause. A ruthless champion parades the grounds taunting his next opponent. The only way to victory is by defeating him. In this combat focused one-shot for Dungeons & Dragons 5e, you’ll take the roll of gladiator. There will be successive combat encounters - 3 to be exact - but not all need to result in violence. Sometimes a steady word or sharp mind can bring victory. Knowing when stay your hand or when to strike is the key to victory. From the first charge to the last desperate stand, the game is about momentum, teamwork, and the thrill of the arena. Characters will win loot in these games. If you want, I keep a log and your characters will be able to use what they gain here in future games as well. We use the new 2024 rules along with any non-updated 2014 material. So yes, School of Necromancy rejoice, you’re still in the game. Also, the game takes place in a homebrew setting. Your characters reasons for ending up in the arena are their own. Some are there for glory, others forced to fight to pay a debt, others have more nefarious reasons. Whatever your characters reasons are you can expect fast paced combat encounters, the need to make tactical decisions about when to parlay with the enemy, hold your ground, or strike. The goal is to create cinematic moments as heroes fight side by side. You won’t need a deep knowledge of the rules to play, but some familiarity with combat mechanics will help you get the most out of this one-shot.
Game style
Combat Heavy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
4.9
(8)
2 years on StartPlaying
3 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Rule of Cool, Storytelling
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
The best way I know to run the game is by drawing from my life experiences. As an avid outdoorsman, a United States Marine, and now a white collar professional, there is a wide field to draw from. In my opinion, being a game master is one of the most fun ways to play the game. Crafting a world where I can help my friends experience being the hero (or the villain) is the highlight. To be fair, I never even considered playing D&D most of my life. But once I was introduced, I was hooked.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
(Approved Content) For Species, Backgrounds, Classes, Subclasses, etc... All official WotC content is allowed (anything on dndbeyond). Any unofficial content, please run it by me first. (Character Builder) dndbeyond - I will send you the campaign link and you can build your character in there. I will enable content sharing so you have access to everything I do. (Stats) Character Stats can be done either by Point-Buy or Standard Array. If you really want to roll stats, we’ll do it at the start of the session with everyone. (PC Level) Characters are level 11. Multi-classing is allowed. (Equipment) All characters can start with the standard equipment, *plus* 1,000gp to buy any other Equipment (weapons, armor, etc.). (Magic Items) See the campaign notes once you join. I like to stick to rules. But if you have a unique interpretation or want to try something a little different... I’m all ears. Especially if it makes the game more cinematic.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
The game will be run using 1) Google Meet; and 2) dndbeyond. This means you need a working internet connection and microphone. Computers or tablets work best, but a phone is possible. Video and Audio will be done through Google Meet. You do not need a Google account to join the meeting. Character creation and the VTT will be run in dndbeyond.com. You will need a dndbeyond account to build the character and view the maps. Don't worry, a free account works just fine. You will also have access to all my content when you join the campaign link.
What Sterling brings to the table
I like to stick to the rules of the game. Exceptions to the rules are rare, but absolutely acceptable if it makes a cool story moment. My ability to do character voices is terrible... However, if you want to do voices, by all means - I love it.
Homebrew rules
I don't mandate any homebrew rules. But if you have some you would like to suggest, I'm all ears.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Sterling creates a safe table
This session uses video and audio. Any player not comfortable with themselves being on video, please feel free to turn your camera off. At any time during the session, if you are uncomfortable with the game content, another player, or how I am running the game - you may message me directly or speak up during the game. I will do my absolutely best to accommodate any triggers or issues that come up during the game. One thing I am immovably strict on is respect to other players. Hurtful or inappropriate comments toward other players are not tolerated. Ever. This is a game that takes place on a battle field. Death on one side or the other is almost guaranteed. It is possible your character, or others may be injured or die. Please know this before hand.
Content warnings
Safety tools used