EchoRain - Nautical Campaign of magical secrecy - level 2 +

Creating your character

Character Creation All character creation for EchoRain is handled before Session 0. If you’re interested in playing, just message me and we’ll arrange a time to build your character together, shape their backstory, and make sure you feel confident before the campaign begins. I want everyone to start with a character that fits both the setting and the kind of story we’re telling. The campaign uses the 2014 D&D 5e rules with 2024 healing updates. We will be using milestone levelling, so characters advance through story progress rather than XP tracking. For ability scores, each player will roll three full sets of stats and choose the set they prefer. Hit points are straightforward: at level 1, you take maximum hit points, and for every level after that, you take the safe average for your class hit die. Characters begin with a little extra flexibility in progression. You gain one free feat at character creation, and whenever you reach an ASI level (Ability Score Increase) such as 4th or 8th level, you receive both the Ability Score Improvement and a feat. For starting resources, you may choose either your class equipment or starting gold. If your background does not grant any starting money, you begin with 10 GP instead. In terms of allowed material, optional class features are allowed. Homebrew is not part of the default ruleset, but I’m open to discussing it if you want to request something specific first. Content from Drakkenheim and Obijima is not allowed, and I may add more restricted sources later if needed. The following options are not available in this campaign: Plasmoids, Artificers, Eloquence Bards, and Crooked Moon optional features. Custom backgrounds and custom races may be possible, but only after we’ve talked them through together. For general play, I do not track encumbrance, but I do expect everyone to be sensible and realistic about what their characters are carrying. Scrolls are also handled more generously in this game: any caster can use any scroll **without making a roll**. Wizards should still keep normal restrictions in mind when it comes to what they can copy or re-scribe. The goal of character creation is not just to build something mechanically solid, but to create someone who feels grounded in the world of EchoRain and has strong reasons to be part of the story from the beginning.

Preparing for the session

Before the campaign begins, you will need to join the Discord server using the invite link. Most of the important links, updates, and game information will be kept there, so it will act as the main hub for the campaign. Once you are in the server, please also join the D&D Beyond campaign using the campaign link. This is where you will make and keep your character sheet, and it will also give you access to all of the books I own on that platform. You will also need to join the Foundry link for the virtual tabletop, which will be available through the Discord server. In addition, please make a free account on Obsidian Portal and use the provided link to look through the basic information for the homebrew world. This will give you a foundation for the setting before we talk in more detail about your character and where they fit within it. At some point before play, we will also need to arrange a time to talk so I can give you additional world information and help work your lore, character ideas, and backstory into the setting properly. I also ask that you take time to read through the expectations, homebrew rules, and other important information posted in the Discord server so everyone starts with the same understanding. For play, I recommend downloading Beyond20, which allows you to send rolls from D&D Beyond to Foundry through Forge. Forge requires a free account. That said, I do allow physical dice if you prefer to roll by hand, as long as you are comfortable switching over for a while if I ever ask. This would usually only be to keep things fair and comfortable for the whole table if luck starts looking unusually extreme. You are also welcome to roll directly through Foundry via Forge instead, which works perfectly fine as well.

What Emma brings to the table

When you join my table, you are not just getting a DM who runs the rules. You are getting a supported experience built around immersion, teamwork, and making sure every character matters. My goal is to create a game that feels alive, collaborative, and worth investing in, both as a player and as a character. I do my best to bring the world to life through NPCs with distinct voices, personalities, and energy. I am not claiming perfect accents or professional-level performance, but I do want the people you meet to feel memorable, whether they are characters you grow attached to, learn to fear, or end up arguing with for half a session. Atmosphere also matters a lot to me, so I use music through Kenku bot to help set the tone. That can mean tense combat tracks, eerie ambience during mysteries, cosy tavern sounds, or those moments where the soundtrack helps a scene land just a little harder. I want sessions to feel like they have a strong mood and identity, not just a series of mechanics. In combat, I allow tactical chat because teamwork should matter. I also try to make fights feel like scenes rather than repetitive exchanges of attacks. I aim for interesting enemies, environmental features, narrative stakes, and moments that feel cinematic and memorable. I lean heavily into Rule of Cool. If you come up with something creative, dramatic, or genuinely awesome, and it fits the story and the moment, I will usually try to work with you to make it happen. Some of the best parts of a campaign come from unexpected player ideas, and I want to leave room for those moments. I also do my best to communicate clearly. I want players to understand what is happening, what their options are, and what tone or expectations apply, so you can focus on playing rather than second-guessing the game around you. Sessions are recorded, with player knowledge and agreement, and being comfortable with that is required to play. I do this to help both me and the group keep track of details, maintain continuity, and make it easier to revisit important information later. To support the party, I provide a space for collaborative note-taking so players can track clues, NPCs, locations, quests, and small details that may matter later. I also build backstory-focused chapters into the campaign so everyone gets moments of personal focus, growth, and meaningful stakes within the wider story. The bottom line is that I want to provide an immersive world, a supportive table, and a story that feels like it was made for your characters, because it is. Most importantly, I care about everyone’s safety, comfort, and ability to have fun. At the end of the day, this is a game, and it should be played in a safe space where everyone can enjoy themselves.

Homebrew rules

Homebrew Rules Overview My games use the 2014 D&D 5e rules with 2024 healing updates as a base, along with a few house rules to support smoother play and a more cinematic experience. Character creation includes a few bonuses. Players roll three full stat sets and choose one, begin with a free feat at level 1, and at ASI (Ability Score Improvement) levels they gain both the ASI and a feat. Hit points are maximum at level 1, then rolled each level after with a minimum result equal to average. If a background gives no starting money, the character begins with 10 GP. For combat, a few homebrew rules are used. Glancing blows mean that if an attack roll matches your AC exactly, it deals half damage. Crunchy crits are also used, meaning the first set of crit damage dice is maximised and the second set is rolled. Players can use this from the start, but enemies do not use crunchy crits against players until level 3. Flanking grants a +2 bonus to attack rolls. Health potions can be used as a bonus action for rolled healing, or as an action for full healing; using one on another creature takes an action. A few quality-of-life rules are also in place. Any scroll can be used without a roll, though Wizards can still only inscribe spells from their own spell list. Encumbrance is not tracked, but players are expected to be realistic about what they carry. Death saves are rolled privately, and public death saves do not count. Physical or digital dice are both fine, as long as rolls are honest. The overall aim of these rules is to keep the game fun, flexible, and rewarding, while still preserving challenge and encouraging teamwork, creativity, and character-focused play.

How Emma creates a safe table

My table is built to be a safe, respectful, and low-stress space where we can explore big emotions and intense scenes without anyone feeling trapped or uncomfortable. Safety tools are not an afterthought here; they are part of how I keep the game enjoyable and make sure everyone can engage with confidence. Before we begin, I use consent forms in two ways. There are individual forms, which players fill out privately so they can be honest without pressure, and there is also a group consent form that we complete together so everyone is clear on shared boundaries and expectations. As a group, we will also set Lines and Veils. Lines are things that do not appear in the game at all. Veils are things that may exist in the world, but will not be shown directly on screen. If something needs to be handled more gently, I will follow the preference chosen, whether that means fading to black, mentioning it without description, keeping it fully off-screen, or avoiding images connected to that topic. The safeword at my table is “VETO.” If anyone says it, I stop the scene immediately. I will only ask what element needs to change, not why, and I will adjust or remove it on the spot. There is no debate, no judgement, and no need for anyone to explain themselves. I also keep an open door policy. You can step away at any time, for any reason. If you need to talk privately, I do my best to be available. If I cannot respond right away, I will arrange a time and get back to you as soon as I can. Whenever possible, I am happy to stay around after sessions for debriefs and check-ins. That can mean a group conversation about how a session felt, one-to-one chats about anything that came up, or simply general conversation, whether it is game related or not. I also do my best to include a mid-session break so everyone has a chance to use the bathroom, grab food or drink, decompress after intense scenes, or lightly plan next steps. Session 0 is there to help set the campaign up for success. I use a Session 0 template to make sure we clearly cover player and character introductions, scheduling and table logistics, what happens if someone cannot make it, expectations around player-versus-player play, metagaming and cheating, breaks, food and drink, table comfort, spotlight sharing, language preferences, campaign tone, the balance of roleplay, combat, and exploration, custom rules, how player choices affect the world, allowed content, starting level, alignment guidance, and character creation support. The bottom line is that I want everyone to feel safe, heard, and excited to play, and I will always choose player comfort over sticking rigidly to a scene.