Phandelver & Below | Hardcore
Step into the dark beneath Phandalin, where the promise of gold lures you deeper into twisting tunnels, and ancient horrors wait in the depths.
$18.00
/ Session
Details
2 players following this game
Bi-weekly / Monday - 6:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 2.5–3.5 hours
1 / 6 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
1/6
About the adventure
Phandelver & Below: The Shattered Obelisk is a journey from classic fantasy adventure into the depths of cosmic horror. Venture into the frontier town of Phandalin, where forgotten treasures lie buried, ancient powers stir beneath the earth, and something far more sinister threatens to emerge. ⛏️🕯️ ⚔️ HARDCORE MODE 🎒 Survival & Supplies: Rations and water are tracked through degrading supply dice. Preparation matters, and poor planning has consequences. 🧠 Stress & Afflictions: Combat, fear, and horrific discoveries wear down your character's resolve. Accumulating Stress can inflict lasting Afflictions or even drive a character to madness. 🛠️ Equipment Degradation: Weapons, armour, and equipment deteriorate through combat and use. Maintain your gear or suffer the consequences. 🔮 Magical Burnout: Magic comes at a price. Pushing beyond your limits risks exhaustion, injury, and potentially devastating consequences. 💀 Death's Door: Reaching 0 Hit Points doesn't necessarily mean falling unconscious. Fight desperately to survive, but every action could bring you closer to death. 🏕️ Sanctuary & Recovery: True rest is a luxury beyond civilisation. Recover your strength in the safety of settlements, or endure the wilderness with dwindling resources. Will you uncover Phandalin's buried secrets, brave the darkness beneath the Sword Coast, and confront the horrors awakening below? Or will you become another forgotten soul swallowed by the depths? 🕳️⚔️ Survival is earned. Every choice has a consequence.
Game style
Tactical / Crunchy
Roleplay Heavy
Hexcrawl / Exploration
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(11)
2 years on StartPlaying
152 games hosted
Highly rated for: Knows the Rules, Creativity, Beginner Friendly
About me
Hi, I’m Max, also known as Death’s Door DM. I’m a UK based Dungeon Master who runs premium online D&D games through Foundry VTT. I love dark fantasy, gothic horror, survival stories, strange mysteries, dangerous journeys, and the kind of adventures where the party still talks about one bad decision weeks later. I put a lot of care into presentation and preparation. My games use atmospheric maps, lighting, music, automation, and carefully built scenes to help players feel immersed from the moment the session begins. I want the table to feel polished, easy to follow, and ready to play, whether you are brand new to D&D or already know your way around a character sheet. I enjoy running both official adventures and fully homebrew campaigns, especially games with strong atmosphere and a clear identity. My aim is to create sessions that feel memorable, cinematic, and worth showing up for every week. Outside of running games, I’m someone who genuinely enjoys the craft of DMing: building encounters, refining systems, creating locations, writing NPCs, and making the online table feel as close to a real shared world as possible. Step through Death’s Door, and let’s see what waits on the other side.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Character creation will be completed prior to session 0. All players will use D&D Beyond to create their characters and keep them updated as we progress through the story.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Prior to the first session, you will have access to my library of D&D Beyond content. I recommend reading the Player's Handbook as it provides a good basis for understanding the rules. However, this isn't mandatory, and I will happily go over how to play. Before joining, please check the list of requirements below. If you have any concerns, feel free to reach out to me. Requirements: 🎙️ Microphone (Required) 📷 Camera (Optional) 📚 D&D Beyond Account (Required) 💬 Discord Account (Required) Note: Foundry VTT and Discord do have some PC requirements, though a relatively modern system should have no problem running them. For further guidance, please see: https://foundryvtt.com/article/requirements/
What Death's Door DM brings to the table
All necessary materials for participating in the game will be provided electronically through Discord, D&D Beyond, and Foundry VTT. Here's what you can expect: 📚 Access a comprehensive library of resources via D&D Beyond. 🗺️ Explore meticulously crafted battle maps. 🎶 Enjoy atmospheric music to enhance your gameplay experience. 🎮 Experience fully utilized gameplay within Foundry VTT. 🧙♂️ Your character's background will be intricately woven into the narrative. 🪄 Discover custom magic items tailored for your adventure. 💬 Join a thriving Discord server filled with like-minded gamers.
Homebrew rules
A homebrew rules document can be provided at request and is also accessible once the campaign has been joined.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Headphones
Webcam
Platforms used
Safety
How Death's Door DM creates a safe table
We will start with a Session 0 to cover general playing etiquette and introduce key systems, ensuring you're well-prepared for Session 1. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, we will use several safety tools, including the Luxton Technique Discussion, the Open Door policy, and Stars and Wishes. These tools help create a respectful and comfortable gaming environment for all participants.
Content warnings
Safety tools used