Gritty Steampunk Homebrew Setting for a Long-Term Campaign
Tough streets, deadly politics, and shadowed secrets. One wrong move could topple a city, and it's your choices that shape Havenport’s fate.
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Saturday - 11:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–3.5 hours
Campaign Length / 12+ Sessions
1 / 6 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
1/6
About the adventure
The rain doesn’t fall in Havenport. It lingers. It clings to rooftops and gutters, slides down crooked chimneys, and drips black from rusted chains. The air tastes like coal and old iron. You stop noticing the smell after a while. Or maybe it just becomes part of you. The streets are never empty, but they’re never alive either. People move with their heads down, collars pulled tight, hands close to their pockets. Everyone’s got something to lose. Most already have. You learn quickly not to lean on anything. Not the walls. Not the doors. Not the people. Because sometimes the things you touch will leave you dirty. A body in the alley isn’t an event. It’s a landmark. “Turn left at the stiff with no boots.” No one calls the guards. The guards already know. Or worse, they don’t care. Up above, behind fogged glass and flickering candlelight, someone is always watching. A noble. A guild agent. A thing that isn’t supposed to exist anymore. Strings get pulled in Havenport, but you never see the hands. Only the tightening. You start at the docks, because everyone does. Washed in with the tide or thrown here by life. Level 3 means just strong enough to matter, just weak enough to die for it. You’ll take jobs you shouldn’t. Make deals you’ll regret. Help people who don’t deserve it. Hurt people who might. And the city will remember. Havenport doesn’t care if you’re a hero. It cares if you’re useful. Because something underneath the city is waking up. Something older than the Duke, older than the dwarves, older than the first stone laid in these streets. And when it rises, it won’t ask who was good. Only who’s left. ~~~~~~~ This campaign is an urban campaign based in a gritty steampunk city. It's very Gangs of New York meets Game of Thrones. The style is if Guillermo Del Toro had a baby with a steam engine. Imagine if Eberron went emo and had a goth girlfriend with runny eyeliner. Players will start off in the Docks and Lower District of the city. You'll have to weave your way through the crime and political sway of the city to pull yourself out of the muck and make something of yourself here. Make allies, join factions, become guild members, or do it your own way, but you've gotta make something of yourself here, whether right or wrong, or this place will eat you alive. Immense riches can be acquired or lost. It just depends on who you shake hands with first. The city is full of all sorts of mysteries dating all the way back to its founding. Some secrets can topple the ruling class, while others should remain buried. Inspirations- Game of Thrones Thief (video game series) Dishonored Gangs of New York Hellboy Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein Sweeney Todd Charles Dickens HG Wells Van Helsing Wild Wild West The Prestige The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Sleepy Hollow
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(4)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
9 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Storytelling, Voices
Average response time: 4 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
“Don’t just give them something cool… give them a chance to BE cool.” This is a game about collaborative roleplay where we tell a story together that puts the players' characters in sometimes dangerous situations of great peril in order to shine, rise above them, and become the heroes they were destined to be! A story where characters evolve over time and change and grow from who they once were to the legends of tomorrow. A game where you look back many, many years from now and remember the adventures... Oh, wait. Your games don't feel that way? Yikes... that sucks... You probably need me as a DM then.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Once you have your accounts and equipment ready, and your character prepared, you’ll be all set to join the adventure. Level & Stats: Starting Level: 3 Stats & Abilities: Roll, point-buy, or choose what feels right — whatever works for you. The goal is a character you’ll enjoy playing and that’s ready to dive into adventure. Races & Classes: Nearly any combination is welcome with DM approval. If something would be tricky to integrate, we’ll work together to adjust. Your character should be the one you’re excited to play, while keeping the world coherent. Character Philosophy: Build the character you love. Backstory, personality, quirks, and goals all shape the story from the start. In Session Zero, we’ll connect your characters to each other and the world, setting the stage for stories that are truly yours.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
When & Where: Create your character before the first session. We’ll collaborate—either privately or in a shared Discord thread/email—to make sure your character fits your ideas and the story we’re telling. Early collaboration ensures your character is part of the world from the very first moment. How Should Players Prepare? Before the first session, players should complete a few simple steps to ensure they can jump in smoothly: Accounts: You’ll need a free Roll20 account for maps, tokens, and character sheets, as well as a Discord account to join the campaign server. Discord is where we’ll coordinate schedules, share resources, and stay in touch between sessions. Equipment: A microphone is required so you can fully participate in roleplay and conversation. Make sure you do a mic check beforehand. Very important. A webcam is optional but encouraged to help the table feel more connected. I'll never tell you to use a webcam, but I do encourage it, as it makes it so much easier to tell when someone is done talking.
What TheChaosShaman brings to the table
When you play at my table, you can expect a rich, immersive experience designed to make your character feel alive and central to the story. I use heavy roleplay, distinct character voices, and in-character dialogue to bring NPCs and the world itself to life. Ambient music and sound effects are incorporated to enhance the mood, making dramatic moments hit harder and exploration feel more vivid. Combat is strategic, cinematic, and meaningful, but not overbearing—I balance tactical challenges with pacing that keeps the story moving. I embrace the Rule of Cool, giving players the chance to pull off bold, creative moves, while still maintaining consistent rules to ensure fairness and balance. Above all, I aim to create a player-centered table where choices matter. Your backstory, relationships, and decisions will actively shape the world, and every session is designed to reward creativity, clever thinking, and roleplay. Expect intense moments, emotional beats, and opportunities for your character to shine in ways that feel personal and memorable. FREE Session Zero! Loyalty Reward: Every 10th game is FREE!
Homebrew rules
We only have a few rules that are changes to the game. Anything we homebrew is usually a benefit in some way to making the game more fun. Such as: CHRIS PERKINS CRIT Drinking a potion is a bonus action, BUT if you do it as an action, you get max effect without rolling. I use a custom flanking rule of +2 to hit for more dramatic battles. Death Surge Ability: Voluntarily fail a Death Save to move 1/2 your movement rate, cast a cantrip, give someone else inspiration or pull off a last minute act of bravery in your last moments. Your Heroic Inspiration are now called "Cool Points" and can be spent on more than a reroll. You can spend it for an extra attack, give a friend advantage, auto-pass a death save, among other cool things. These points stack and there's no limit to the amount you can hold onto.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How TheChaosShaman creates a safe table
Players are free to message me at any time. We can discuss triggers beforehand as to make sure we avoid them. During game play if something gets uncomfortable, simply private message me an "X" and we change scenes immediately. No questions asked. I will also discuss things in Session Zero so the whole table hears the same safety discussion.
Content warnings
Safety tools used