Storm & Shadow: The Doom of Icespire | Beginners & Vets Welcome

Creating your character

🖌️Character Creation Guidelines: -Characters will be created on D&D Beyond and start at level 2. (The max level will likely be somewhere between 13-15.) -Basically all official WotC content on D&D Beyond is permitted. -Some 3rd party content published on D&D Beyond will also be available for use, at my discretion (ex: the Pugilist class) -Ability scores are determined with Point Buy. I may provide a small bonus or starting feat appropriate to your concept. (TBD) -Multiclassing is permitted but not recommended unless your character theme is good and cohesive enough to justify it. -You will begin with normal starting gold and no extra magical items.

Preparing for the session

This game uses: 🎲Roll20 for maps & music 👾Discord for communication (I do not personally use a webcam) 📕DNDBeyond for character sheets (using Beyond20 plug-in)

What Alex the Gray brings to the table

I provide a high-effort game complete with: 🎼Background and combat music for all situations 🌌High-quality maps, tokens, and images 🎭NPCs with generally distinct voices and personalities ⏳Puzzles and mysteries that will test players ⚔️Tactical, descriptive combat 🎁Custom feats and items that fit character themes 📜Some additional homebrew rules that allow for more tension and cinematic moments

Homebrew rules

🪦Dying and Death Saves -A character that is reduced to 0 HP does not immediately fall Unconscious, but instead enters a "Last Stand" state. Their speed is halved and they can take an action OR bonus action on their turn (not both.) If they take any further damage while at 0 HP, they fall Unconscious and start Dying as usual. -While Dying, Death Saves are made normally (whispered privately to the DM), but an Unconscious character may spend Heroic Inspiration to awaken with 1 HP, willing themselves to continue. -Characters that are Unconscious/Dying and rise to fight once more (whether through friendly healing or another method) gain 1 level of Exhaustion. This is to keep stakes high and prevent yo-yo healing. -On that note, Exhaustion is slightly weaker, providing only -1 to D20 tests per stack of Exhaustion (6 still kills you!) ⚔️Combat Changes -Flanking rules are in effect, albeit with a +2 bonus to hit rather than Advantage. -Critical Hits are "lethal" or "crunchy", meaning they do their maximum dice roll & whatever you rolled for damage (ex: 1d8+4 would become 1d8+4+8 for a crit.) -Potions are a bonus action to drink and the healing value is rolled. However, if a full action is taken, the full healing value is automatically applied without a roll. -Non-magical ammunition is not tracked. -A natural 20 is always a hit/success, a natural 1 is always a miss/failure (this also applies to other d20 tests in general.)

How Alex the Gray creates a safe table

Safety and comfort are important at any table. My games tend to be fantasy with a helping of dark or horror elements. I don't push things into graphic or gratuitous territory though, and like to keep things fairly friendly to players of all sorts. Here are some Safety Tools I plan to employ: 📝Session 0 - This will take place before we begin the campaign proper and be free of charge. It's an opportunity to go over everything we want (and don't want) in a game. 💜Lines and Veils - These are hard and soft limits that will be discussed before actual play begins to ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience. 📚Breaks - I will make additional time for breaks within the session runtime to allow for snacks, bathroom visits, discussion, etc. 🙊Stars and Wishes - At the end of sessions, players can gives these. Stars indicate things that people enjoyed during the game, while Wishes indicate things they would like to see in future sessions.