Stranded in Black Coral Bay | Beginner Friendly Pirate Fun 🏴‍☠️

Creating your character

Pirate Borg, like Mörk Borg, has very fast character creation. Most things are random, which helps create the strange, desperate pirates that fit the setting perfectly. We’ll create characters together during Session Zero. Using Foundry, I have a great tool that will generate a character once you choose your class. After that, you can tweak the details to make the pirate your own. Don’t worry if you’ve never made a Pirate Borg character before. I’ll guide everyone through the process so we end up with a crew ready to sail straight into trouble. Yes, you landlubber, character creation will happen together at the table.

Preparing for the session

We shall be using Foundry, which means you need what’s called a modern browser (not your phone. If you use your phone you have no one to blame but yourself). For chats and giggles we will use Discord, so you will need to join the server. If you have a camera that would be amazing, otherwise you need a mic and speakers or a headset. There is a Lines and Veils form to fill in. It is pirates, so we need to know where we all stand. Apart from that, an eyepatch and bandana will get you in the mood. Grog is optional.

What Hollowponds (Peter) brings to the table

You know what you’re bringing to the table and what you need. Here’s what I’ll bring. If you’ve watched my channel (especially my long run of Pirate Borg), you’ll already have a feel for my style. We’ll create the story of your adventures together, and the world will feel like yours. What will I provide? - A shared story built around your decisions. - A cast of memorable NPCs, with voices and depth. - A campaign shaped by your choices. - A cinematic tone, the kind of game you’ll remember and want to retell. - Fast sessions, dangerous fights, strange discoveries, and the occasional terrible pirate decision. What is my experience? - I know and love Pirate Borg. - I’ve played a full solo campaign season on my YouTube channel (20 episodes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEZc21qgEbs - I’ve written GM guides and solo guides, with thousands of copies sold across many systems, including the Borg family of games and Single Player Mode for Cyberpunk RED, a bestseller since release. What’s my table vibe like? - Humour, because it’s Pirate Borg. - You’ll get to meet Captain Pete, and be treated to a range of gruff accents from across the North of England. - A supportive table. I’m neurodiverse, and I understand different needs and play styles. Do we have a Session Zero? Yes. We’ll cover safety, expectations, character fit, and player preferences, then set one shared goal: telling a kick-arse story together.

Homebrew rules

Pirate Borg is OSR so it’s quite light on the old rules. We won’t need homebrew rules where we’re going. Homebrew, on the other hand… who knows?

How Hollowponds (Peter) creates a safe table

During Session Zero, we’ll cover safety, expectations, Lines and Veils, and how we’ll handle anything that comes up at the table so everyone feels comfortable. Before the game begins, you’ll also complete a Lines and Veils form so we all understand each other’s boundaries. I’m a Mental Health First Aider, and I work hard to make the table supportive, respectful, and welcoming while we build the story together.