Dawn of the Dragonlords – From Villagers to Legends

Creating your character

Character creation supports both careful planning and mythic unpredictability. Players may choose every aspect of their character normally, or optionally roll on curated tables for background, ancestry, class, and other details to let fate shape their hero’s story. The random tables are designed to inspire unexpected character concepts and connections to the world, while still giving players full control over the final result. Ability scores may be generated with either rolling or point buy, depending on player preference.

Preparing for the session

We will use the following free tools to play: - Zoom – for voice and video - Roll20 – for maps and gameplay - D&D Beyond – for character sheets - Beyond20 – a browser extension that links D&D Beyond to Roll20 Before the first session, please: - Create a free account on Roll20 and D&D Beyond - Install the Beyond20 browser extension - Make sure Zoom works on your system - Test that Beyond20 can roll dice from D&D Beyond into Roll20 Beyond20 installation (Chrome, Firefox, and Edge): https://beyond20.here-for-more.info/install If you are new to any of these tools, I’m happy to help you set them up before the first session.

What Marco brings to the table

- Player-driven storytelling. Your characters are at the center of the campaign, and your choices will shape the fate of the world. - A sandbox world to explore. The islands are filled with locations, monsters, and mysteries that you can tackle in any order you choose. - A living world with real consequences. The world does not stand still while you act. Decisions matter, and your actions will change the course of events. - A civilization shaped by your characters. Over time, you may rise to rule a city-state or even a powerful kingdom. The culture and values of that civilization will be shaped by your choices and example. - Room for different playstyles. Whether you enjoy deep roleplay, tactical combat, exploration, or creative problem-solving, there will be opportunities for your character to shine. - Immersive gameplay tools. We will use battle maps on Roll20 along with ambient music and lighting to help bring the world to life. - Creative problem solving. I use the rules as a baseline, but I love when players come up with clever or unexpected ideas. If you think outside the box, the game will reward it.

Homebrew rules

I use a variant of the Gritty Rest rules from the 2014 Dungeon Master’s Guide. In practice, this means: - A night’s rest functions as a short rest. - A long rest represents a longer period of downtime, where months pass in the world. These longer rests act as campaign turns, allowing time for your civilization to grow, recover, and develop. However, the world does not stand still—other powers may also advance their plans during this time.

How Marco creates a safe table

Session 0 – Lines & Veils Before the campaign begins, we will have a Session 0 where we discuss expectations and establish Lines and Veils together. This helps ensure that everyone at the table is comfortable with the themes explored in the game. Breaks During sessions we will take short breaks so everyone can stretch, grab a drink or snack, or step away for a moment. Cooldown At the end of each session we will spend a few minutes talking about what you enjoyed and what could be improved. This also gives everyone an opportunity to raise any concerns in a relaxed setting. Players are also always welcome to message me privately if something during the game makes them uncomfortable.