Toy Story meets Lovecraft meets Demon Hunters | ALL R WELCOME

Creating your character

RULE #1 :: CREATE A CHARACTER THAT WANTS TO DO STUFF! Playing a traumatized, lone-wolf, silent type can be tons of fun… BUT PLEASE find a way for them to want to work with a group of people RULE #2 :: CREATE A CHARACTER THAT WANTS TO DO STUFF AND BE PART OF A GROUP! 2024 Rule Set :: we will be using the 2024 Core Rules and Expanded Rules ONLY The only species allowed is the Geppettin from Valda’s Spire of Secrets: Player Pack. I already own this and will give you free access when you sign up. We will be starting with a Level 1 Character On top of your standard equipment, you can have any common armor and/or shield that you are proficient with On top of your standard equipment, you can have any common weapon you are proficient with - one melee and one ranged - OR - two common magic items that would best fit your character Custom Backgrounds are allowed with an origin feat of your choice For Ability Scores you can use Standard Array or Point Buy. BUT you can also roll for your stats => roll 4d6 :: reroll 1’s :: drop the lowest :: do that 7 times and use the top six scores (this must be done in front of the DM) ASK THE DM (i.e. me) ANYTHING :: if you are unsure about something, or if there is an out-of-the-ordinary idea want to try, or something extra you would like to have then please ask. Chances are pretty good that I’ll say yes and we’ll figure out how to make it work.

Preparing for the session

Please make sure you have: (1) an account on dndbeyond.com / a free account is available. I will send you my campaign link so that you can have free access to all of my source books for character creation (2) an account on Discord / I would encourage both audio and video for the game because it makes it easier to interact with other players and me BUT video is not mandatory. I will send you my server channel when you sign up. (3) A basic understanding of the rules is encouraged but not essential. (4) Your favorite way to roll dice (physical, website, app) as the honor system will be in play. (5) A suitable microphone for voice chat. (I will be on video, and you are more than welcome to join me, but doing so is not required.)

What Nelson | The Charming Trickster brings to the table

- FREE Session Zero: this will be a short conversation where we will go over etiquette and safety tools, GM style and rules stuff, the 'fantasy world' where our game will take place, and character creation. - As a GM, I generally follow the rules as written to keep the game consistent, but I’m always happy and willing to embrace creative ideas and the Rule of Cool when the moment calls for it. - I have a wide range of character options on D&D Beyond and will share my content for our campaigns - this also requires a D&D Beyond account. - We’ll use Owlbear Rodeo, a streamlined virtual tabletop that does not require you to create an account. - I use a combination of theater of the mind with some reference images and maps as needed using Owlbear Rodeo - While I’m no professional voice actor, I enthusiastically bring NPCs to life with my own quirky attempts at voices. Which oddly enough tend to all sound like either a Brooklyn cab driver or a southern debutant.

Homebrew rules

Our campaign will use the following house rules (all of which will be explained at the table): Heroic Death Options. When a character is reduced to zero HP instead of rolling D&D death saves, they get to choose one of four options: - Blaze of Glory. Your next action is a Critical Success and then your character dies - Permanent Scar. Your character stabilizes with 1 HP, is unconscious, prone, has 1 level in exhaustion, and will suffer a permanent penalty (DMs choice) - Risk It All. Roll a d20 :: 1-9 your character is dead – on a 10-19 your character is alive with half HP restored and you take 1 level of exhaustion – on a NAT 20 your character is alive with full HP restored - Medic Please. You are prone, your only action is crawling half at movement and must wait for another character to revive you. If you have not been revived by the start of your next turn your character dies Heroic CRIT. When a player rolls a natural 20 on an attack roll, they deal damage equal to the weapon’s full damage value plus the ability modifier, then they add one extra roll of the weapon’s damage die. Example: If you score a critical hit with a dagger (1d4 damage) and your character has a +3 modifier: You deal 4 (maximum of 1d4) + 3 (modifier) + 1d4. So, the total damage would be 7+1d4. Spell Exhaustion. Spellcasters can cast spells without available spell slots by taking a level of exhaustion per spell level, per spell cast (i.e., a 3rd-level spell costs 3 exhaustion). Exhaustion = -1 on every d20 roll per level and a character can take up to 6 levels of exhaustion before the possibility of character death a 6th level spell triggers death saves a 7th level spell instant death and must use Revivify an 8th level spell instant death and can only be brought back with a high-level spell like Wish a 9th level spell the character is gone forever Shield Sacrifice. This rule allows shield bearers to sacrifice their shield in order to reduce damage from an incoming attack. When a creature wielding a shield is hit by an attack, it can use its reaction to direct damage from the incoming attack to the shield instead of taking the damage itself. If the shield is hit in this way it is destroyed and can not be repaired. The player will have to find a new shield.

How Nelson | The Charming Trickster creates a safe table

- At Session 0 we will go over my social behavior expectations and safety tools, my GM style and rules stuff, the 'fantasy world' where our game will take place, and character creation. - There will always be a pre-game check-in - After the sessions are done, decompression and general chatting will be available in the group discord chat - I have an open door policy and I love feedback as it helps me to know what to keep doing or what to avoid in the future, so keeping an open line of communication is important to me - D&D is a game that assumes you talk to your DM about everything. Asking questions and getting clarity at (and away from) the table is one good way to make sure everyone, including yourself, has an amazing experience