Secrets of the Azure Coast – Greyhawk Campaign [5e 2014]

Creating your character

Characters will be created before the first session using the Roll20 Charactermancer. Once players join the game, I will add them to the Roll20 campaign and assign them a character sheet where they can build their character using the available tools. The campaign uses the D&D 5e (2014) ruleset. Characters begin at Level 1, and ability scores will be generated using the Standard Array. Allowed sourcebooks • Player’s Handbook (2014) • Xanathar’s Guide to Everything • Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything The Variant Human option from the Player’s Handbook is allowed. Allowed races Human, Elf, Half-Elf, Dwarf, Gnome, Halfling, Tiefling, Aasimar, Half-Orc, Dragonborn, and Tabaxi. Greyhawk Languages For this campaign, several regional languages of the World of Greyhawk may be selected as starting languages where appropriate: • Baklunish – Language of the Baklunish peoples of the northwest • Flan – Ancient language of the Flan tribes and cultures • Oeridian – Widely spoken among Oeridian peoples across the Flanaess • Ancient Suloise – Language of the ancient Suel Imperium; often used in arcane texts and by the Scarlet Brotherhood (similar to Latin in the real world) • Olman – Spoken by the Olman peoples of Hepmonaland • Touv – Language of the southern Touv cultures • Draconic – Language of dragons and magical knowledge • Celestial – Language of good-aligned extraplanar beings Players are encouraged to choose languages that fit their character’s background and the Greyhawk setting. This campaign is best suited for cooperative players who enjoy working together as a party. Characters should be willing to collaborate, share the spotlight, and participate in the story as part of a team. If players have any questions during character creation, I’m happy to help guide them through the process.

Preparing for the session

Before the first session, players must have the following ready: • A computer with a reliable internet connection. This game uses Roll20 with Dynamic Lighting, which can be demanding on older machines. • A Roll20 account. Characters will be created and played using Roll20. • A Discord account. Voice communication will take place through a dedicated Discord server. • A microphone and speakers/headset for voice communication. • Headphones are strongly recommended to prevent audio echo. A webcam is optional. Players should join the session from a reasonably quiet environment where they can participate comfortably. Once you join the game, you will receive invitations to both the Roll20 campaign and the Discord server.

What Kieron brings to the table

My goal is to provide a well-prepared and enjoyable tabletop experience where players can explore the world, develop their characters, and work together as a party. I run games that balance roleplaying, exploration, and tactical combat. I generally follow the Rules as Written to keep the game fair and consistent for everyone. If a rule is unclear during play, I will make a quick ruling so the game continues smoothly and review it after the session if necessary. While I am not a professional voice actor, I make an effort to give NPCs distinct personalities and convey their tone and manner of speaking. My focus is on helping the world feel alive through description, character interaction, and storytelling. I enjoy providing visual aids whenever possible. Players can expect images of monsters, environments, and items to help bring the adventure to life. Some of this material will come from published sources, and some will be artwork I create myself. I also enjoy working with players between sessions to develop character backgrounds, goals, and story hooks, helping characters become a meaningful part of the campaign world. I do not typically use ambient music during sessions, as I find it can interfere with voice communication during online play. My table is intended to be a respectful and cooperative environment. I want all players to feel comfortable participating in the game, and rude or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. For the game itself I provide the Roll20 campaign, including access to the sourcebooks listed earlier in the Compendium. I also maintain the Discord server used for voice chat and discussion between sessions.

Homebrew rules

This campaign uses a few house rules to encourage tactical play and make adventuring feel a little more grounded while still remaining close to the core D&D 5e (2014) rules. Potion Use Characters may drink potions as a Bonus Action when drinking them themselves (if the potion is readily accessible). Administering a potion to another character still requires an Action. Modified Long Rest Healing Long rests do not automatically restore all hit points. Instead, characters heal by spending Hit Dice at the end of the rest, similar to a short rest. Afterward, characters regain half of their maximum Hit Dice. This encourages resource management and makes healing magic and potions more meaningful. Lingering Injuries Beginning at Level 3, characters may suffer lingering injuries in particularly dangerous situations (such as severe critical hits or being reduced to 0 hit points). These injuries can range from minor temporary setbacks to more serious wounds that require magical healing or downtime to recover. Lockpicking Lockpicking attempts take about one minute. Failing a check may allow another attempt, but repeated failures can jam the lock or create complications such as noise, broken tools, or attracting attention. These rules are intended to add tension and realism while keeping the game fair and consistent. Full details will be available in the campaign documentation.

How Kieron creates a safe table

Player comfort and respect at the table are important. Before the campaign begins we will review expectations during a brief Session 0 and ensure everyone understands the tone of the game. I maintain a Lines and Veils document on the campaign Discord server where players can anonymously add topics they would prefer to avoid or fade to black. This helps ensure that sensitive material is handled respectfully. During play, players may use the X, N, and O safety tools, which are available directly within the Roll20 game. Instructions for using these tools are also posted in the Discord server. Players are always welcome to contact me privately between sessions if something in the game made them uncomfortable or if they would like to discuss adjustments to the game moving forward. My goal is to create a respectful, cooperative environment where everyone at the table feels comfortable participating and enjoying the story together. Harassment, bullying, or disrespect toward other players will not be tolerated.