The Price of Mercy |(short) Gunsmoke & Snow / Hunger & Sickness

Creating your character

Character Creation New players welcome. If you’re brand new, I can provide ready-to-play pre-made characters (Level 3) and we’ll quickly customize your vibe, role, and a simple personal hook. We’ll build characters together in Session 0 using D&D Beyond (I’ll share the campaign link). This is a short, story-forward Frozen Western, so we’ll keep backstories light and focus on party connections and tone. Starting rules • Starting Level: 3 • Ability Scores: Point Buy • Multiclassing: Allowed (keep it simple if you’re new) • Hit Points: Max HP at Levels 1–3 • Leveling: Milestone (story-based). This is a 3-session mini-campaign. Backstory & expectations (short and easy) Keep it to 3–6 sentences. Your character must: • Have a reason to stick with the party, even under pressure • Have a reason to travel into a dangerous arctic frontier town • Choose one tie (pick one): a person you’re looking for, a debt, a promise, a wanted past, or a personal reason you can’t ignore If you want, tell me your character concept (class + vibe) and I’ll suggest a fitting tie that plugs directly into the town and the story.

Preparing for the session

Before Session 0 / Session 1, please complete the following: • Join the Discord server (voice required; video optional). • Test your mic/headset and audio settings (push-to-talk recommended). • Create/log into D&D Beyond and be ready to use D&D Beyond digital dice (we’ll use these to keep an automatic roll record). • Join the D&D Beyond campaign link (I’ll share it before Session 0). • Foundry VTT access: We’ll use Foundry for maps and combat. No purchase needed—just open the link I provide in a modern browser (Chrome/Firefox recommended). • Check your setup: stable internet + a screen/resolution that can comfortably view the VTT map. Optional but helpful: • Bring a character concept (role, vibe, goals), or choose a pre-made level 3 character.

What Pablo brings to the table

This is a 3-session Frozen Western focused on strong NPCs, clear objectives, and an emotional story. You’ll step into a lawless arctic town where hunger and sickness are breaking people, and survival is controlled by someone you’ll love to hate. I keep the plot moving with clear stakes, fast scene framing, and choices that matter—without turning the game into a complex mystery or puzzle box. Presentation & immersion • Memorable NPCs with distinct personalities (I do character voices—more “clear and fun” than perfect accents). • Atmosphere through pacing, strong scene framing, and subtle music/sound when it helps the mood. • Visual support: Foundry maps, tokens, and handouts when they add clarity or impact. Roleplay-first, but action-ready • This game rewards roleplay: smart conversations, good instincts, and strong character choices will earn real advantages. • I’ll make sure every character gets spotlight moments—social, exploration, and combat—especially in a large party. Combat & set pieces • Combat is cinematic and readable, not overly technical. Positioning matters, but the goal is fast turns and exciting moments. • Encounters include set-piece fights, showdowns, and “protect the civilians / hold the line” style objectives—so it’s not just damage races. • Enemies act like they want to win, but I aim for tense and fair, not punishing. Rule of Cool (default) • If your idea is cinematic, fits the tone, and uses the fiction well, I’ll look for a way to make it work. • Expect “Yes, and…” / “Yes, but…” rulings with clear stakes (risk, cost, skill checks, limited uses, tradeoffs). • I keep consistency: if something becomes a repeatable tactic, we’ll quickly codify it so it stays fair. New-player friendly table flow • I’ll teach rules as we go, help with choices, and keep things moving. • I run fast turns, clear summaries, and frequent check-ins so nobody gets lost. • Foundry for maps/combat + D&D Beyond for sheets and rolling. Tone & content • Dark Western atmosphere, but heroic choices matter. • Themes include desperation, scarcity, sickness, and tragedy.

Homebrew rules

• Healing Potions • Bonus Action (self): Drink a potion and roll for HP restored. • Action (self): Drink a potion and restore maximum HP. • Action (ally): Administer a potion to another creature; they restore rolled HP. • Crunchy Critical Hits • On a critical hit, your attack’s base damage dice deal maximum damage + you roll the dice once (then add modifiers). • Extra damage dice from features (ex: Sneak Attack, Divine Smite, etc.) use regular crit rules (roll/double as normal—no crunchy max). • Hidden Death Saves • Death saving throws are rolled privately and are hidden from other players (the party won’t know your exact death save count unless it’s revealed in-game).

How Pablo creates a safe table

Before we play • We’ll cover safety in Session 0, including tone, themes, and expectations. • I’ll share a Lines & Veils document and we’ll set boundaries together. • I also use the Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist so everyone can privately flag topics they want avoided, faded-to-black, or handled carefully. During the game • We’ll take regular breaks and you can request a pause at any time. • We’ll use X, N, and O Cards as quick safety tools: • X = stop/rewind/change direction immediately (no questions asked) • N = “not like that” / soften / skip details / change framing • O = all good / keep going These can be done digitally (chat/DM) or held up on video, whichever is easiest for you. After sessions • We’ll do a short debrief after each session when needed, and I’m always open to private feedback. • I use Aftercare if a session gets intense (cool-down time, check-ins, and making sure everyone leaves in a good headspace). • We’ll also use Stars and Wishes so players can share what they liked and what they want more/less of going forward.