The Hours Before: The Waking Dark | Inclusive | Newbie Friendly

Creating your character

Character creation happens during Session Zero as a group. Starting at level 1, using standard PF2E ability score rules. All official PF2E ancestries, classes, and backgrounds are welcome — if you want something unusual, just bring it to me, and we'll make it work. More importantly, we'll spend time during Session Zero making sure your character has a reason to be on that ship. Where you're from, where you're going, and why — those details matter in Aesteria.

Preparing for the session

Technical Setup Download Discord if you don't already have it, and make sure your microphone is working clearly. A pair of headphones is strongly recommended to avoid echo. Camera is optional but welcome. Once you're accepted into the game, you'll receive an invite link to a dedicated campaign server — get familiar with the layout before Session Zero, as it'll be our home base for everything from session scheduling to lore notes and campaign updates. Additionally, I plan on using Pathbuilder to keep track of character sheets. Pathfinder 2E You don't need to own any physical books. The entirety of Pathfinder 2E's rules is available for free at Archives of Nethys (2e.aonprd.com). If you're new to the system, don't panic — a casual read through the basics of how checks, actions, and combat work will go a long way. Don't worry about mastering anything before we meet; that's what Session Zero is for. Character Concepts Come to Session Zero with at least one character concept in mind — not a full build, just an idea. Think about who your character is as a person: where they're from, what they want, and what they're running toward or away from. Most importantly, think about why they might be aboard a ship bound for the port city of Aesteria on the 26th of Dravago, 988. You don't need a detailed backstory — just enough of a spark to build from together. A Note on the World Aesteria is a fully original homebrew setting, so there's nothing to read in advance — and that's intentional. You'll discover the world the same way your character does, piece by piece. If you're the type who loves lore, there will be plenty to dig into as the campaign unfolds. For now, just arrive curious. Safety and Comfort Before Session Zero, take a few minutes to think about any content you'd prefer to avoid, or that might require careful handling at the table. We'll go through safety tools together during Session Zero, but having a sense of your own lines and veils in advance will make that conversation smoother and more useful for everyone. The Most Important Thing Show up ready to collaborate. This is a story we're building together, and the best thing you can bring to Session Zero isn't a perfect character sheet — it's enthusiasm, openness, and a willingness to play.

What Zensys brings to the table

My goal as a GM is to create an experience that feels immersive, collaborative, and worth attending every two weeks. Here's what that looks like in practice. Every session opens with a recap of where we left off — a summary to get everyone back into the world and the story before we dive in. Between sessions, our dedicated campaign Discord server will serve as a living companion to the game: a place for lore notes, faction information, session summaries, and the kind of worldbuilding detail that rewards players who like to dig deeper. After each session, I'll post a written journal entry — part recap, part narrative — that captures what happened from the world's perspective. Think of it as the campaign's memory. During sessions, I run theater of the mind. I lean heavily on descriptive language to set scenes, establish atmosphere, and bring NPCs to life — I may not do distinct voices, but every character has a distinct personality, agenda, and way of speaking that I'll make clear. A curated ambient playlist will accompany each session, shifting with the tone of the story — quiet and unsettling in a torchlit crypt, tense and percussive when steel meets steel. Combat in PF2E is tactical, and I run it that way — positioning, action economy, and smart play matter here. That said, I know when a great idea deserves to work regardless of what the rulebook says. The Rule of Cool has a standing invitation at my table, used sparingly enough that it means something when it shows up. Outside of combat, roleplay is where I invest the most — in the quiet conversations, the moral dilemmas, the moments where your character's choices reveal who they really are. Those are the moments I build toward, and the ones I remember long after the session ends. What I ask in return is simple: show up, engage with the world, and trust the process. The story we tell together will be better than anything I could write alone.

How Zensys creates a safe table

Player safety and comfort are not an afterthought at my table — they're part of the foundation. This campaign deals with dark themes, including death, religious corruption, psychological horror, and moral ambiguity, and I take seriously the responsibility that comes with that territory. Before the campaign begins, every player will receive a Lines and Veils document via Discord to fill out privately. This gives everyone the space to be honest about their boundaries without the social pressure of a group setting. We'll then come together during Session Zero to discuss safety tools as a group, establish shared expectations, and make sure everyone is comfortable before a single die is rolled. During play, we use three tools. Lines and Veils establish hard boundaries and areas requiring careful handling before the campaign begins. The X-card is always available — if something at the table becomes uncomfortable, any player can invoke it at any time, no questions asked and no explanation required. We also use the O-N-X system during scenes that venture into sensitive territory, giving everyone a simple, low-friction way to signal their comfort level in the moment without breaking the flow of the game entirely. Between sessions, my Discord DMs are always open. If something in a session didn't sit right, if a scene hit closer to home than expected, or if something needs to be addressed before we meet again, reach out anytime. There is no wrong reason to send that message. I'd rather know than not. My table is explicitly LGBTQ+ friendly, and I am committed to making sure every player feels seen, safe, and genuinely welcome in this world. The story we're telling has dark corners — but nobody walks into them alone.