Image by Jon Beowulf (via OpenAI)
Princes of the Apocalypse - 2024
Four elemental cults grow in power in the Sumber Hills. Left unchecked, their activities will wreak devastation on the Dessarin Valley and beyond.
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Monday - 11:00 PM UTC
May 4 / Session 2
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
3 / 5 Seats Filled
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Schedule
Meet your party members
3/5
About the adventure
Princes of the Apocalypse was released in 2015 as the fourth campaign for 5th Edition. It is an open-world campaign—one where not every path is survivable, and not every danger announces itself before it’s too late. This is not a story about a single villain with a single plan, but a world slipping out of balance. It begins in the quiet town of Red Larch, the kind of place where nothing ever happens—until it does. If we begin at level 1, you’ll uncover the first fractures yourself—earning trust, building a reputation, and watching small irregularities turn into something harder to explain. If we begin at level 3, you’ll arrive with rumors already in motion, stepping into a valley that has begun to shift without you. Either way, you are not arriving at the beginning. You are arriving in the middle of something. At first, nothing quite adds up. Stories contradict themselves. Signs seem isolated, coincidental, easy to dismiss. But the deeper you dig, the harder it becomes to ignore the pattern beneath them—and the less certain the ground beneath you feels. Power is rising in unexpected places. Not all of it is subtle. Not all of it is patient. Some of it has been waiting far longer than anyone realizes. This is a campaign driven by discovery, where information is as valuable as steel—and often more dangerous. The choices you make will shape not only what you confront, but what you allow to grow unchecked. Some paths will close behind you; others will open into places that should have remained buried. You will not be led from one answer to the next. You will decide where to go, what to pursue, and what to leave alone—and you will live with the consequences. Because whatever is happening in the Dessarin Valley… it isn’t slowing down. And it will not wait for you to catch up.
Game style
Combat Heavy
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Rules as Written (RaW)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
4.9
(40)
2 years on StartPlaying
159 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Knows the Rules, Inclusive
Average response time: 2 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Running live games in the San Antonio, TX metropolitan area and online games for anywhere in the world. I've been playing D&D since 1983 and DMing since 1985. Creating worlds to be explored and working with others to create memorable stories is an absolute joy. Life has forced me to abandon my hobby a few times but I found my way back because this is such a unique thing - collaborative storytelling in which everyone is a major character. I love being a part of tales that will be remembered forever. My job is to ensure everyone is having fun, whether you're the diva, the wallflower, or somewhere in between. My decades of experience allow me to change my approach based on the group's familiarity with the rules. In fact, running a game for a group completely new to gaming puts a huge smile on my face. My sense of humor has been described as a bit on the dark and sarcastic side, and I set a more serious tone in my worlds. I don't force that tone on the players, though, so you're free to do what you want. At the same time, I try to ensure my worlds make sense, so actions have consequences. Succeed and you will change the world. Fail, and you also change the world. Adventuring is a dangerous occupation (otherwise everyone would do it) so you should expect appropriate challenges. I excel at in-person games (San Antonio, TX) but a majority of my games are run on Roll20 + Discord because I gave up on WotC's virtual tabletop. I mostly run D&D 5e but also run BECMI D&D, AD&D 1e, Aliens RPG, Call of Cthulhu, Rolemaster, and Starship Troopers. I am semi-retired so have unmatched schedule flexibility.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
There are no pre-generated characters. Character creation in Roll20 will give you access to more character options and make maintaining your character sheet easier, but building one in D&D Beyond is fine if that's what you prefer. Characters should be created using the 2024 rules prior to the start of the first game session. You can import an existing character or create a new one after you join the game in Roll20. If creating a new character, generate ability scores with 27-point buy or coordinate with me if you wish to gamble on a supervised roll (what you roll is what you get). If you wish to play a race not included in the 2024 PHB, contact me and we'll work together to make something we both like. Only 2024 subclasses and feats are allowed.
My philosophy applies to party make-up as well. A party of fighters played well can be just as effective as a diverse group.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Again, there are no pre-generated characters. Everyone will need: - a solid understanding of the abilities and mechanics of their character - a free or paid subscription to Roll20 (https://roll20.net/welcome) - a free or paid subscription to D&D Beyond (if you wish to create your character there) - access to Discord (PC or mobile app) (https://discord.com/) - working mic and speakers (headset/headphones recommended)
What Beowulf brings to the table
Except the accounts on Discord and Roll20, I'll bring everything you need. Message me at any time if you have questions. The game will be run in Roll20, but character sheets in D&D Beyond can be used if you install the Beyond20 browser plugin. There are custom maps, tokens, and macros that make it easier to focus on your character instead of the character sheet. I lean into Rule of Cool (do not abuse it) and reward good roleplay and lucky rolls.
Homebrew rules
My Session 0 document has a complete list (see below), but these are the big ones: - Flanking enemies grants no bonuses - Critical hits add max dice damage (instead of rolling twice) - You gain a level of exhaustion if you drop to 0 hp more than once in an encounter - Graze damage includes magical bonuses from the weapon used
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Beowulf creates a safe table
Absolutely no PVP. My Session 0 document (https://drive.google.com/file/d/12V3tyTtCjdVdxoXYxvKVJ4fPuzGcP0Bm/view) describes how I do things and what I expect from players. One of my responsibilities as a GM is to ensure that everyone feels safe and respected and I do a pretty good job keeping a finger on the pulse on the group, but I need you to be adult enough to tell me if you're feeling unsafe, disrespected, or if we're getting close to something that you'll find overly uncomfortable. The Discord server has a private voice channel that can be used for discussions that don't need to involve everyone.
Content warnings
Safety tools used