Arena of Champions: Drop-In High-Level D&D for veteran players

Arena of Champions: Drop-In High-Level D&D for veteran players

No campaign. No waiting. No holding back. Show up. Fight. Earn your place.

TYPE

One-Shot

LEVELS

11

LANGUAGE

English

EXPERIENCE

Intermediate

AGE

18+
3 NEEDED TO START
$15.00

/ Session

Details

Once / Thursday - 12:00 AM UTC

Apr 16

Session Duration / 3–5 hours

0 / 6 Seats Filled

Report Adventure

Money Back Guarantee

StartPlaying Money Back Guarantee

If your game doesn't happen, we guarantee a refund. Just reach out to StartPlaying Support. Refund Policy

This game will begin once 3 players have joined
About the adventure

No campaign. No waiting. No holding back. This is a drop-in, high-level Arena where experienced players can bring powerful characters, test builds, and actually use everything they’re capable of. The Arena is an ongoing, drop-in D&D experience built for players who already know the system and want meaningful, high-impact play without long-term commitment. Each session is a mix of: Tactical, challenging combat Strategic preparation between matches Light but meaningful roleplay (rivalries, deals, reputation) You are not here to slowly build up. You arrive ready—and prove it.

Game style

Combat Heavy

Dungeon Crawl

Rule of Cool (RoC)

Roleplay Lite

Tactical / Crunchy

Meet the Game Master

5.0

(5)

Podcaster
LGBTQ+
BIMPOC
Indigenous
Neurodivergent
Game Designer

3 years on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Rule of Cool

About me

Hi, I’m PlaceboDM, and heres my promise to you. Tagline: Laughter, trauma, and triumph. Usually in that order. I’ve been running games for over a decade across D&D 5e, Pathfinder, and Starfinder, building worlds where laughter, tension, and sheer ridiculousness all hit initiative at the same time. My tables run on Rule of Cool, collaborative storytelling, and the belief that failure is just another way to make great TV. You’ll get cinematic combat, NPCs with too much personality, and stories that punch back — but never at the cost of fun. I love teaching new players and challenging veterans alike. Whether you’re here to joke your way through chaos or chase character arcs with teeth, my goal is simple: Everyone at my table leaves with a story worth it.

View Profile →
Character creation

Creating your character

Anything 5e legal species wise and class wise. if its in a book its fine. Unearthed arcana also fine. No homebrew. Start at lvl 11. Point buy system. Starting equipment and cash is basic with background. You can choose either 3 uncommon items or 1 rare and 1 uncommon item as your starting items as well. Each player gets 2 basic healing potions to start.

What to expect

Preparing for the session

I will run this on Roll20. so do have a Roll20 account. We can either mic on roll20 or discord. either is fine. If you use dnd beyond and have the extension. That's even better! if not that's fine we can roll on Roll20. Please have tokens ready 30 min before start time. if need help please message me

What Stephen brings to the table

Designed for Veteran Players This game assumes you: Understand core D&D mechanics Can run your character efficiently Want challenging encounters and real stakes In return, you get: Encounters that push your build Space to make impactful decisions A system that rewards performance Bring the Builds High-level characters welcome Optimized builds encouraged Experimental concepts supported This is where you: Test ideas before campaigns Play characters that never got their moment Actually use high-level abilities in meaningful encounters No saving resources for later. There is no later. Progression System Every session contributes to your standing in the Arena. Prestige Earned through victories, performance, and impact Average of 2 Prestige per session (more for difficult encounters) Tracked across all sessions Milestones 10 Prestige — Recognition 25 Prestige — Established contender 50 Prestige — Arena elite 100 Prestige — Champion and a Wish Arena Economy Victories reward: Gold Magic items and equipment Astral Tokens Astral Tokens can be used between matches to gain advantages through Arena facilities. Arena Facilities (Strategic Layer) Between matches, you can prepare: Shrine — Seek divine favor Hunting Lodge — Earn additional gold/resources Magic Shop — Acquire gear and consumables Tavern — Gather intel on upcoming encounters Preparation and decision-making matter just as much as combat. Playstyle Expectations This is not passive play. The Arena rewards: Decisive action Creative tactics High-risk, high-reward decisions Playing safe may keep you alive. Playing boldly earns you recognition. Tone & Experience Fast-paced Combat-forward Player-driven moments Competitive, but collaborative Rivalries will form. Reputations will stick. Logistics System: D&D 5e Session Length: 3–4 hours Format: Drop-in Characters: Pre-approved or provided Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Homebrew rules

bonus action for potions for yourself. action to feed others. flanking is optional. Basically all rules will be voted on by the group. But know this anything you get I get as well!!!

Equipment needed to play

Computer

Internet

Microphone

Safety

How Stephen creates a safe table

As always player comfort comes first. We will do a group talk before every game. We will be respectful or be kicked. IF anyone is uncomfortable XNO is available at anytime.

Content warnings

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions