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Image by Daniel Budden
DCC: Sailors on the Starless Sea | Beginner-Friendly
Beastmen stole your people. Explore a ruined keep, cross the starless sea, and stop a blood-soaked chaos rite before your village is lost forever.
$5.00
/ Session
Details
Once / Friday - 6:30 PM UTC
May 29
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
5 / 5 Seats Filled
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Schedule
Meet your party members
5/5
About the adventure
Sailors on the Starless Sea is the classic Dungeon Crawl Classics funnel, where a band of ordinary villagers sets out to stop a series of abductions linked to the ruined keep above their home. What begins as a rescue quickly opens into a deeper mystery: beastmen in the old stronghold, the lingering influence of an ancient chaos cult, and a hidden path leading down to a vast underground sea. This game is a great fit for players who enjoy old-school fantasy, eerie atmosphere, and discovery through play. The adventure moves from a blighted ruin to strange chambers beneath the earth, and finally to the starless waters below, where the fate of the missing villagers hangs in the balance. Expect tense exploration, unusual challenges, strange magic, and plenty of chances for clever ideas to shine. In true DCC style, you begin with several 0-level villagers and discover through play which of them might survive to become true adventurers. That makes the game lively, unpredictable, and often darkly funny, while also giving new players a brilliant introduction to what makes Dungeon Crawl Classics special: fast momentum, weird fantasy, and stories that begin with the unlikeliest of heroes. The adventure is written for a large group of 0-level characters, with each player usually bringing multiple villagers into play. My style at the table is inclusive, clear, and beginner-friendly. You do not need any previous experience with DCC to enjoy this game. I explain the rules as we go, encourage creative problem-solving over system mastery, and aim for a table that feels welcoming, accessible, and fun for everyone. This is an excellent choice for new players curious about DCC, returning fantasy gamers, and anyone who enjoys atmospheric adventure with mystery, momentum, and a strong classic fantasy feel.
Game style
Dungeon Crawl
Combat Heavy
Roleplay Lite
Rules as Written (RaW)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(2)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Teacher, Visual Aid
About me
I first cracked open the Moldvay Basic Set back in 1982, diving headlong into Keep on the Borderlands and the boundless imagination of D&D 1e. Through the ’80s and ’90s I DM’d relentlessly, weaving stories until the lure of computer games pulled me away for a couple of decades. Fast forward to 2014 when 5e reignited the spark, and soon after Dungeon Crawl Classics conjured up the raw, chaotic magic of old school play. After a 20 year hiatus, I stepped back behind the screen and I haven’t looked back since. I’ve run DCC for a couple of years now at UK Games Expo and it was nothing short of electrifying and I also run a table at London Con Dragonmeet. As a graphic designer and artist, I love crafting evocative maps, custom tokens, video and visual tools that bring the worlds we explore to vivid life. I take pride in blending published adventures, conversions, and homegrown arcs into greater sagas that feel personal and alive. My online games unfold on Roll20, where I welcome players from across the globe. Whether you’re a roleplayer seeking character driven moments or a tactician who lives for the clash of blades in a tight choke point, I’ll meet you where you are. I aim for rules as written to keep things simple, but I’m flexible with house rules if it serves the story. Above all, I believe in the collaborative heart of TTRPGs sharing in laughter, wonder, and the thrill of adventure together.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
This game uses 0-level Dungeon Crawl Classics characters. Players can choose from pregenerated villagers I provide or create their own before the session. I’m happy to help with character and token creation, and we can set everything up in Roll20 ahead of time for a smooth start. Alternatively you can go to the Goodman Games website and it has tools for pregenerated PCs. If you’re new to DCC, pregens are a great way to jump right in. If you’d rather make your own characters, I can guide you through the standard 0-level creation process. No prior experience is needed.
Each player will take charge of 2 to 3 Zero level adventurers. These will be everyday folk with mundane jobs for example: astrologers, cobblers, elven sages, grave diggers, herbalists, locksmiths, tax collector,s wizard's apprentices or gong farmers with only your trade skill and your luck score to get you through, you will each own a simple weapon and a small amount of coin to equip yourself before the module begins. Your mission is to survive the funnel and if your lucky gain some gold and glory, those that do make it to the end will gain enough XP to become 1st level adventurers of which you will be able to play in any other of my adventures and campaigns I run in the future. Many PCs may fall so please dont get too attached to them at the beginning.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Please have a free Roll20 account and a Discord account ready before the game. We’ll use Roll20 for maps and character sheets, and Discord for video/voice chat. I’ll send the invite links you need after you join. If you’d like to create characters before the session, I’m happy to help on Discord and get everything set up in advance.
What Daniel brings to the table
I provide a polished Roll20 experience with battlemaps, tokens, range support, dynamic lighting, and visual aids throughout the session. My style is clear, welcoming, and rules-aware: I run the game rules as written where possible, keep the pace steady, and make straightforward rulings when needed. You can expect an inclusive, beginner-friendly table with strong visual support, clear tactical play, and plenty of room for creative ideas and problem-solving. I also make a point of ensuring every player is heard and has meaningful agency over their character’s choices and fate throughout the game.
Homebrew rules
I do not generally use homebrew rules for zero level funnel games. I run Dungeon Crawl Classics rules as written wherever possible, as I think the system already does an excellent job of supporting the kind of play it is built for. If players attempt something unusual or off the wall that is not clearly covered by the rules, I will make a fair ruling in the moment to keep the game moving. My aim is always to stay consistent with the spirit of DCC while giving players room for creativity.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Computer or Mobile Device
Pen & Paper
Webcam
Platforms used
Safety
How Daniel creates a safe table
I aim to create a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive table. Before play, I’m happy to cover expectations and boundaries in a short Session 0 or by message beforehand. I use Lines and Veils to set content boundaries, and players are always welcome to contact me privately if needed. During play, I use the X-card as a simple tool to pause or move past content without pressure. I’m happy to adjust tone, check in, and make sure every player is heard and has agency over their character’s choices throughout the game.
Content warnings
Safety tools used