Ember: A Homebrew World (All New Lore!!)
Ember is a living world where every mile hides danger, discovery, and shifting mystery—above and in the depths below.
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SYSTEM
LEVELS
LANGUAGE
EXPERIENCE
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$29.99
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Wednesday - 11:30 PM UTC
May 27 / Session 3
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
Campaign Length / Up to 200 Sessions
4 / 6 Seats Filled
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
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Schedule
Meet your party members
4/6
About the adventure
Ember is a living, breathing open world built for exploration, discovery, and meaningful choice. Spanning over 15,000 one-mile hexes, this megaregion is packed with hand-crafted encounters, hidden secrets, and unique locations across 30 distinct biomes. Travel is dynamic; each day brings new opportunities as shifting weather, time of day, seasons, and even lunar cycles reshape the world around you. No two journeys feel the same, and every path you choose has the potential to lead to something unforgettable. But Ember is more than what lies beneath the sun. Below the surface stretches the Pathways; a vast, mysterious underground world that mirrors the complexity of the overland realm. With its own biomes, hazards, and discoveries, the Pathways offer deeper risks and richer rewards for those willing to descend into the unknown. The further you go, the less certain things become. This game is ideal for players who love exploration, immersion, and player-driven storytelling. There is no single “main quest”—instead, your choices shape your story. Whether you want to chase rumors, uncover ancient secrets, build alliances, or simply survive the wilds, Ember gives you the freedom to play your way. Run on Foundry Virtual Tabletop, the game leverages immersive maps, dynamic lighting, and exploration tools to bring the world to life. Expect a blend of tactical encounters, environmental challenges, and narrative moments, all grounded in a world that reacts to you. If you enjoy uncovering what’s over the next hill—or beneath your feet—Ember is built for you. CHECK OUT VIDEO FOR MORE!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MErInn8A8Yw
Game style
Hexcrawl / Exploration
Sandbox / Open World
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(14)
4 years on StartPlaying
357 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Voices, Storytelling
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hey all! My name is Alex (or iceman, it has been my nickname since I was little kid annnnddd maybe I will have you role a history check to figure out why lol) and I fell in love with DnD! This is actually a pretty recent development for me as for my first DnD session was only a couple of years ago. However, once I played, I was instantly hooked! I have always played DnD games in the past like the original Baldur's Gate on PC, Neverwinter Nights, and Divinity. However, it was a new but incredible experience playing the game as a tabletop game and I could not wait to continue playing. There is a lot for me to learn, no doubt, and that is one of the reasons why I want to be a DM. What better way to really dive into a game, learn the lore and to get involved with the DnD community than to run them! I will make mistakes for sure, but I will always prioritize your fun. You may even be able to sneak some moves past my watchful eye but to be honest, I look forward to those moments. I think clever out of the box ideas is what makes this game fun and I will reward you instead of trying to find ways to reverse them. Overall, I am excited for you to join my table and for us to go on adventures. I will do my best to give you an awesome, exhilarating experience every time we have a session. I will throw in some cool homebrew options throughout the campaign and encourage side quests for your characters to help build your background. Lastly, I am always here to listen to any suggestions or ideas to add to our campaign. So without further adieu, once you are ready to join let me know, and we can get started!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Character creation for Ember will take place during Session 0, where we’ll build your character together inside the game. This ensures everyone is aligned with the setting, tone, and mechanics while also giving you a chance to ask questions and shape your role in the world. All characters are created using a fully homebrewed system, designed specifically for Ember. This means everything from abilities to progression is new and custom-built, so no prior knowledge or external books are required. I’ll guide you step-by-step through the process, making it easy whether you’re experienced or brand new. You’ll start at Level 1, grounded in the world with room to grow based on your choices and experiences. The focus is on creating a character that fits the world and your playstyle, rather than optimizing from a rulebook. If you enjoy building something unique and discovering mechanics as you play, Ember’s character creation is built for you.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
All you need is decent internet, discord and a good mic. I will bring all the rest!
What Iceman (Alex) brings to the table
My goal is to create a highly immersive, reactive world where your choices matter. I lean heavily into atmosphere, expect ambient music, environmental storytelling, and distinct NPC personalities/voices to bring Ember to life. The world isn’t static; it responds to your actions, successes, and failures in meaningful ways. Gameplay is a balance of exploration, roleplay, and tactical combat. Combat can be dangerous and strategic, but it’s never the only solution—creative thinking is always rewarded. I lean toward the Rule of Cool, especially when it enhances the story or creates memorable moments, but I keep things grounded so choices still carry weight. I also run a very player-driven game. There’s no fixed path—you decide where to go, what to pursue, and who to trust. I’ll present opportunities, mysteries, and consequences, but the direction of the story is yours to shape. Above all, I want this to feel like a shared adventure, challenging, immersive, and full of moments you’ll be talking about long after the session ends.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Iceman (Alex) creates a safe table
Creating a safe, respectful, and comfortable table is a top priority for Ember. During Session 0, we’ll go over Lines and Veils together as a group to establish clear boundaries, what content is off-limits (Lines) and what should be handled off-screen or with care (Veils). This ensures everyone knows what to expect and can enjoy the game without discomfort. Throughout the campaign, I use simple and flexible safety tools. Players are always welcome to pause, message me privately, or speak up at any time if something feels off. After sessions, I like to do a quick check-in/debrief, what worked, what didn’t, and how everyone’s feeling. This helps me adjust the game to better fit the group and ensures everyone continues to have a positive experience. The goal is simple: everyone at the table feels safe, heard, and excited to play.
Content warnings
Safety tools used