Watchers in the Dark

Watchers in the Dark

Enter The Gloaming, ancient black forest of deep rot and demonic influence. You? You're no hero. Find treasure. Survive to tell the tale. Good Luck.

TYPE

Campaign

LEVELS

1–5

LANGUAGE

English

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

18+
3 NEEDED TO START
$15.50

/ Session

Details

Weekly / Monday - 11:00 PM UTC

Session Duration / 2.5–3.5 hours

Campaign Length / 5–15 Sessions

0 / 5 Seats Filled

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

**Free Session Zero** **Emergent story-telling!** **For fans of movies like "The Ritual" and "Weapons" Welcome to Shadowdark. This is a rules-light game of quick decisions where the torches in your backpack are the only thing holding back the pressing darkness! This mini-campaign of 5 to 15 sessions will take place in "The Gloaming." a dark and foreboding forest where demonic monsters terrorize people who hide behind hastily constructed palisades, and pray to their gods for deliverance. You'll play as travelers, new to this land desperately seeking...something. This game is focused on: -Fast Combat -emotionally weighty role-play -Hex Crawling -Dungeon Crawling -Player-directed emergent story-telling.

Game style

Roleplay Heavy

Dungeon Crawl

Hexcrawl / Exploration

Meet the Game Master

5.0

(25)

Teacher/Educator

1 year on StartPlaying

97 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Storytelling

About me

I’d love to tell you all about me, but instead...let’s hear from a few NPC’s that know me the best: NPC TESTAMONIALS: “Greg V? Yeah I know him, he made me up on the spot!”--Steve the Town Guard “Sure! I can tell you about Greg V’s GMing style...he’s attentive and imaginative!”--Steve the traveling merchant. “Excuse me? No , I don’t have a ‘British,’ accent. I’m from Waterdeep.”--Baron Steve of Waterdeep BORING TALK ABOUT ME, WRITTEN BY ME: Played my first game of D&D back in 2017, and was delighted to have found a new hobby and obsession! Over the last 7 years I’ve been lucky enough to run games in person at both conventions and in game stores. The first time I ran a game online was in the early days of the quarantine. I’ve become familiar with Fantasy Grounds, Owlbear Rodeo, and a smattering of Roll20. Gaming online has become a total comfort zone for me, but I am very lucky to be able to continue gaming in-person with a few different friend groups. D&D 5e will probably always be my “baseline,” but I’ve also become interested in several other game systems as well. I ran a few “Learn to Play” slots of Alien RPG by Free League at a local area convention. If you’ve heard of the new MCDM RPG that’s in development, Draw Steel, I’ve play-tested it as a player and am eager to run it as a “Director!” Additionally, I ran Dungeon Crawl Classics for several months in 2024. Most recently I've become interested in the Delta Green RPG! In terms of the “hobby” of tabletop rpg’s, I do spend quite a bit of my free time listening to podcasts, watching YouTube videos, and reading articles about D&D, and Tabletop gaming in-general. TL;DR Enthusiastic, committed, friendly, and accommodating. Flexible and eager to run the games you want to play.

View Profile →
Character creation

Creating your character

We'll build a few level 1 characters together during session zero. In general, we'll be using the core Shadowdark rules and a few of the Cursed Scroll Zines for character options. We'll use the Core rules concept of 3d6 "down the line" for ONE character, then an adjusted, 3d6 "slot it where you like" for the other! No experience necessary, as I'll help you build your character, but if you're familiar with Shadowdark, you're free to use shadowdarklings to build your characters!

What to expect

Preparing for the session

The best way to prepare is is download the free quick-start rules for Shadowdark at: https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/collections/shadowdark-core-rules/products/shadowdark-rpg-quickstart-set-pdf No other efforts needed. I'll provide most of what you need!

What DM Greg V brings to the table

TL;DR: Broadcast quality audio microphone and crystal clear camera. An easy going attitude and a real appreciation for both humor and drama. I like a game session with a little bit of everything: combat, role play, and plot! A Rich Story and World I’ll provide a detailed, dynamic world filled with moral choices, ancient mysteries, and the ever-looming threat of madness. You’ll explore a land teetering on the edge of chaos, facing both political intrigue and eldritch horrors. Immersive Roleplaying Expect a game where your decisions matter, whether you're navigating delicate alliances between rival baronies or uncovering dark secrets beneath the surface. The world will feel alive with complex NPCs, dangerous factions, and unexpected twists. A Customizable Experience I’ll tailor encounters and narratives to your characters' backgrounds and choices, ensuring every player has moments to shine and their decisions impact the story. A Friendly, Collaborative Environment Whether you're new to Shadowdark or a seasoned player, I aim to create a welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable, and everyone’s input matters. We’ll work together to shape the adventure as it unfolds. Immersive Online Tools To enhance your experience, we’ll use Discord for voice communication and discussions, ensuring a seamless connection. Ambient music from Kenku FM will be playing in the background, setting the perfect tone for our sessions, from tense moments to eerie encounters.

Homebrew rules

We'll discuss these often! Shadowdark is built for tweaks and adjustments to maximize player experience.

Equipment needed to play

Internet

Computer

Microphone

Safety

How DM Greg V creates a safe table

This campaign will begin with a discussion of our non-negotiables (also found in my DM Profile). Additionally, the discussion will include any important items that players want avoided in this brief campaign. The use of breaks will be used, not just as practical, "hey it's time for a quick break!" but also as way to reflect on where we've been, narratively, and to ensure players are comfortable. At the end of each game session, there will be a chance for another reflection on narrative themes and content. In general, I am always seeking player feedback to help make this the game you want to play.

Content warnings

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions