New to D&D? Heroes of Phandalin Beginner Campaign

Creating your character

Beginner Friendly & Fully Guided You don’t need any prior experience to get started. Character creation is part of the experience, and you’ll be supported every step of the way. We’ll be using the free character builder on Roll20, which walks you through each decision step-by-step and keeps everything organized in one place. It’s designed to be easy to use, even if you’ve never touched D&D before. We will start with 2024 rules as a foundation. As you become comfortable with that foundation additional options are possible. You have a few options for how you’d like to start: • Before First Session (Optional): You’re welcome to create a character ahead of time in roll20 if you’d like. No pressure—this is completely optional. • Session 0- Free Session (Recommended for Beginners): We’ll build characters together as a group. I’ll guide you through each step and give examples of what your choices may mean in play. • Pre-Generated Characters: If you’d rather jump straight into the game, I’ll have ready-to-play characters available. You’ll still get a walkthrough so you understand how your character works. We can also schedule a 1-on-1 pre-session check to get you familiar with the online tools like Roll20 before the first session.

Preparing for the session

Preparing for the session 🧰 Preparing for the Game Everything we use for the game is free and easy to set up. Create a free Roll20 account Roll20 will be used for maps, tokens, and visual play spaces. Join the Discord server We’ll use Discord for voice chat and between-session communication. I’ll send an invite after you join the game. Check your audio setup Please have a working microphone and stable internet connection so everyone can hear each other clearly. You do not need to read the rules or any source books beforehand—I’ll guide everyone through the system during play. I'll also provide reference tools for quick reference as we learn rules.

What Eric brings to the table

My goal is to create a welcoming table where players can relax, learn the system, and enjoy a great story together. You can expect an immersive experience with background music and ambient sound to help bring scenes to life. The game will use Roll20 maps, images, and tokens so everyone can easily follow the action during exploration, chases, and combat. My GM style focuses on collaborative storytelling. I enjoy descriptive narration, cinematic moments, and encouraging creative solutions from players. Rules help guide the game, but clever ideas and dramatic moments are always welcome. You may also hear the occasional NPC voice or accent during roleplay—sometimes serious, sometimes a little humorous. I’m not a professional voice actor, but I enjoy bringing the world and its characters to life. Most importantly, I aim to create a friendly, cooperative table where everyone feels comfortable learning the game and contributing to the story.

How Eric creates a safe table

Creating a safe and respectful table is a priority. Before the game begins, we’ll use Demiplane’s built-in safety tool to quickly and anonymously indicate any topics or situations players would prefer to avoid. This helps establish our Lines and Veils so everyone’s boundaries are respected from the start. During play we will also use an X-Card safety tool. If something in the game becomes uncomfortable, any player can simply signal the X-Card. When that happens: • We immediately stop the scene • Take a short break • Return and continue with a different scene or direction No explanation is required. Players never need to justify using the tool. If someone does want to talk about it privately, I’m always available to listen—but that conversation is completely optional. The goal is to ensure everyone feels safe, respected, and able to enjoy the game, so we can focus on telling a great story together.