![Dragonbane: The Magistrate's Gambit [Learn to Play]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fspg-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com%2F846ae3fa-1e8e-4505-a558-bdf4e6758f82&w=3840&q=75)
Dragonbane: The Magistrate's Gambit [Learn to Play]
Outwit a cheating archmage in a high-stakes palace heist—replace three hidden magical before a royal game—time, traps, and magic are all against you!
$15.00
/ Session
Details
Once / Sunday - 6:00 PM UTC
May 31
Session Duration / 2–3 hours
0 / 6 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
"I was promised a simple snatch-and-swap job with a bonus if we kept it subtle. 'Feel free to loot the palace of treasures,' he said. 'Just don't get caught or raise suspicion,' he said. Now... what the hell is that ominous noise in the dark ahead of me?" When aging city magistrate Stalomer uncovers that his longtime rival—the flamboyant Archmage Kalisial—has been cheating for decades at their annual game of smickleboard, he hires you to settle the score. Your task? Infiltrate the archmage’s satin-draped tower, locate three enchanted items (a bewitched wig, gilded spectacles, and an onyx game board), and swap them for flawless fakes before the next match begins. Pull it off, and you’ll rewrite local legend, earn a princely reward, and gain the magistrate’s eternal thanks. Fail, and you may end up polymorphed into garden gnomes—or worse, as party props for tomorrow’s arcane tea. The Magistrate’s Gambit plays like a fantasy-heist blockbuster packed into a few hours of tense stealth, clever puzzles, and chaotic surprises. Every decision matters: sneak, bluff, charm, pick locks—or go loud with reckless sorcery and flying swords when things go sideways. It’s “Ocean’s Eleven meets Terry Pratchett,” with Dragonbane’s signature blend of mischief, magic, and consequences that can be hilarious—or deadly. This one-shot is a Quickstart tournament adventure, perfect for newcomers and returning heroes alike. No rulebooks or prep needed—just bring your wit and a bit of daring. Seven pre-generated characters are provided, and an optional scoring sheet lets you track your crew’s success against other tables. ⚔️ Dragonbane is a fantasy RPG of perilous adventure, curious monsters, and dark secrets—rooted in classic Scandinavian roleplaying. It uses a d20 roll-under system where your skills are tested directly, pushing luck and grit to the limit. Designed for cinematic action and dramatic roleplay, it blends modern storytelling with old-school challenge.
Game style
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Roleplay Lite
Combat Lite
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(21)
3 years on StartPlaying
55 games hosted
Highly rated for: Teacher, Knows the Rules, Creativity
About me
Like a lot of people, I grew up at the table — high school, college, and the years after — both as a player and a GM. Then life happened, and the dice went quiet for a while. When I found my way back in 2022, I knew exactly what kind of table I wanted to build, and I have been building it ever since. I run Free League Publishing and Year Zero Engine games almost exclusively, and for good reason: they nail what I care about most as a GM. Tension. Consequence. A world that feels real and pushes back. Whether we are surviving the ruins of Twilight: 2000, chasing the edge of the galaxy in Coriolis: The Third Horizon or The Great Dark, hunting xenomorphs in Alien, or uncovering old horrors in Vaesen, every session is built around atmosphere, player choice, and consequences that feel earned. I also run Dragonbane, Blade Runner, Tales From the Loop, Tales of the Old West, and Invincible: Superhero Roleplaying, so if a corner of Free League or the Year Zero Engine has caught your attention, there is a good chance we can make it happen. My tables are beginner-friendly and LGBTQ+ friendly, full stop. If you have never touched a Year Zero Engine game — or any tabletop roleplaying game — I will help you get comfortable before we roll. If you already know the systems, you will feel right at home. My Information Technology background helps keep Foundry VTT and Discord organized and accessible, and when tech hiccups happen, we sort them out together. With fifteen years of tabletop experience across science fiction, fantasy, horror, western, superhero, and post-apocalyptic games — and several years of dedicated online GMing since returning in 2022 — I know how to keep scenes moving, help new players feel capable, and give veteran players room to be surprised. What I am after is a table where your choices shape the world, the atmosphere pulls you in, and you leave with a story worth retelling. The best thing I hear after a session is not “great GM” — it is players recounting what we built together, like they can hardly believe it happened. If that sounds like your kind of game, let’s play.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Seven pre‑generated heroes will be provided.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
◆ To play, you'll need a computer (not a phone/tablet) capable of running Foundry VTT, a free Discord account, headphones, a decent mic (headset mics are okay but standalone mics are preferred), a stable internet connection (1mbps+), and a quiet environment. ◆ A webcam is optional but highly recommended. ◆ A good attitude, respect for others, and focus are essential. Join my Discord server after booking, prepare your mic and space, and if you're new, feel free to review the Foundry tutorial [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0jfRtmuwxU ] and the YZE rules [ https://freeleaguepublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/YZE-Standard-Reference-Document.pdf ]. Join my Discord server, FreeVerse Studio: https://discord.gg/Y3cRVPRZSd I’m happy to assist new or returning players with rules and setup!
What FatherJ brings to the table
◆ Foundry Virtual Table Top (VTT) [Free for players] with premium modules/assets. Foundry is web based and has everything we need to run the game - the game system, character sheets, Interesting battlemaps, music, and sound effects are provided as well. Also some additional add on modules to enhance the system and user experience (like virtual dice). It is free for the players to connect and use. ◆ Discord server [Free for players] is used for voice with dedicated channels for group chat (online & offline) (a Discord account is necessary). ◆ VDO ninja for any webcam/video conferencing [Free for players]. It is web based. ◆ Themed PC tokens: A large library of awesome tokens, maps, artwork, music, and characters. Full Details and links will provided once you have signed up for a session. In each session, I will be prepared and excited to get started. I will do my best to ensure that all of my players are given chances at the spotlight and are encouraged to work together as a team. I will always be willing to listen as problems arise, and I am happy to problem solve issues if they occur.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Headphones
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How FatherJ creates a safe table
Overall tone of game aims for PG-13. All players are encouraged to speak up if the tone drifts beyond their comfort zone. Safety and respectful enjoyment come first. A consent form is requested to be filled out prior to the session to understand boundaries and any particular triggering items (lines and veils). There is open door policy that you may step away from the session at any time without explanation. If possible, leave a quick “BRB” in chat and let us know when you return. You may also DM the Game Master (GM) directly at any time. Mid-point 10 min break Debriefing & Stars/Wishes
Content warnings
Safety tools used