Johnny Meatshield's The Darkest Dream

Creating your character

Characters will be created together during Session 0 to help connect the party to the Carnivale and to each other from the very beginning. All player characters are young members of the traveling Carnivale — performers, animal handlers, illusion assistants, fortune tellers, laborers, guards, musicians, wanderers, or strange misfits who have grown up beneath the lantern light and colorful tents of carnival life. You are not random adventurers meeting in a tavern. You already belong to this strange and magical world. New players are absolutely welcome, and I’m happy to guide you through the entire character creation process step-by-step. Character Creation Guidelines: • Official 5E content is allowed unless discussed otherwise • I own a large library of Roll20 rulebooks and resources, including Kobold Press’ Heroes Handbook and many additional character options • Over a dozen pregenerated carnival-themed characters are available for players who want to jump in quickly • Beginner-friendly character concepts are encouraged • Strong roleplay hooks and personal connections to the carnival are highly recommended • Characters should fit the tone of whimsical fantasy adventure, mystery, emotional storytelling, and hidden danger • Cooperative characters work best for this campaign During Session 0 we will: 🎪 Build your connection to the Carnivale 🎭 Create relationships between characters 🌙 Establish dreams, fears, and personal goals ✨ Tie your backstory into the mysteries of the campaign 🧙 Help newer players learn rules, mechanics, and roleplay basics 📖 Discuss tone, expectations, safety tools, and table style Characters who feel emotionally connected to the carnival, its people, and its secrets will get the most out of the adventure. The dream begins with the Carnivale.

Preparing for the session

Before the game begins, players should complete the following preparation steps: 🎪 Create a free Roll20 account: https://roll20.net 🎙️ Create a free Discord account: https://discord.com 📩 Before Session 0, you will receive invitations to both the Roll20 game and the private Discord server. 🎧 A microphone is required for voice communication. Webcam is optional, but always welcome. 💻 No special software, paid subscriptions, or complicated setup is required. All music, visual tools, maps, ambient effects, and game enhancements are handled through Roll20 and Discord directly from my setup. 📖 New players are absolutely welcome. If you are brand new to Dungeons & Dragons or online play, I’m happy to help you get everything working before the game begins. 🎭 Players are encouraged to think about the kind of young carnival character they may want to play, but full character creation and group connections will happen together during Session 0. ✨ Pregenerated carnival-themed characters are also available for players who want to jump directly into the adventure. The Carnivale welcomes all dreamers, wanderers, and misfits.

What Johnny Meatshield brings to the table

My goal as a Dungeon Master is to create a cinematic, immersive, and emotionally memorable fantasy experience where players feel like they are truly part of a living world. This game leans heavily into: 🎪 Immersive roleplay and character-driven storytelling 🌙 Mystery, wonder, and dreamlike fantasy atmosphere 🎭 Memorable NPCs with distinct personalities ✨ Ambient music, atmospheric soundscapes, and cinematic presentation 📖 Collaborative storytelling and meaningful character moments ⚔️ Dangerous, high-stakes combat where choices matter I strongly believe that the best D&D stories happen when players feel emotionally connected to the world, their companions, and the consequences of their actions. The Carnivale is filled with strange wonders, hidden dangers, unforgettable personalities, and mysteries waiting to be uncovered. As a GM, I use: • Roleplay-focused NPC interactions • Ambient music and sound design to enhance immersion • Visual storytelling tools, maps, handouts, and cinematic presentation • Dynamic roleplay opportunities and meaningful player choices • A balance of mystery, exploration, roleplay, and combat My games are beginner-friendly, and I’m always happy to help newer players learn the rules, roleplay, and online tools in a welcoming environment. In terms of rules and playstyle: • I generally follow Rules as Written, but I absolutely allow creative problem solving and memorable “Rule of Cool” moments when they enhance the story • Cooperative roleplay and respectful table etiquette are very important • Players are encouraged to engage deeply with the world, the carnival, and each other • Character backstories and personal goals will influence the narrative whenever possible Combat in this campaign can be dangerous and meaningful, but the game is not designed as a brutal meat grinder. Clever thinking, teamwork, roleplay, and creative solutions are often just as important as combat ability. Most of all, I aim to create a table where players feel comfortable, included, emotionally invested, and excited to discover what lies beneath the dream. The Carnivale remembers those who dare to follow it.

Homebrew rules

I use some Gooey Rewards but mostly follow 5E rules and the rule of fun.

How Johnny Meatshield creates a safe table

Creating a welcoming, respectful, and comfortable table is very important to me. During Session 0, we will discuss: • Game tone and expectations • Character boundaries and comfort levels • Cooperative play and table etiquette • Any content players would prefer to avoid or fade to black The Darkest Dream includes mystery, hidden danger, unsettling dreams, fantasy horror elements, and dangerous situations, but the goal is always immersive fantasy adventure rather than shock value. Players are always welcome to privately message me during or between sessions if something is making them uncomfortable or negatively affecting their experience. I want everyone at the table to feel respected, included, and able to enjoy the adventure. This is a collaborative, beginner-friendly game focused on storytelling, creativity, emotional investment, and shared fun.