Eidolon and the Open Maw

Creating your character

Character creation will happen before Session 1, with most of the work taking place during Session 0. New players are absolutely welcome—if you don't know how to build a character, don't worry. I'll walk you through the entire process. Characters will begin at **Level 3**. I am a huge fan of creativity and unique character concepts. If your race, class, subclass, feat, spell, or background comes from an official sourcebook, it is generally allowed. I am also open to reviewing select Unearthed Arcana content on a case-by-case basis. When it comes to backstories, the more you give me, the more I can work with. A few paragraphs is great. A novella is also great. With your permission, I may collaborate with you to tie your character into the world, factions, locations, and storylines of Eidolon. My goal is to make your character feel like they belong in the setting and have meaningful connections to the world around them. Ability Scores We will roll stats using **Avrae through Discord**. The process is: * Roll 7 sets of 4d6 * Keep the highest 3 dice from each set * Re-roll any 8s or 9s If that doesn't make sense, don't worry—I will walk everyone through it. The heroes of this story are exceptional people living in extraordinary circumstances. I like characters to feel heroic, and that means some characters may end up with very strong ability scores. Equipment & Magic Items Characters will begin with normal starting equipment. Visual flavor is encouraged. If your sword is made from the rib of a sea beast, your shield is crafted from shipwreck timber, or your spellbook is bound in sailcloth, I want to hear about it. Additional starting magic items will be distributed during Session 0. Party Composition I recommend building a balanced party with a mix of martial characters, spellcasters, and support/healing options. That said: **Play the character you are excited about.** I'd rather have a group of players invested in their characters than force anyone into a role they don't enjoy. Building Your Character Once your stats are rolled, I will open Foundry VTT and provide a link to the game. You can: * Import a D&D Beyond character sheet * Build directly in Foundry * Have me walk you through the process step-by-step (I do have a D&D Beyond importer, though occasionally it decides to become an adventure of its own.) I'll be available on Discord throughout the process to answer questions and help troubleshoot anything that comes up. Character Art Once your character is complete, send me any artwork you'd like to use for your token and character sheet. If you don't have artwork, I can help create some based on your character description. Then we'll step beyond the walls of Leviathan's Harbor and see if your character can survive the Open Maw.

Preparing for the session

How to Prepare Getting ready for the campaign is pretty simple. Step 1: Create a Discord Account If you don't already have one, please download Discord and create an account. Once you've joined the game on StartPlaying, send me your Discord username and I'll get you added to the campaign server. Discord will be our primary hub for: * Voice chat * Character creation * Scheduling * Session announcements * Questions between games --- Step 2: Join Foundry VTT We will be playing through Foundry VTT. You do **not** need to purchase, install, or download anything. A pinned link in the Discord server will take you directly into the game through your web browser. If you can browse the internet, you can play. --- Step 3: Have a Working Microphone A decent microphone and a pair of headphones will make a huge difference for everyone at the table. Webcams are completely optional. I will usually have my camera on, but there is no expectation that players do the same. --- Step 4: Build Your Character During Session 0, we'll roll stats, build characters, and tie everyone into the world of Eidolon. Don't be surprised if I send you a map of your hometown and ask: * What is this place called? * Who lives here? * Who does your character know? * What happened here? I enjoy collaborative worldbuilding and often use player ideas to help flesh out the setting. The more you give me, the more I can weave your character into the story. --- Step 5: Learn What Your Character Can Do This is the biggest favor you can do for both yourself and the group. Please take some time to learn: * Your class abilities * Your attacks * Your spells * Your features * Your character's general backstory You do not need to memorize the entire rulebook. You do not need to know every interaction. But knowing what your character is capable of helps combat move faster, roleplay flow more naturally, and gives everyone more time to enjoy the game. **New players get plenty of grace.** We were all new once. --- ### Questions Are Always Welcome If you're unsure about a rule, a character option, a spell interaction, or anything else, just ask. I would much rather answer a question between sessions than have someone sit confused at the table. If I don't know the answer immediately, we'll figure it out together. My goal is to create an exciting, collaborative, and welcoming game where everyone has a chance to contribute to the story. The Open Maw is dangerous enough. You don't have to navigate it alone.

What Nic brings to the table

What I Provide as a GM My goal is simple: **Create a world that feels alive, dangerous, and worth exploring.** When you join one of my campaigns, you're stepping into a fully realized setting with custom maps, interactive locations, tokens, factions, NPCs, mysteries, and enough lore to keep curious players busy for a very long time. That said, the world isn't the story. **The players are.** I do my best to weave character backstories into the campaign, allowing your choices, victories, failures, and relationships to shape the direction of the game. The setting exists to react to you—not the other way around. --- ## Roleplay & Immersion I enjoy roleplay-heavy games and do my best to bring NPCs to life through character voices, mannerisms, and personalities. Some voices are excellent. Some are terrible. Some are terrible on purpose. You are absolutely allowed to laugh. Just know I tend to match the energy at the table. I also use ambient music, sound effects, maps, artwork, and visual aids whenever possible to help immerse players in the world. --- Combat & Challenges Combat in my games can range from cinematic and heroic to brutal and deadly. The first few sessions are often used to gauge the party's strengths, weaknesses, tactics, and playstyle. Some encounters may feel easy. Some may feel incredibly difficult. Some may surprise me just as much as they surprise you. After those first few sessions, expect meaningful threats, difficult decisions, and encounters that reward teamwork, preparation, and creative problem-solving. This is not a campaign where every fight is meant to be won by simply reducing enemy hit points to zero. Sometimes the objective is survival. Sometimes it's escape. Sometimes it's protecting something more important than yourselves. --- Rules & Rulings I generally lean toward the **Rule of Cool**. If something is creative, dramatic, and makes sense within the story, I will usually try to find a way to make it work. That said, I also respect the rules and appreciate players who understand them. If you believe a rule applies differently than I've interpreted it, feel free to bring it up. I am always willing to listen. At the table, however, I may make a quick ruling to keep the game moving. We can always revisit the specifics after the session if needed. --- Open Dice Every roll in the game is made publicly. Yours. Mine. Everyone's. If the dice decide something incredible happens, we celebrate. If the dice decide disaster strikes, we embrace it. Natural 20s create legends. Natural 1s create stories you'll still be talking about months later. The dice are part of the narrative, and I enjoy letting them shape the world alongside the players. --- Communication & Feedback I want everyone at the table—including the GM—to have fun. At the end of sessions, I often check in for feedback, thoughts, and suggestions. I genuinely enjoy hearing what players liked, what they didn't, a

Homebrew rules

# Homebrew Rules I try to keep house rules light and easy to remember. Most of the game will be played using standard D&D 5e rules, with a few adjustments. ## Potions * Drinking a healing potion yourself is a **Bonus Action**. * Administering a healing potion to another creature is an **Action**. You know where your mouth is. They might not. --- ## Inspiration Everyone begins the campaign with **Inspiration**. I hand out Inspiration frequently for: * Great roleplay * Creative ideas * Clever problem solving * Character moments * Making me laugh * Dramatic decisions * General awesomeness Please use it. Seriously. Use it. You can't earn more if you're already sitting on it. --- ## Flanking We will **not** be using Flanking rules. Positioning still matters, but flanking will not provide advantage. --- ## Player vs. Player (PvP) PvP is not allowed unless all three of the following happen: 1. You discuss it with me before the session. 2. You discuss it with the other player before the session. 3. Everyone involved agrees it serves the story. If either player says no, it doesn't happen. If I say no, it doesn't happen. This rule is non-negotiable. Character conflict can be great storytelling. Player conflict is not. --- ## The Rule of Cool Not a house rule so much as a philosophy. If you come up with something creative, cinematic, and reasonably supported by the situation, I will usually try to find a way to make it work. Just remember: **Cool ideas still require dice rolls.** The dice get a vote.

How Nic creates a safe table

# Player Safety & Comfort The goal is simple: **Everyone should feel comfortable, respected, and able to enjoy the game.** Before the campaign begins, we will have a dedicated Session 0 where we'll discuss expectations, boundaries, character concepts, table etiquette, and any topics that players would prefer not to see in the game. I have adjusted, removed, and rewritten content many times in previous campaigns without negatively affecting the story. If there are themes, topics, phobias, or situations that would make the game less enjoyable for you, please let me know. I'd rather know beforehand than accidentally create a bad experience. --- ## Session 0 During Session 0 we will discuss: * Character creation * Table expectations * Player conduct * Campaign themes * Lines and Veils * Questions, concerns, and expectations This gives everyone an opportunity to start the campaign on the same page. --- ## Private Communication My Discord direct messages are always open to players. If there is something you don't feel comfortable bringing up in front of the group, you are welcome to message me privately before, during, or after a session. No explanation is required beyond what you're comfortable sharing. --- ## Breaks We will take a **10-minute break approximately halfway through each session.** This gives everyone a chance to: * Grab a drink * Stretch * Use the restroom * Check in privately if needed If a concern comes up during play, this is often a great time to reach out. --- ## Speak Up If something isn't working for you, please say something. Tabletop RPGs are collaborative storytelling, and everyone at the table deserves to feel safe, heard, and respected. I'd much rather pause for a conversation than have someone quietly stop enjoying the game. The goal isn't just to tell a great story. The goal is to make sure everyone enjoys telling it together.