Lost Mine of Phandelver: a level 1-5 adventure Beginner friendly
The characters are in the city of Neverwinter when their dwarf patron and friend, Gundren Rockseeker, hires them to escort a wagon to Phandalin
$5.00
/ Session
Details
3 players following this game
Weekly / Friday - 6:30 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
1 / 5 Seats Filled
Report Adventure
StartPlaying Money Back Guarantee
If your game doesn't happen, we guarantee a refund. Just reach out to StartPlaying Support. Refund Policy
Meet your party members
1/5
About the adventure
Just like a fantasy novel or movie, an adventure is set in a larger world. In fact, the world can be anything that the DM and players can imagine. It could be a swords-and-sorcery setting at the dawn of civilization, where barbarians battle evil sorcerers, or a post-apocalyptic fantasy where elves and dwarves wield magic amid the wreckage of a technological civilization. Most D&D settings are somewhere between those two extremes: worlds of medieval high fantasy with knights and castles, as well as elven cities, dwarven mines, and fearsome monsters. The world of the Forgotten Realms is one such setting, and that’s where the story in this adventure takes place. In the Realms, knights dare the crypts of the fallen dwarf kings of Delzoun, seeking glory and treasure. Rogues prowl the dark alleyways of teeming cities such as Neverwinter and Baldur’s Gate. Clerics in the service of gods wield mace and spell, questing against the terrifying powers that threaten the land. Wizards plunder the ruins of the fallen Netherese empire, delving into secrets too dark for the light of day. Dragons, giants, demons, and unimaginable abominations lurk in dungeons, caverns, ruined cities, and the vast wild places of the world. On the roads and rivers of the Realms travel minstrels and peddlers, merchants and guards, soldiers, sailors, and steel-hearted adventurers carrying tales of strange, glorious, faraway places. Good maps and clear trails can take even an inexperienced youth with dreams of glory far across the world. Thousands of restless would-be heroes from backcountry farmsteads and sleepy villages arrive in Neverwinter and the other great cities every year in search of wealth and renown. Known roads may be well traveled, but they aren’t necessarily safe. Fell magic, deadly monsters, and cruel local rulers are all perils that you face when you travel in the Forgotten Realms. Even farms and freeholds within a day’s walk of a city can fall prey to monsters, and no place is safe from the sudden wrath of a dragon.
Game style
Realm Building
Hexcrawl / Exploration
Combat Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
4.8
(8)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
1 game hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Teacher, Creativity
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 67%
About me
I’ve been GMing for about five years, primarily running D&D 5e and 5.5e. My first campaign as a player was Curse of Strahd and I've loved dnd ever since. My wife was a player in that game and we ended up getting married and we both dm campaigns in our home every week. I love the lore of dnd and creating adventures that my players can step into and embrace that world. The players I enjoy most are those who step into their characters—who speak, decide, and act from that perspective. When a table leans into roleplay, the story becomes something we create together. One of my favorite moments came from a barbarian challenging a fleeing warrior cleric. He called the cleric a coward and the NPC turned back for a duel. It was tense and cinematic—the bard played music, and the party surrounded the duel. The barbarian finally won, and as the cleric accepted his fate, I granted advantage on the final strike… double natural 1s. Instead of a failure, we made it mythic. The player said his god must have stayed his hand, and I followed through. Lightning struck, and the fallen warrior became a tree. A bad roll became a legendary moment. Thats what I want for my players. I love listening to what my players envision for their characters, their arcs, and dreams and helping create situations, challenges and obstacles let them express it. DND to me is a story, told by the players based on how they direct their characters, and i get the privilege of turning the pages.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
If you’ve never made a D&D character before, don’t worry—I’ve got you. This is just to help you come in with a basic idea. Step 1: Think of a Character Idea Start with a vibe. Ask yourself: * Do you want to be a brave knight? * A sneaky rogue? * A spellcaster with strange magic? * A nature-loving druid or ranger? You don’t need a full backstory yet—just a general idea of who they are. Step 2: Choose a Race and Class * Race = what you are (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, etc.) * Class = what you do (Fighter, Wizard, Rogue, Cleric, etc.) If you’re unsure, here are some easy beginner picks: * Fighter (simple, strong, straightforward) * Rogue (sneaky, skill-based, fun roleplay) * Cleric (support + some combat, very useful) * Barbarian (hit things hard, easy to play) --- Step 3: Ability Scores (Standard Array) We will use **Standard Array**, which is: **15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8** You assign these numbers to your stats: * Strength * Dexterity * Constitution * Intelligence * Wisdom * Charisma Put your highest number (15) in your most important stat for your class. Step 4: Use D&D Beyond We’ll be using D&D Beyond to build characters. It will: * Walk you through each step * Automatically calculate stats * Keep everything organized If you get stuck, don’t worry—we can build your character together. Step 5: Equipment & Spells * Just choose the default options when prompted—it’s perfectly fine * If you’re a spellcaster, pick spells that sound fun or useful—you can always adjust later Step 6: Personality (Keep It Light) You don’t need a novel. Just think about: * Are they serious or funny? * Brave or cautious? * Why are they adventuring? Even one sentence is enough. Final Notes * Characters start at Level 1 * Keep it simple—this is a learning adventure * I’ll help with anything you’re unsure about The goal is to show up with something playable, not perfect.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Before Session 1, please make sure you have the following ready: * A free account on D&D Beyond (for character sheets and content access) * A Discord account (this is where we’ll communicate and play) * A working microphone (clear audio is important for the game) **Optional (but recommended)** * Webcam (camera adds to immersion, but not required) * Headphones (helps reduce echo and improves audio clarity) **Character Prep** * Have a character concept in mind (race, class, general vibe) * You can come with a full character ready, or we can build together before the session * Characters will typically start at Level 1 and should fit a classic fantasy adventuring tone **General Expectations** * Be ready to engage, roleplay, and collaborate as a group * Respect everyone’s time and spotlight * Have fun and don’t stress about knowing all the rules—we’ll learn as we go If you have any questions or need help setting anything up, reach out before game time.
What Allen brings to the table
At my table, you can expect a strong focus on immersion. I use ambient music, a soundboard, and combat tracks to help set the tone and make moments feel more alive. I also put a lot of value on respecting everyone’s time. Showing up consistently and on time matters, since everyone is investing in the story together. That said, I understand life happens—if you can’t make a session, just give as much notice as you can so we can plan around it. More than anything, I’m looking for players who are present, engaged, and willing to be part of the group experience. If you show up ready to play and respect the table, you’ll fit in just fine.
Homebrew rules
We allow drinking a potion as a Bonus Action, but if you make it your action, you heal the full amount it could heal if applicable. Critical hits are max damage plus roll. For example if you critically hit with a scimitar, you deal the full 6 dmg of its 1d6 damage die, then you roll your 1d6 plus your dex modifier as normal. Natural 20's on ability checks and saving throws add a +5 to your roll. And Natural 1's give a -5 to your roll. This helps make 1's and 20's feel more impactful, while still allowing character skill to shine. have expertise in a check and roll a nat 1?you still might pass low skill check dc's, role a nat 20 on a skill your character has no proficiency in? beginners luck is here for you!
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Allen creates a safe table
Link for lines and veils. Session 0 I will go over expectations from dm to player, player to dm, and player to player. After each session, we will do a quick recap of events. Make sure everyone had fun, what they liked, what they wish to see in future sessions, and any topics we we need to steer away from for future sessions.
Content warnings
Safety tools used