🦇Against the Darklords🦇 | Survive the Horrors of Ravenloft

Creating your character

⭐ Character Creation Rules ⭐ You will begin the campaign at level 6, using D&D Beyond to create your characters. All 5.5e core and expanded content, and most 5e expanded content is allowed, along with some third-party content. That includes a number of extra classes (Pugilist, Gunslinger, Monster Hunter), plus a ton of subclasses, spells, etc. I don’t allow non-D&D Beyond homebrew or third-party content. 2014 'Legacy' content is not allowed. ⭐ Character Backstory ⭐ Although you are free to come up with whatever you want, there is one prerequisite for this game. At some point in your characters past, they were taken by the mist and briefly trapped in on of the Domains of Dread. Somehow, they escaped, emerging with a…. ⭐ Dark Gift ⭐ Each character will get a free additional ‘Dark Gift’ feat. These bestow new powers, but also come with a sting in the tail… ⭐ Heroic Ability Scores ⭐ In all of my campaigns, I offer ‘heroic’ point buy or standard array. Point buy: Instead of 27 points to spend on your character, you will have 35. The max ability score is set to 16, the min to 7. Use this tool here to calculate: https://chicken-dinner.com/5e/5e-point-buy.html#select&NA&8&8&8&8&8&8&0&0&35&16&7&19&15&12&9&7&5&4&3&2&1&0&1&2&4&6&9&4&4&4&4&4&4 If you prefer, you can use this heroic standard array: 16, 15, 14, 12, 11, 8 You will need to enter your initial scores manually on D&D Beyond. ⭐ Magical Items & Equipment ⭐ You start with: 1500 gp to spend on non-magical gear and spell components. One rare magical item, one uncommon, and one common. ⭐ Extra Expertise ⭐ Ever wondered why a druid can’t be an expert in animal handling or a barbarian in athletics without taking the ‘skill expert’ feat? Well, now they can! As a Barbarian, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Sorcerer, Warlock, Paladin, Artificer, Gunslinger, Illrigger, Bloodhunter, Pugilist, or Monster Hunter, you get expertise in a skill you already have proficiency in at level 6. As a Ranger, you now get expertise in a skill you already have proficiency in at level 1, one at level 7, and another at level 9. Other classes are unchanged. ⭐ Martial Multiclassing ⭐ If you multiclass with two martial classes that would usually get a second attack at level 5, you get the second attack when your combined levels reach level 5. Example: Fighter 3 / Paladin 2 = 2 attacks You do NOT then get another attack when you reach level 5 in one of the classes! ⭐ Custom Background ⭐ If (like me) you're not a fan of the way backgrounds lock certain ASIs and feats, never fear! You can use my homebrew custom background that allows you to pick any ASIs/origin feats. If you need help building a character, message me, and I’d be happy to help.

Preparing for the session

You will need: ✅ A D&D Beyond account (free). I will give you access to all my books via content sharing. ✅ Chrome or Firefox with the Above VTT plugin installed. This is also free. ✅ Discord. I'll give you access to my server once you sign up for the campaign. ✅ A stable internet connection and a decent microphone.

What DM Rob brings to the table

‼️ I do use generative AI for unique NPC/monster art and for music. If that offends, this might not be the campaign for you ‼️ In this campaign, you'll get: ✅ Access to my full D&D Beyond library for character creation. That includes tons of extra classes, subclasses, magic items, spells, and more. ✅ Cool visuals and professionally made maps via Above VTT. If you're not familiar with this VTT, don't worry. It's easy to use, and syncs directly with your D&D Beyond sheet.

Homebrew rules

⭐ Nat 20s and Nat 1s ⭐ Saving Throws: Nat 20s always succeed, and nat 1s always fail, disregarding saving throw DCs. Ability checks: There are no critical successes or failures. ⭐ Potions ⭐ If you use an action to drink a potion, you get the maximum healing. Ex. potion of healing 2d4+2 = heal 10 hp. If you use a bonus action to drink the potion, you roll for HP as normal. ⭐ Initiative ⭐ If you roll a nat 20 on initiative, you can choose where in the turn order you go. ⭐ Perfect Critical Hits ⭐ Max damage from the second set of dice. EG, you crit with a shortsword that normally does 1d6 +4 damage. The crit would be 1d6 + 4 + 6. AboveVTT can auto-roll perfect crits. ⭐ Death saves ⭐ To avoid metagaming, death saving throws are rolled secretly to the DM. This will put pressure on the other players when deciding their next actions. ⭐ Do you even know who I am? ⭐ When a roll happens that is going to lead to the immediate death of a character (failing a spell save, failing a final death roll, etc.), they can do a flashback to a moment that demonstrates what motivates them. After they describe this to the group, they can force a reroll. This can only happen once per character per campaign. ⭐ Hiding ⭐ In 2024 rules, hiding is always a DC 15 stealth check. Instead of using this flat score, you will need to beat the passive perception of the creature (s) you are hiding from. ⭐ Off-table rolls ⭐ Sometimes I do not want you to know I am rolling dice, so I do it off the table. For example, an NPC is lying to you. You ask to roll insight. Instead of responding – “sure, I’m going to roll deception against that” (meaning you now know the NPC is lying, even if your character doesn’t), I’ll instead roll this dice in secret. ⭐ Unannounced rolls ⭐ Please make rolls when the DM asks you to. You can ask to roll for something, but don’t roll dice before being prompted. ⭐ Holding an action ⭐ When holding the attack action, you may take all of your attacks (not just one) when the held action is triggered. ⭐ Knocking a creature unconscious ⭐ RAW: When you would reduce a creature to 0 Hit Points with a melee attack, you can instead reduce the creature to 1 Hit Point. The creature then has the Unconscious condition and starts a Short Rest. CHANGE: When knocking a creature unconscious with a melee attack, only the following damage types work: Piercing, Slashing, Bludgeoning, and Force. You may also knock a creature out with a spell that deals only psychic damage. e.g., Vicious mockery ⭐ Rule of Cool ⭐ While I stick to the RAW most of the time, if you have an awesome idea for something you want to try, I’m happy to bend (or even break) the rules as long as it isn’t too OP or unfair.

How DM Rob creates a safe table

Be warned, this is a horror campaign, and we will be leaning heavily into that! There are a ton of content warnings and most aren't optional. Of course, it's my job to make sure you are safe and comfortable as we play. Prior to session 0, I'll ask you to complete a lines-and-veils document to inform my campaign planning. During session 0, we will go over these and make sure we are all on the same page. During session 0, we will also go over rules regarding PVP, etc. Players can DM me at any time (during or after sessions) if something makes them feel uncomfortable. My door is always open!