Band of Blades | A Grimdark Fantasy Campaign

Creating your character

Character creation is done along with the other players in Band of Blades. Band of Blades is a "troupe" style game where the party creates a cast of characters who will rotate through play depending on the needs of each mission so no player has full ownership over any of the characters. During our first session we will discuss the type of characters we are interested in seeing in the game so we can create an army of soldiers that will have fun interactions to explore. Band of Blades is a game about the horrors of war, so ensuring that the players understand the intricacies of the characters being played invites more dramatic storytelling from everyone at the table. Character sheets and play material will be provided to the players ahead of their first session. I do not expect extensive reading from the players and am prepared to teach the game through play.

Preparing for the session

A webcam and microphone are required for this game. I expect each player to be visible and audible so the other players and I can engage with each other as closely as we can to in-person play. The game will be played over Discord in a video call so an account for Discord and access to the application or browser version is necessary. I do not expect that my players will be fully familiar with the rules ahead of time and I am very comfortable introducing people to the game during play. Players are encouraged to learn as much as they can about the system being used to leave more time for play during our sessions but I encourage beginners and advanced players to join me at the table. Rules will be provided to the player ahead of time for perusal and inspiration but it is not expected for players to arrive with anything prepared. I prefer for players to arrive to the table with a handful of character concepts so that a discussion can be had about what ideas best match the tone and style of story we all want to tell.

What Charles brings to the table

The game is played over Discord with minimal external tools. I prefer a Theater of the Mind style of storytelling where role-playing is placed at the forefront. I prepare tense scenarios and dynamic characters (with my personal love of unique character voices) and introduce them to the players with high emotional stakes where I intend to have each player see their choices as impactful to the narrative. I believe that the rule system exists as a framework for the table and should encourage fun moments for the players, not restrict them. As the gamemaster, it's my duty to enforce the rules as well as let them slide when the moment demands it. I do not see myself as having the final say on how the story unfolds and encourage players to be collaborators instead of audience members.

How Charles creates a safe table

Breaks: To avoid fatigue during play I call a 15 minute break approximately half way through the game session. Lines and Veils: When I bring a new player to the table they are able to personally or anonymously let me know difficult subjects they would rather not be discussed at the table. Before the player's first session they are given a link to Google Forms that I use as a private resource. Anything that would like to be communicated as fully avoiding is marked as a line. Myself and the other players respect each other by not introducing topics struck as lines and will remove them from the narrative if they were introduced prior. Similarly, veils are items that make one of the players uncomfortable but not so much as to be fully ignored. When a veil is introduced to the narrative it is approached cautiously and without unnecessary detail. Lines and veils are established not only at the start of play but I also encourage players to introduce anything that they had not considered being an issue as it comes up or they think of it. Open Door: At the end of the day each person at the table has a duty to take care of themselves. Whether they are unexpectedly having a hard time with the subject matter in the game or need to run off to the bathroom for their comfort, I invite players to step away from the game if they deem it necessary without any penalty. We're all meeting to have fun and preserving that is important to me. Session 0: At the beginning of every campaign I hold a Session 0 to provide plenty of time for all players to be introduced to each other and start acclimating to telling stories with the group. During Session 0, there is time for players to share what they are very excited about introducing into our story and what they would appreciate avoiding. Any necessary character creation is done in Session 0 which I believes lends itself to building parties with interconnected motivations and goals. All of this sets up the table with the best chance for telling a once in a lifetime story that everyone will be excited to jump into. X Card: The X Card is a last ditch tool for players to use if any scene becomes an issue for them to be involved it. When the X Card is invoked the scene is halted and the player who used it is given an opportunity to elaborate but it isn't necessary. If possible, the triggering details are acknowledged and replaced but otherwise the story will move onto another scene for the comfort of every player. I utilize the X Card in my digital games by asking players to either type an X into the chat box of our call, audibly say "X-Card", to raise their arms in front of them in the shape of an X, or a combination of the 3.