Colossus of the Drylands: A Western (Inclusive Table)

Creating your character

Players will need to make Level 1 characters using the rules in the Daggerheart Core Rulebook during session zero. I will take the players through the step-by-step process for creating a Daggerheart adventurer who fits into the world of the Drylands. Since Daggerheart places great emphasis on making characters as a group during session zero, players do not need to undertake this step in advance, though if they could bring two or three one-sentence concepts for characters this will likely speed up the process.

Preparing for the session

The most important step players will need to take in order to prepare is having access to the Daggerheart core rules - whether this is in the form of a physical book, PDF, or the Systems Reference Document for the game (which is available for free), the players will need to be able to refer to the rules. Additionally, they will need a Discord account with which they can join the server where I will be hosting the game. Other than that, no preparation is necessary.

What Egg Eggleton brings to the table

As well as hosting a discord server for this and other games, complete with a dice rolling bot and a channel to use it in, I take notes after each session that the players can use as a weekly recap. Between sessions I pin a, "Where We're At," message in the channel where the game is hosted, containing a brief one-sentence reminder of what happened at the end of the last session and the date and time of the next session (converted to local timezones using discord commands). As a GM I spotlight my players' characters first and foremost, making them central to the plot and planning encounters that intend to challenge their flaws and beliefs just as much as their physical capabilities. I perform voices to help distinguish NPCs from each other and myself. I prefer to use Theatre of the Mind for a game like Daggerheart, but I may occasionally implement a battle map if needed; if this becomes the case, I shall use Owlbear Rodeo to do so.

Homebrew rules

The Colossus of the Drylands campaign frame has a number of rules which differ from "basic" Daggerheart already, namely the inclusion of guns and colossi. The campaign will also be divided into Hunt and Interlude segments, with the hunt being a time-sensitive experience focused around tracking and defeating a colossus and interludes allowing for slower and more thoughtful action. In addition to these rules, I will be using a homebrew rule system to explain the role of Essentia, magical crystals which power almost all spellcasting and advanced technology in the drylands.

How Egg Eggleton creates a safe table

I run my games in a way that encourages players to place their comfort and wellbeing above any engagement with the fiction, as ultimately roleplaying is a form of recreation and I never want a player to leave having been harmed by the experience. I will host a session zero where players will be asked to name any lines or veils they have, as well as discussing the length of games and the tone. During sessions, I plan 10-15 minute breaks into each session (typically one break per session) and allow players to ask for another break if they require it. I also stay in a voice call for a few minutes after each session in case players want to discuss the game from an external, above-table perspective with each other or me. At any time, I encourage a player who becomes uncomfortable to either tell the group or message me privately, at which point I will call for an impromptu break in the session and find a way to move forward without causing harm to the affected player. This may mean retconning a situation that crosses a line the player had not considered during session zero. So far, I have never needed to utilise the more extreme of these safety tools, as I make a point to treat my players with empathy and decency.