Island Life - a homebrew world of discovery in tropical islands
Storms that have lasted centuries have ended, the oceans are now open and adventure awaits. What will you uncover as you explore the expanding horizon
TYPE
SYSTEM
LEVELS
LANGUAGE
EXPERIENCE
AGE
$20.00
/ Session
Details
2 players following this game
Bi-weekly / Wednesday - 5:00 PM UTC
Jul 29 / Session 1
Session Duration / 3–6 hours
3 / 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
Schedule
Meet your party members
3/5
About the adventure
For generations, the people of Archipelago lived with the horizon just out of reach. Vast storms, impenetrable mists, and powerful winds kept the islands separated, turning distant lands into little more than stories told around hearthfires. Then, only months ago, everything changed. The storms vanished. The seas calmed. The barriers fell. For the first time in recorded history, the world is open. Now every harbour buzzes with excitement. Merchants fund expeditions into the unknown, shipyards work day and night, and adventurers set sail in search of new lands, lost treasures, forgotten ruins, and wonders no one has seen before. Rumours already spread of strange creatures, mysterious fleets, moving islands, ancient secrets, and opportunities beyond imagination. Of course, not everyone who sails beyond the horizon returns with a good story. Some do not return at all. This campaign is about adventure, discovery, and charting your own course through a world that is only just beginning to understand itself. Whether you become explorers, treasure hunters, privateers, scholars, diplomats, merchants, or accidental heroes, your choices will help shape how this new age unfolds. The world is full of possibilities, and very few people can honestly claim to know what lies beyond the next island. My games tend to focus heavily on roleplay, exploration, worldbuilding, and player-driven stories. Combat will certainly have its place, but this is a setting that rewards curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to follow the unknown. The tone is adventurous and optimistic, with moments of danger, mystery, humour, and wonder. If you've ever looked at the edge of a map and thought "I wonder what's over there?", then this is probably the campaign for you.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Sandbox / Open World
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(1)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: World Builder, Voices, Inclusive
Average response time: 12 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
I've been playing DnD for over a decade both as a player and a GM in classic DnD settings, homebrew worlds, Star Wars RPGs and other TTRPGs such as Mythic Bastionlands. I love crafting a world, filling it with intrigue and potential hooks and seeing where the players take their own adventure. I've run campaigns for completely new players and players with twice the experience I have and they've all been a blast. In addition to DnD, I also have a few years of LARP experience and a lifelong passion for fantasy and science fiction worlds which both lend themselves well to roleplay and solid worldbuilding. Aside from that I'm a queer 30 year old guy who loves comic books, Star Wars, How To Train Your Dragon, fantasy books and dice. I run sessions in person and online, in both I use my gaming table and collection of hand-painted miniatures to help set the scene as well as images for specific references.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We will run a session zero where I guide you through character creation. However, this will be the standard rolling 4d6 method. Starting at level 1. Importantly in this homebrew setting there are no spell slots, there is an energy point system instead. This campaign does not feature the Artificer class.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Please have a Discord account (unless in person is a geographical possibility). I encourage players to use real dice.
What Ryan Watkiss brings to the table
I will provide a lore doc, maps, music, editable character sheet and all NPC voices. As I encourage roleplay in my sessions there are occasions where rule-of-cool will apply and great gameplay will be rewarded.
Homebrew rules
Spell slots are replaced with energy points. There is also a special enchanting process that can be followed to make powerful magic weapons. No Artificer in this particular campaign (due to in-world lore)
Equipment needed to play
Computer or Mobile Device
Internet
Microphone
Physical Dice
Webcam
Platforms used
Safety
How Ryan Watkiss creates a safe table
In session zero and via Direct Messages before session 1 I will discuss player lines and veils as well as how to signal discomfort to me during a session.
Content warnings
Safety tools used