Curtain Call | A Wild West Campaign!
Framed for Lincoln's murder, your posse must outrun the law and decipher frontier clues to find a hidden magical sanctuary before the curtain falls.
$10.00
/ Session
Details
1 player following this game
Weekly / Saturday - 11:30 PM UTC
Session Duration / 2.5–3.5 hours
Campaign Length / 5–15 Sessions
0 / 6 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
You have just been framed for the murder of President Abraham Lincoln, and now every federal marshal and Pinkerton detective in the country is out for your blood. But you aren't ordinary outlaws. You are the Actors, the magical veil-keepers of the Wild West, tasked with hiding mythical beasts and ancient magic from an oblivious frontier. Armed with enchanted "Props" disguised as everyday western gear and a single, cryptic page torn from the legendary Director's Ledger, you are thrust into a high-stakes race across 1865 America. Your mission: outrun the law and beat a faction of rogue magic-users to a world-altering sanctuary before they shatter the secret of magic forever. This campaign plays like National Treasure meets Red Dead Redemption. You won't just shoot your way to safety; you and your posse will orchestrate daring train robberies, crack ancient ciphers hidden in historical monuments, and creatively gaslight the mundane world to keep the "Suspension of Disbelief" intact. Cast a fireball in a crowded saloon, and you won’t just face the local sheriff you risk breaking the magical veil entirely. Whether you play a spell-slinging card shark, a shape-shifting tracker, or a gadget-wielding telegraph operator, your clever planning and bold choices will drive the story. If you are ready to outsmart the law, uncover the frontier's greatest conspiracy, and decide the fate of the Wild West, grab your hat and pull up a chair. The house lights are dimming.
Game style
Combat Heavy
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(3)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, World Builder, Inclusive
About me
Hi! I’m Cole I'm in my 20s, I'm a passionate Dungeon Master who loves telling character-driven stories and building immersive worlds alongside my players. I’ve been DM-ing tabletop RPGs for several years, primarily in Dungeons & Dragons 5e, with experience running both one-shots and long-form campaigns. My style blends strong roleplay, meaningful character arcs, exciting combat, and mystery-driven storytelling, aiming for a balance where every player has a chance to shine. I’m especially inspired by stories like Percy Jackson, Atla, Lord of the Rings, and Dimension 20, which influences how I mix epic fantasy with humor, emotional moments, and a touch of the strange or whimsical. I enjoy creating living worlds with factions, secrets, and consequences, where player choices genuinely matter. Whether you’re negotiating with powerful guild leaders, unraveling ancient mysteries, or facing supernatural threats, I strive to make the world feel responsive and alive. As a DM, I value collaboration, creativity, and player comfort. I work hard to create a welcoming table for both new and experienced players, and I’m always happy to help with character creation, roleplay support, or learning the rules. My goal is simple: to make sure everyone leaves the table feeling excited, invested, and eager for the next session.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Welcome to the frontier! To prepare for 1865, here is everything needed to build your "Actors" for Curtain Call. We will combine a free Session 0 and Session 1 into a single, extended opening night. 🗓️ Session 0 Meets Session 1 We will spend the first half creating characters together. This lets us intertwine backstories, finalize your frontier covers, and review house rules like the "Suspension of Disbelief" meter. We will use D&D Beyond to manage sheets and share sourcebooks. Once the posse is formed, we will take a brief intermission. When the house lights dim, we launch directly into Act I: a secret meeting with President Lincoln on April 13, 1865. ⚙️ Mechanics & Starting Power Starting Level: - We begin at Level 3. This grants your subclass, reflecting your status as an experienced "Actor" while keeping you grounded enough to fear mundane federal marshals. - Stat Generation: We are Rolling for Stats. The Wild West is unpredictable! We will roll manually at the table (4d6, drop the lowest). We have a safety net: if your total modifiers fall below a certain threshold, you will be allowed to reroll. - Hit Points: Maximum HP at 1st level, then the fixed average for levels 2 and 3. 📚 Sourcebooks & The Golden Rule Allowed Content: All officially published sourcebooks are fair game. The Golden Rule ✨️ Flavor is Free: You can play any official race. However, for fantastical races, we must establish how you navigate mundane boomtowns without causing a panic. (I.e what you look like in the view of the vail; Percy jackson style) Restrictions: Mechanics from other cosmologies (Eberron, Spelljammer, Ravnica) are restricted unless we work together to re-flavor them into Wild West folklore. 📖 Backstory & Your Cover Bring a character concept, but leave room to connect with the crew. Please answer three questions: - Your Mundane Cover: What is your day job in the Audience world? (e.g., telegraph operator, Pinkerton dropout, card shark, ranch hand). - Your Induction: How did you first peek behind the curtain to discover the Stage Crew? - Your Call to Action: Why did Lincoln's administration select you for this highly classified mission? 🎩 Designing Your Starting Prop Magic hides in plain sight. Every Actor starts with one custom "Prop", a magical item disguised as standard Western gear. Bring a concept, and we will assign mechanics to it. Examples: - A silver pocket watch that vibrates near shapechangers. - A moonlight lasso acting as a Rope of Entanglement. - A battered Stetson functioning as a Bag of Holding. - Playing cards that cast Minor Illusion when thrown. Bring your best dice and survival instincts. The Pinkertons are watching, and your cue is approaching!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Before the curtain rises on our combined free Session 0/1, please complete these logistical steps so we can hit the ground running: 1. Join the Discord Server All out-of-character communication, session scheduling, and campaign announcements happen here. - Action: Click the invite link in your welcome message. Please set your server nickname and pronouns. - Setup: Ensure you have a working microphone and a quiet environment for voice chat. 2. Set Up D&D Beyond - We will use D&D Beyond for character sheets, which allows me to share my unlocked sourcebooks with you. - Action: Create a free account at dndbeyond.com. -Action: Join the campaign via the specific link posted in Discord. (Note: Do not build your character yet! We will roll stats together at the table.) 3. Join the Virtual Tabletop (VTT) While sheets are on D&D Beyond, our tactical combat, heists, and map exploration will take place on our VTT. - Action: Create a free account on Roll20 (or log into an existing one). Action: Click the game invite link in Discord to join the Curtain Call room. 4. Brainstorm Your Concept You don't need a finished character sheet, but please come with a few strong ideas to share with the group. Action: Review the setting guidelines and content warnings. - Action: Jot down ideas for your Mundane Cover (your day job), your Induction (how you discovered magic exists), and your Call to Action. - Action: Brainstorm 1 or 2 concepts for your starting Prop (your magical item cleverly disguised as Western gear). 5. Grab Your Dice - Action: Have your favorite physical dice ready for manual stat rolling during Session 0, or plan to use the digital dice rollers integrated into D&D Beyond or Discord.
What Cole L. brings to the table
- I always give my best effort with character voices. -I build an immersive ambiance tailored directly to our current narrative. - Expect a welcoming table where I love teaching the mechanics and weaving your character's backstory deeply into the regional lore. - When it comes to gameplay, the Rule of Cool is the absolutely the only way to go, guaranteeing that your most creative ideas take center stage.
Homebrew rules
Criticals: Natural 1s are critical fails, and Natural 20s are critical successes. Max Damage Crits: Critical hits deal maximum damage. Potions: Drinking a potion is a bonus action. Suspension of Disbelief: Using visible magic in front of the Audience lowers the regional meter.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Cole L. creates a safe table
During Session 0, we will establish our Lines and Veils to ensure everyone's boundaries are clearly understood and respected before the campaign begins. We will use digital X, N, and O cards via direct message to allow for discreet, real-time adjustments if any uncomfortable topics arise during play. Additionally, after intense or heavy narrative moments, we will reserve time for a brief cooldown and aftercare discussion to decompress and check in on everyone's well-being.
Content warnings
Safety tools used