Black Flags, Deep Waters

Creating your character

Character creation is quick, collaborative, and beginner-friendly. We'll create your character together during Session 0 or before the first game—whichever works best for the group. New players are always welcome, and no prior Pirate Borg experience is required. Characters begin at the standard starting level using the official **Pirate Borg** rules. We'll roll abilities, create your background, choose your gear, and tie your character directly into the campaign. Every pirate begins with personal ambitions, old debts, and connections that naturally become part of the story. I encourage creative concepts, but they should fit the tone of a grim, haunted Caribbean. We'll work together to ensure every character has reasons to sail with the crew and meaningful ties to the living world around them. All official Pirate Borg player options are welcome. If you'd like to try something unusual, just ask—I'm always happy to discuss ideas that fit the setting and help create memorable adventures.

Preparing for the session

Preparing for the game is simple: * Join our Discord server before Session 0 (I'll send you the invite after you join). * Create a free **Forge-VTT** account if you don't already have one. * A microphone is required. A webcam is optional. * No software installation is necessary—Foundry VTT runs directly in your browser. * Please make sure your internet connection and microphone are working before the session begins. New to Pirate Borg or Foundry? No problem! I'll guide you through everything during Session 0, including character creation, Foundry basics, game mechanics, safety tools, and what to expect from the campaign. My goal is to make sure everyone feels comfortable before we set sail.

What Dunchan Hunter brings to the table

This isn't a campaign where the world waits for heroes. The Caribbean is already alive. Pirate republics rise and fall. Colonial empires wage wars that continue whether you're watching or not. Merchant companies manipulate entire ports for profit. Storms redraw sea routes. Ancient pacts awaken beneath forgotten islands. Rival pirate crews hunt the same treasures you seek, and every victory creates new opportunities—or new enemies. Your crew isn't the center of the world. You're part of a living Caribbean that existed long before you arrived and will continue long after you're gone. Inspired by **Pirate Borg**, **Black Sails**, **Sid Meier's Pirates!**, **Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag**, **Call of Cthulhu**, and classic pirate folklore, this campaign combines cinematic swashbuckling with investigation, exploration, naval combat, political intrigue, and creeping cosmic horror. Whether you're chasing cursed treasure, negotiating fragile alliances, fighting desperate boarding actions, or uncovering forgotten secrets beneath the sea, your choices permanently shape the world around you. My GM style is built around **player agency** and **meaningful consequences**. There are no predetermined heroes and no scripted solutions. Clever plans, diplomacy, deception, negotiation, and bold risks are rewarded just as much as combat. I believe the most memorable stories come from player decisions—not from forcing everyone down a single path. I use **Foundry VTT** to create a highly immersive experience with animated maps, dynamic lighting, atmospheric music, ambient sound, scene artwork, handouts, journals, and visual storytelling. NPCs have distinct personalities, goals, and voices, while the world constantly reacts to changing events and player actions. Combat is dangerous, fast, and cinematic. Pirate Borg rewards creativity over optimization, and so do I. If you come up with an exciting plan that fits the situation, I'll almost always look for a way to make it work. The rules provide the framework, but the story always comes first. Above all, I want players to feel that their actions matter. Save a settlement and it may become a valuable ally months later. Betray a captain and your reputation may spread across the islands. Ignore a growing threat and don't expect the world to wait politely until you're ready. This is a sandbox where exploration is rewarded, consequences are lasting, and every voyage has the potential to become a legend. Raise the black flag. The Caribbean is already writing its history. The question is whether your crew will become part of it.

How Dunchan Hunter creates a safe table

Your comfort matters. Before we begin, we talk. Session 0 is where we set tone, themes, expectations, and anything you want kept out of the game. Not a form. A conversation. Player comfort is essential to creating great horror. Before the campaign begins, we'll have a dedicated **Session 0** where we'll discuss expectations, campaign tone, character creation, and establish our shared boundaries using **Lines, Veils, and Wishes**. Everyone has the opportunity to communicate topics they'd rather avoid or fade to black, ensuring we create an atmosphere that's exciting without crossing personal boundaries. During play, we use an **X, N, & O safety system**, allowing anyone to quietly signal if a scene needs to stop, slow down, or if everything is going well. Players can communicate verbally, through Discord, or privately via direct message at any time—no explanations required. While this is a horror campaign featuring supernatural themes, violence, madness, and difficult moral choices, my goal is always suspense and atmosphere rather than shock for its own sake. Real-world discrimination, sexual violence, and similar subjects are never used for entertainment. After emotionally intense sessions, we take a few minutes to decompress, discuss highlights, answer questions, and make sure everyone leaves the table feeling comfortable and excited for the next voyage. Great horror is built on trust—and that's something we create together before we ever raise the black flag.