The Dark Circus - A Play-by-Post Campaign - Beginners Welcome

Creating your character

Characters will be created together during Session 0 using D&D Beyond. You do not need to arrive with a finished sheet: bring a character idea, a class you are interested in, or simply a sense of the kind of investigator or adventurer you would enjoy playing, and we will build from there. All characters begin at Level 1. This campaign starts with ordinary people facing an unsettling local mystery, then grows into something far larger as the investigation deepens. Characters will advance by milestone as the story unfolds. Ability scores will use the standard array system. Please use official Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition options available through D&D Beyond; any third-party material or homebrew must be discussed and approved before Session 0. Your character should have a reason to care about the people and dangers along the Trade Way, and be willing to investigate, collaborate, and follow leads with the party. Caravan guards, local protectors, scholars, clergy, performers, merchants, and wandering adventurers all fit naturally into the story, but if you have any other character ideas, we can definitely weave them in.

Preparing for the session

Before Session 0, please create free accounts for Discord and D&D Beyond, then join the private campaign Discord server using the invitation link provided after booking. You do not need to prepare a finished character before Session 0. Bring a rough idea, favourite class, or simply the kind of character you would enjoy playing, and we will create the party together on D&D Beyond. Please complete the short pre-game questionnaire and read the campaign expectations and safety information shared in the server. No rulebooks or paid digital content are required. For live sessions, you will need a stable internet connection, a working microphone, and access to Discord on a computer or laptop and a webcam is encouraged for the full round-table experience. Any maps or virtual tabletop tools will be accessed through your browser, with links and guidance provided before play begins.

What Kieran brings to the table

I provide a polished, player-focused D&D experience built around meaningful choices, memorable characters, and mysteries that reward attention. You can expect a private Discord campaign space, D&D Beyond character support, clear session recaps, maps and visual aids, custom handouts and clues all stored in the discord, and a world that responds to your decisions. Each character will be woven into the campaign through personal hooks, relationships, and opportunities to shape the story. My games lean heavily into roleplay, investigation, atmosphere, and character-driven storytelling. I use distinct NPC voices, evocative descriptions, music and ambience where it supports the scene, and cinematic encounters that make the world feel alive. The Dark Circus is not a combat gauntlet: expect tense social scenes, evidence to examine, witnesses to question, leads to pursue, difficult choices, and occasional high-stakes combat when the story demands it. Rules provide a reliable foundation, but I value creative problem-solving and the Rule of Cool when it makes the table more exciting without taking fun or spotlight away from others. I aim to make every player feel heard, supported, and able to influence the direction of the campaign. Session 0 will set expectations, create characters together, and establish safety tools and content boundaries. Horror should be thrilling, never uncomfortable in the wrong way, player wellbeing always comes before the show.

Homebrew rules

My games use D&D 5e as the core rules framework, with a small number of clear house rules to make dramatic moments feel more satisfying. Critical Hits: On a natural 20, damage dice are maximised and then rolled once as normal, with modifiers added once. This makes critical hits feel consistently impactful without slowing the game down. I also enjoy collaborating with players on optional, story-appropriate mechanics where they add to the campaign. In previous games, this has included tailored equipment-damage systems and other character- or setting-specific additions. Any new rule will be discussed with the group first, agreed together, and clearly recorded in the campaign Discord so nobody is surprised by a rule change mid-session. Rules as Written are the default foundation. Where a ruling is needed in the moment, I will make a fair call to keep the game moving, then revisit it between sessions if needed. Creative ideas and clever plans are always welcome, especially when they support the story and give everyone room to shine.

How Kieran creates a safe table

The Dark Circus includes horror, danger, disappearances, violence, and unsettling imagery. Player comfort always comes before the story. Before Session 0, every player will receive a private Google Form to set their Lines and Veils and share any content they would prefer to avoid, fade to black, or handle carefully. We will confirm the group’s boundaries together in Session 0 and keep them available throughout the campaign. We use the X, N, and O safety system during play: X: Stop or immediately move away from the current content. N: The scene can continue, but please reduce the intensity or change direction. O: Everything is okay to continue. Players can use X, N, or O verbally, in Discord chat, through an emoji, or by sending me a private message. Every player will have a private Discord chat with me built into the game server, so you can raise a concern, ask for a check-in, or change a boundary at any time without needing to explain it publicly. There is always an open-door policy. You may step away, pause a scene, or ask for content to fade to black at any time, with no justification required. Live sessions will end with a short spoken check-out, and I will follow up privately where a scene has been particularly heavy or I feel a player may benefit from a check-in.