Ravenloft: No Saints in the Fog.

Creating your character

Character creation will happen before the first full session, with help from me every step of the way. We will use **D&D 2024 rules** as the foundation. Characters will be created in **D&D Beyond**, and I will make sure everyone has what they need to build a legal, table-ready character. New players are welcome. You do not need to know every rule before joining. Characters will begin at **Level 3**. Stats will use either **Standard Array** or **Point Buy**, so everyone starts on even footing. No rolled stats for this campaign. Allowed material will be discussed before the game, but the main focus will be official D&D 2024 character options. Ravenloft-friendly options are welcome, especially characters with curses, secrets, old guilt, strange bloodlines, haunted pasts, religious doubts, monster-hunting experience, or unfinished business with the dead. I strongly encourage characters who have a reason to care about people, even if they are damaged, afraid, selfish, cursed, or carrying something ugly. Ravenloft works best when your character has something to lose. Good character concepts for this campaign include: Monster hunters Occult investigators Cursed nobles Broken priests Grave robbers Scholars of forbidden lore Ex-soldiers Runaways Doctors, mediums, bounty hunters, or survivors Anyone who made a deal they regret You do not need to know Ravenloft lore ahead of time. In fact, it may be better if you don’t. Bring me a strong character vibe, a fear, a regret, and one thing your character would risk their life to protect. I’ll help with the rest.

Preparing for the session

Before the first session, players should have a few things ready so we can get into the Mists without spending half the night fighting logins. You will need: A **Discord account** for voice chat, table updates, and between-session communication. A working **microphone**. Video is welcome but not required. A free **Roll20 account** for maps, tokens, handouts, and combat. A **D&D Beyond account** for character creation and character sheets. A character built in **D&D Beyond** before the first full session. I will help with this if you are new or stuck. A stable internet connection and a quiet enough space to hear and be heard. You do not need to buy any books to play. I will help guide you through the options available for this campaign. Before Session 1, please join the Discord, make sure Roll20 opens correctly, and test your microphone. If tech gives you trouble, message me before game day and I’ll help you get squared away. You should also come in with a basic character idea. It does not need to be perfect. A strong vibe is enough. For Ravenloft, it helps to know: What does your character fear? What do they regret? Who or what would they risk their life to protect? What secret followed them into the Mists? No Ravenloft lore is required. You can come in knowing nothing about the setting and still have a great time. Just bring a character with a pulse, a shadow, and a reason to keep walking when the fog closes in.

What James E. Darley brings to the table

I provide the adventure structure, maps, music, NPC voices, Roll20 visuals, D&D Beyond support, Discord for voice, character help, and a table built around player choice. I also bring a strong Session 0, safety tools, and check-ins so we can go dark without making the table unsafe.

How James E. Darley creates a safe table

This is a gothic horror campaign, so safety and trust matter a lot at this table. Ravenloft can include fear, violence, curses, grief, body horror, undead, manipulation, isolation, monsters, and dark choices. That said, the goal is never to make players feel unsafe, trapped, embarrassed, or targeted. The horror belongs in the story, not at the table. Before the campaign begins, I will send out a **Lines and Veils** form so everyone can clearly mark what they do not want in the game, what can exist off-screen, and what themes they are comfortable exploring. These can be updated at any time. You are never locked into an answer just because you wrote it before Session 1. During Session 0, we will go over tone, character boundaries, table expectations, horror themes, PvP limits, romance limits, and what kind of darkness belongs in this version of Ravenloft. We will also talk about how the party stays together, how we handle intense scenes, and how players can signal when something needs to pause, fade out, or change direction. I use digital safety tools. Players can message me privately during or after a session, no explanation required. If something crosses a line, we stop, adjust, and move forward without making it weird. No one has to defend their boundary at the table. My X, N, and O-style safety check-ins are handled digitally and through direct messages. Players can also speak up on voice if they are comfortable doing so, but private messages are always okay. After intense sessions, I make room for aftercare. That may mean a quick table check-in, a lighter closing conversation, or direct follow-up messages if a scene hit hard. Horror games need pressure, but they also need release. This table is welcoming to new and veteran players. Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, harassment, bullying, sexual pressure, or cruel behavior toward other players will not be tolerated. We can go into the dark together. We just do it with trust, consent, and a lantern in hand.