Learn to Play D&D | Sunless Citadel | Short Adventure

Learn to Play D&D | Sunless Citadel | Short Adventure

A once proud fortress, buried deep. Its echoing, broken halls now house malign creatures, unsolved mysteries, and perhaps even great treasures...

TYPE

Campaign

LEVELS

2–3

LANGUAGE

English

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

18+
3 NEEDED TO START
$15.00

/ Session

Details

Weekly / Friday - 12:00 AM UTC

Session Duration / 2–3 hours

Campaign Length / 3–4 Sessions

0 / 5 Seats Filled

Top Game Master

One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.

Magic Gemstone

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This game will begin once 3 players have joined
About the adventure

Beneath the earth lies a ruin long forgotten, its halls swallowed by time, its walls choked with creeping roots and whispered curses. You must delve deep into this Sunless Citadel to rescue a party of fellow adventurers from whatever trouble they seem to have gotten themselves into. Along the way you'll encounter traps, puzzles, feuding clans, and a creeping dread of what lurks in the dark below. Dangers that are sure to test your mettle! This adventure is perfect for both new and returning players looking to dive into a classic Dungeons & Dragons dungeon crawl. It’s a mix of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving, with moments of roleplay that let your characters grow beyond simple adventurers into heroes. Whether you’re a first-time player learning the ropes or a seasoned veteran revisiting a legendary tale, The Sunless Citadel offers an adventure filled with danger, discovery, and the thrill of delving where light dares not reach.

Game style

Combat Heavy

Dungeon Crawl

Roleplay Lite

Meet the Game Master
Queer
Neurodivergent
Educator
Voice Actor

2 years on StartPlaying

44 games hosted

Highly rated for: Beginner Friendly, Sets the Mood, Storytelling

Average response time: Under 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

About me

I’ve been playing and DMing TTRPGs for over 16 years, and I love helping players create unforgettable stories together. My deepest experience is in Dungeons & Dragons 5e, but I’ve also run and played in a variety of systems including Daggerheart, Masks, D&D 4e, Epyllion, and more. At my table, the focus is on collaborative storytelling, immersive roleplay, and exciting encounters that challenge both characters and players in fun, memorable ways. Whether you’re a brand-new adventurer or a seasoned hero, I want to make sure everyone has a chance to shine. My games are inclusive, beginner-friendly, and LGBTQ+ friendly — I want players to feel welcome, comfortable, and celebrated for who they are. I love running for a mix of play styles, from tactical combat lovers to roleplay-heavy storytellers, and I tailor each game to the group’s vibe. If you’re looking for a DM who brings energy, flexibility, and a love of cinematic storytelling, I’d be excited to roll some dice with you!

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Character creation

Creating your character

Characters will begin at level 2 Characters will be made on D&D Beyond. The campaign link will be sent to you after signing up, and my books will be available to use Ability scores will use Point Buy method No magic items If you need help making your character, we can set up a time to do so free of charge Post character art in the Roll20 Game Discussion so I can make a token for you I will have premade characters available

What to expect

Preparing for the session

You will need the following accounts: Roll20 (for game map & music): roll20.net D&D Beyond (for character sheets): dndbeyond.com Discord (for voice & video): discord.com Please create a character before the first game Make sure you have a working camera and microphone

What Johnathan (@d6HitDice) brings to the table

I have a Master Tier D&D Beyond subscription providing you with all of the books in my library, as well as a Pro subscription on Roll20 to do the same there. I play music to provide ambience during the game session to immerse us more fully. I enjoy the Rule of Cool when it is fitting. I want to create awesome stories with you! I try my best to make unique voices for my NPCs.

Homebrew rules

1) Death saves are replaced by levels of Exhaustion. When you fail a Death Save, you gain a level of Exhaustion. If you succeed three Death Saves, you are still stable at 0 hp. 2) Natural 20/Natural 1 on skill checks give a conditional +2/-2 on the final result of the roll. 3) When a creature rolls a Natural 1 on an attack roll, enemies within melee range of them can make an opportunity attack. 4) If you roll a critical hit, you double your damage done including modifiers. 5) Using a healing potion as an Action heals you the full amount. 6) I do not require multiclass requirements. Just a roleplay reason for the multiclass. 7) You can choose to give yourself Heroic Inspiration during a d20 test, but doing so gives me Villainous Inspiration. I can spend it to have you reroll a d20 test. 8) Counterspell: You make a spellcasting check (DC 10 + the spell's level) to interrupt the casting of the spell rather than the creature making a Constitution Saving Throw. 9) Hunter's Mark: When casting this using the Ranger's Favored Enemy feature, it does not require concentration, but is cast at level 1.

Equipment needed to play

Internet

Computer

Microphone

Safety

How Johnathan (@d6HitDice) creates a safe table

You will need to fill out a Deck of Player Safety (DOPS) at session 1. This is anonymous and just lets me know where the hard lines of things that you do not even want in the game, and what might be hinted at but not outright said. I will discuss these with everyone, just to make sure I have everything in order. My X, N, & O cards are digital on Roll20, so they are pretty easy and obvious to use. After each session, I'll make sure everyone is doing okay, especially if any big emotions occurred doing the game. I don't want something that could have easily been avoided be something that drives you away from the game.

Content warnings

Death
Blood
Body Horror

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions