Play as Monsters! | Run your own Dungeon

Creating your character

We will come up with characters before the first session with the following basics in mind; - Level 6, Point Buy Stats and 2024 rules. The option for homebrew or 2014 rules to be interchanged stands for those looking to build a specific idea but should be run past the DM first. There is little considered beyond the scope of the adventure, nor anything outright banned but any non-traditional rulebooks should be confirmed with me beforehand.

Preparing for the session

Voice calls will be held on Discord via a private, Dnd focused server. The games themselves will be held on Roll20 so players should have access to both of these services. DndBeyond will be useful, especially for me as it keeps things in one place. DndBeyond isnt necessary but it is encouraged, alongside the Beyond20 plugin (for those with access) which can port Beyond rolls into the VTT.

What Sam brings to the table

I'll be bringing character voices, curated music, high quality maps and custom handouts to ensure the adventures are immersive and fun! While the rules will be followed, I consider myself in the camp of Rule of Cool so, should the moment prove right, we will have the opportunity to bend, skirt or break the rules to achieve some fun narrative payoffs, while taking care not undermine our system. Players are not under obligation to have a character voice, hyper detailed backstory or a full-flavor redesign of their spells but I do encourage everyone to engage as much as they are comfortable. The more you put in, the more you'll get out and making things your own is a surefire way to ensure the experience is as enjoyable as possible.

Homebrew rules

There are currently no homebrew rules locked in stone but during our first session, a brief discussion will take place surrounding a few potential ideas like Last Stands, Secret Death Saves or Super Crits. The specifics of these will be brought up and are dependent on if the table is interested in adding the extra drama associated with them but are entirely supplemental and optional at this stage. On my end, I'll likely be using the occasional custom stat block for a monster or tweaking preexisting ones to fit a specific encounter. Great care is taken to keeping custom stats "vanilla friendly" and changes are often meant to add to the engagement of a fight or encounter rather than make it more difficult.

How Sam creates a safe table

Alongside a general list of Do's and Don'ts on the Discord, an initial discussion will take place surrounding the feature content of the game alongside an opportunity for players to ask and question or bring forward any boundaries. For the most part, notably intense subjects will be avoided and particularly challenging themes will be avoided if they would ever hinder a generally lighthearted experience. In the cases where such feelings might arise, the opportunity for aftercare, discussions, breaks and pauses will be created to work through the feelings and ensure they are properly tackled going forward. Having experimented with many safety tools during my time running games, the option to take on some new ones remains open if players believe it would improve their experience. In regards to content warnings, a list of likely subjects are included. While the intensity, grimness or seriousness of these subjects will never be the focus of their inclusion, they will nonetheless appear so any question or concerns surrounding them are welcomed. The 'player as monsters' vibes of the campaign means that some of these subjects will be glossed over as comical or mundane among a more monstrous world (like vampirism or corpse-eating ghouls), so if this treatment doesn't sit well with you, please take the opportunity to create a discussion and we can work out an end goal that keeps our wacky, non-confrontation vibes and ensures everyone is comfortable.