Gon's Tavern 101: A Short Adventure

Creating your character

Character creation will be handled in the very first session and all players will be walked through the process together.

Preparing for the session

Players only need to create and have access to a DnD Beyond FREE account and a Discord account. Everything beyond that will be handled in Session 1.

What James brings to the table

Here is a revised version that frames your approach as blending creative player freedom directly into the standard rules framework: **What I Provide to My Players** * **A Welcoming, Patient Learning Space:** My primary goal is to help new players break through the intimidating learning barrier of D&D 5e. I foster a zero-judgment environment where no question is too simple, and everyone learns at their own pace. * **Hands-On D&D Beyond Guidance:** Full support in navigating character sheets, managing abilities, and mastering digital tools so you can focus on enjoying the game rather than fighting the interface. * **A Balanced Table Experience:** Clear rulings, organized combat, ambient audio to build the atmosphere, and space for every player's character to shine in the spotlight. --- **My GM Style & Philosophy** * **Rule of Cool Meets the Action Economy:** You don't have to choose between cinematic creativity and official rules. Whatever wild or clever idea you come up with, my job as GM is to find a way to make it work seamlessly within the standard action economy, skills, and mechanics of 5e. * **Strong Foundation in the Rules:** I use my deep familiarity with the rules as a framework to support your ideas, not block them. This ensures the game stays fair, balanced, and structured while giving you total freedom to express your character. * **Go-With-The-Flow Mentality:** I adapt to player choices on the fly. Whether your party decides to investigate every clue, talk your way out of a fight, or take an unexpected detour, I flex the narrative to match your group's energy. * **Supportive & Encouraging Tone:** I don't run player-versus-GM games. I am in your corner, cheering for your victories and guiding you through the mechanics whenever you get stuck.

Homebrew rules

**Homebrew Rules** * **Bonus Action Potions:** Drinking a potion yourself takes a Bonus Action. Feeding a potion to an unconscious or willing ally still requires a full Action. * **Combat Assessment (Free Action):** Once per combat, at the start of your turn, you can take a Free Action to make a Perception check to evaluate your enemies (such as assessing their threat level, physical condition, or obvious gear). * **Flanking (+2 to Hit):** Positioning yourself directly opposite an ally around a target grants a **+2 bonus** to your melee attack rolls, rather than full Advantage, preserving the value of class features that grant Advantage natively. * **Rule of Cool Integration:** Any creative or unconventional maneuver you attempt will be seamlessly mapped into 5e's standard action economy (using your Action, Bonus Action, or Movement) so your ingenuity works directly within the rules.

How James creates a safe table

**How I Keep My Players Safe & Comfortable** Creating an inclusive, comfortable space where players can focus on having fun and learning the game is essential to my table setup. Here is how we maintain a safe environment using a direct verbal agreement combined with digital safety tools: * **Session 1 Safety Check-In:** Before we jump into gameplay, we take time as a group to verbally discuss our **Lines** (hard limits that will never appear in the campaign) and **Veils** (topics that can exist in the world, but will fade to black off-screen). I log these notes directly into our shared Discord so everyone has a clear record. * **Discord X, N, & O System:** Because we play online via Discord, safety tools are integrated directly into our text channels for quick, anonymous, or private use during sessions: * **X (Stop):** Immediately pauses the game to edit out, skip, or change a scene—no explanations required. * **N (Next):** Signals that you are uncomfortable with the current direction or tone and would like the scene to wrap up or shift focus soon. * **O (Okay):** A quick check-in tool to confirm everyone is feeling good during intense or dark moments. * **Private Direct Messaging:** Players are always welcome to DM me on Discord during or after a session if they prefer to bring up a safety concern privately. * **Debrief & Aftercare:** At the end of every session, we take 5 minutes for a casual wind-down to discuss the game, highlight fun moments, and ensure everyone leaves the table in a good head space.