Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage (Asynchronous) (Play by Post)

Creating your character

Character concepts should be created before the first session so we can begin session zero with a good idea of who and what you want to play. You will start at Level 5. Use D&D 5e character creation rules. Ability scores will be determined using Point Buy, Please choose a character concept, class, and background that gives you a reason to work alongside the rest of the party. You may use officially published D&D 5e material available through D&D Beyond, but please check with me before using anything particularly unusual or setting-specific. Homebrew and Unearthed Arcana are not permitted, unfortunately. Your character should have a backstory, but it doesn't need to be an essay. A few paragraphs covering who they are, where they came from, what motivates them, and why they are willing to adventure is more than enough.

Preparing for the session

Access to DnD beyond and Discord is essential

What James brings to the table

I focus on creating a responsive world where your choices matter and the story evolves naturally through play. I prepare background music, engaging scenarios, memorable NPCs (which may or may not get a terrible accent to go along with them), and meaningful challenges that give players plenty of opportunities to influence the direction of the adventure. I aim to keep the game flowing smoothly while maintaining an immersive atmosphere, balancing roleplay, exploration, and tactical encounters. My goal is to create sessions that feel dynamic, engaging, and rewarding, where players feel invested in both their characters and the world around them.

Homebrew rules

House Rules • Flanking is allowed. • Magic item crafting follows 2024 rules. • Metagaming is discouraged to maintain immersion. • Critical Hits: Natural 20s deal 1.5× maximum damage instead of rolling double dice. • Last Effort Casting: If you have no spell slots and cannot rest, you may cast one spell of level 3 or lower, gaining 1 level of exhaustion. This can be used once per session to avoid misadventure deaths • Narrative Miracles: Occasionally fate intervenes. Something unexpectedly good may happen at the DM’s discretion.

How James creates a safe table

Creating a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment is extremely important at my table. Before the campaign begins, we will run a free Session Zero where we discuss character concepts, table expectations, tone of the campaign, and any personal boundaries players would like respected. During Session Zero, I will introduce the Lines and Veils safety system. Players will have the opportunity to privately message me any content they would prefer not to appear in the game (Lines) or content that may exist but should fade to black (Veils). This information will be kept confidential and respected throughout the campaign. During play, we will use a card-based safety system (Red or Amber). Players can signal verbally, message privately, or use chat to indicate if a scene becomes uncomfortable. If an red card is used, the scene will immediately move on with no questions asked. Player comfort always takes priority over narrative. At the end of each session, I also run a short group check-in where players can share what they enjoyed, what didn’t work as well, and any concerns they might have. This helps ensure everyone feels heard and allows me to adapt future sessions to better suit the group. My goal is to create a table where players feel comfortable, respected, and excited to participate, while still enjoying a dramatic and immersive adventure.