Image by Emma Nighat
For All the Books in Candlekeep - all ages, new player options!
The world's greatest library has some books that are more than books, they are keys to mystery and adventure! Open one if you dare.
TYPE
LEVELS
LANGUAGE
EXPERIENCE
AGE
$27.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Saturday - 4:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3 hours
Campaign Length / 20–30 Sessions
2 / 6 Seats Filled
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
Report Adventure
StartPlaying Money Back Guarantee
If your game doesn't happen, we guarantee a refund. Just reach out to StartPlaying Support. Refund Policy
Meet your party members
2/6
About the adventure
The world's largest library towers above a rocky coast. Inside are millions of tomes, scrolls and volumes. Some books teach, some inspire, some entertain, and a few hold Mysteries. Each week we'll open the next chapter, or the next book, in the Candlekeep Mysteries. Think of this like an episodic TV series - the same characters will star in each mystery, but the stories aren't necessarily linked by an overarching campaign. We'll level up after each completed adventure; the entire campaign will last about 24 sessions, or six months of real time. We're using Tales of the Valiant for character creation, which provides exciting options: *New classes - the Mechanist, Theurge, Vanguard and Witch *New subclasses for every class. *expanded spell access for all casting classes. *The Luck system, which takes some of the sting out of a bad roll. *More interesting and dangerous enemies. *Lineage, heritage and backgrounds are more impactful, to make your character unique from the start. *Options for life outside of adventuring - things to do during those long rests. Monster harvesting, crafting, building a base, and more. TOV uses the Dungeons and Dragons rules almost entirely unchanged; if you know how to play that, there's nothing new to learn. And if you're new to all of this, I run a VERY welcoming and beginner friendly table. Note 1: this is an all-ages game, and one 13 year old is definitely planning to play. An occasional expletive slipping out is OK, but expect content and vibe to be PG-rated. Note 2: This game, and all my games, are assertively welcoming to people of all genders, orientations, races, abilities, neurotypes, backgrounds and nationalities. If you have trouble with this there are other games for you. An accidental mispronoun-ciation is no big deal as long as you're doing your best.
Game style
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(104)
5 years on StartPlaying
1354 games hosted
Highly rated for: Beginner Friendly, Knows the Rules, Inclusive
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
What I provide: A game that fits your group. A laid-back, friendly approach that welcomes new players. Organization, focus, and online tools to help you tell your story. My intro to d&d was three beige books in a little white box , in 1978. My first hobbit thief was trampled to death by a herd of were-elk. Despite that setback, I persevered and have been DMing, and occasionally playing, ever since. I launched ColoradoGamemaster.com in 2019 to GM professionally in person, just in time for the Great Plague to make that impossible. StartPlaying and online platforms came along at just the right time, allowing me to bring my games to people around the globe.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Options: 1) Pick one of the premade characters I'll have ready. Change their name, gender or character art as you wish. After your first session we can make other changes or even build a different character using one of the options below. 2) Build a character with me by appointment on any day before game day. 3) tell me in general terms what you want to play - I can suggest ideas - and I'll build it, again before game day. We're using Tales of the Valiant for character creation. It's the same 5th edition D&D rules you might be familiar with, enriched with more interesting choices. Since it's not available on D&D beyond, don't build your characters there. This is a team game about being heroes. Your character should want to work with others and be motivated to do good.
Party so far: Colewin Lionheart, human paladin. From a privileged family in Waterdeep, running away from their expectiations to fight for things he feels are more important. Harry Twinkle, human fighter. A student of the science and theory of armed combat who is testing those theories in practice. Harry was born in Pike Creek, a small town currently under some sort of curse. He returned home from the academy to see what he could do, and his friend Colewin accompanied him. They learned that a renowned expert on curses was studying in Candlekeep and went there to seek his advice. The sage was nowhere to be found, until they investigated the open book on his desk, "The Joy of Interdimensional Spaces". He had accidentally trapped himself in an extraplanar mansion, and although they released him (to an uncertain fate, as the last thing they heard from him was an agonized scream) they are now trapped in that mansion themselves. (this was session 0, along with character creation)
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Download and install Fantasy Grounds at fantasygrounds.org When you join you'll receive a Discord and Fantasy Grounds invite. Families can share one screen or each have their own computer; it works either way.
What Keith brings to the table
Fantasy Grounds is a free, full featured virtual table top that you can learn in 7 minutes and includes a built in character builder. So just show up and you're ready to go!
Homebrew rules
Potions are a bonus action to use on yourself, or an action to use on someone else. Healing spells (healing word, cure wounds) are the stronger version from D&D2024. Monster knowledge rolls are a bonus action. Use them. TOV Weapon options use the optional rule from Players Guide 2: they work if your hit roll succeeds; there's no confirming saving throw. Casters gain Luck if their target's saving throw means their spell accomplished nothing. They still can't spend luck to influence targets' saving throws though, unless an ability says otherwise. You can spend your Luck for your familiars, pets or animal companions, though their failures don't generate Luck for them or for you.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Microphone
Internet
Platforms used
Safety
How Keith creates a safe table
This game will have younger players in it. Content will be age appropriate, and by joining this game you agree to keep YOUR participation in the game age appropriate as well. This is a medieval fantasy game with swords, fireballs and monsters who want to kill and maybe eat you. There will be violence. But we'll be light on the details; no gore, torture, or garish descriptions. There are "halt" and "caution" buttons in Fantasy Grounds, that anonymously tell us all that the game is wandering into an area that's uncomfortable for someone. These will be respected; if you see the bright red or yellow signal it's time to take a break and redirect the storyline or situation.
Content warnings
Safety tools used