Cold Wars of Waterdeep: LGBTQ and Beginner-Friendly DnD Campaign

Creating your character

Character creation will be done before your first game. I would like you to speak with me about your backstory as early as possible, as we need to find a way to tie you into Waterdeep. We will be using 2024 rules for character creation, though if you wish to be a half-elf or half-orc or anything else we can find a way to bring those back in. You are free to choose any class or species from the Player's Handbook (2024), which will be available to you on our Foundry. If you wish to choose something outside from the book, feel free to speak to me about it. We will be using Standard Array to determine Ability Scores, and leveling up will be milestone-based instead of XP-based. Neutral and Good aligned characters are fine, if you want to be Evil aligned you'll need to speak with me about it. Waterdeep is a well-guarded city and wonton murder will not only gain you the ire of the public, but will also end with you cast into prison or exiled. We will create our characters on the Foundry page, and each of you will get a free character creation voice call with me.

Preparing for the session

You will need a Discord account and to join the server found in the Welcome message sent when you join the game. We will be using Foundry, but you do not need to make an account--I will make it for you. Please read at least chapters 1 and 2 of the Player's Handbook, which can be found in the "Journal" section of our Foundry. You'll also want to consider who you'd like your character to be and what direction you'd like them to go in.

What Brooke- GM sadhedonist brings to the table

I bring the ability to make the world come alive, with life-like NPCs that act with real people and with their own distinctive voices and speech patterns. You'll find yourselves able to truly interact with the city of Waterdeep and get to know the NPCs around you. I follow Rules as Written, so you will be able to take the knowledge you learned playing this game and apply it to all other games moving forward. The emphasis is on roleplay, but that doesn't mean there will not be challenging, yet acheivable, combat that tests your wits and builds. You will also receive music for the session, along with the ability to play your own songs for the group. You will be provided with beautiful purchased maps and art along with descriptions that truly put you in the game. I also write my material for the group, meaning that, despite being a module, the campaign is written around your characters and the ability to incorporate their stories into the main story. I am always welcoming feedback, and you will get an official survey to tell me about what you like or think I can do better with in regards to my GMing around your 6th-10th session with me, though you are always welcome to message me as well. I also promise that this will always be an inclusive table.

Homebrew rules

In general there is no homebrew, though there are ways to homebrew in other species, classes, and subclasses if we talk about it. I'm also not against creating homebrew if we feel it is better for our group. In general, however, this game is Rules as Written.

How Brooke- GM sadhedonist creates a safe table

My main focus as a GM is that we all have fun. Of course, in order to have fun, you must feel safe! Below you can find the content warnings for this game, which are elements inherent to the game. For other potential triggers, I have a Campaign Safety Document based off the Monte Cook checklist that basically contains possible triggers that could be in the game and you can mark them as Green, yellow or red, which stand in for okay, veils, and lines. The document itself has more information, including an explanation of lines and veils. This DOES need to be filled out, ideally before session 0, so I can let people know if any topics need to be fade-to-black or not in the game. That document also asks for what you would like to see in the game, and as the game goes on you can always tell me what you like, don't like, or want to see more of through either talking to me or through the survey that you'll receive between your 6th and 10th session. I have formalized breaks (usually a 13 minute break around the halfway point) and also have an open door policy. Any time you need to go to the bathroom, excuse yourself, deal with something, just message that chat that you'll brb. I want you to take care of those things without any stress! There is a session 0, in which I'll go over any lines or veils listed from the safety document answers, we'll create a sort of informal "guidelines" for campaign conduct, I'll talk a bit more about the campaign, we can talk about character sheets, rules, more info on the safety tools, whatever. Session 0 is free. Lastly, I do use the X-Card. Anytime you need a scene to stop, you can just either DM "X"," tag me with an "X" any any of the Discord channels, or, you can click on the Foundry X card and it will pop up on everyone's screens without showing who clicked it. I'm also always available to listen or reach out to, and if I think anything is amiss, I will absolutely check in with you privately after the game and make sure things are all good. If you have any other ideas about things you feel would make you feel safe and have fun, you can absolutely bring it up at any point. I'm a super chill dude who's always open to suggestion. If you have any questions, please let me know!