Crownspire Academy

Creating your character

Characters will be created together during a free Session 0 before the campaign begins. This gives everyone a chance to introduce themselves, talk through character ideas, build connections between the party, and make sure everyone fits naturally into the Crownspire Academy setting. We will use D&D Beyond for character creation, and I will share the available campaign content through the platform. Characters will begin at Level 3 and use the standard character creation rules from the 2024 Player’s Handbook, along with options from Ravenloft: The Horrors Within. We will use the standard ability score methods available in the core rules, with final choices discussed during Session 0 so the party feels balanced and everyone is comfortable with their character. The campaign will use Milestone Leveling, so characters will advance as major story arcs, discoveries, and accomplishments are completed rather than by tracking individual XP. Because Alaria is a low-magic setting where adventurers are considered exceptionally Gifted, your class abilities are an important part of who your character is and how the Empire came to notice them. During Session 0, we will also work together to answer how your character was discovered, why they were sent to Crownspire, and whether they actually wanted to attend.

Preparing for the session

Preparation: Getting ready to play should be quick and easy! Before Session 0, players will need: * A free D&D Beyond account for character creation, character tracking, and our virtual tabletop. * A Discord account for voice chat and all campaign communication. * A working microphone and a reasonably quiet place to play. * A stable internet connection and a computer capable of running D&D Beyond and Discord. After joining the campaign, I’ll provide links to our D&D Beyond campaign and Discord server. All character creation and campaign setup will be handled together during our free Session 0, so you don't need to arrive with a finished character or extensive knowledge of the rules. New and experienced players are both welcome!

What Christian Sullivan brings to the table

My games focus on telling a fun, collaborative story while still giving players meaningful challenges to overcome. I enjoy a healthy balance of roleplay, exploration, and combat, with combat leaning toward cinematic moments and tactical encounters where positioning and choices matter. I use character voices, ambient music, sound effects, and handmade maps to help bring the world to life. The voices may not always win awards, but the commitment is there! We generally stick closely to the rules, but I’m also happy to embrace the Rule of Cool when it creates a memorable moment, rewards creativity, or helps keep the story moving. Above everything else, I want players to feel like their characters matter and that we’re building the story together. Expect serious moments, dangerous fights, mysteries to uncover, plenty of character-driven roleplay, and, as always, a healthy amount of comedic relief along the way.

How Christian Sullivan creates a safe table

Safety & Comfort This campaign will generally stay around a PG-13 rating, with occasional moments that may lean toward R-rated language, violence, horror, or graphic themes. Sexual content is not a focus of the game. During our free Session 0, we will go over everyone’s do’s, don’ts, boundaries, and comfort levels so expectations are clear before the campaign begins. The X-Card is always in play at my table. If something ever crosses a line or makes a player uncomfortable, it can be stopped, skipped, or changed without requiring an explanation. My goal is to create a table where everyone feels comfortable contributing to the story, speaking up when needed, and enjoying the darker themes of the campaign without anyone feeling pushed beyond their limits.