Dungeons of Drakkenheim

Creating your character

We will be using the following rules and limitations for character creation: -2014 Rules only -start at level 3 -standard array for stats -most official WotC options (talk to me about Eberron or Spelljammer content) 3rd party options from Sebastian Crowe's Guide to Drakkenheim are encouraged Additionally, your character will start with a motivating reason to come to Drakkenheim as well as pre-existing connections to other players. These choices have mechanical relevance, and we will be going over backstory and relationships in session 0.

Preparing for the session

Technical preparation: • The big thing here is that you need a computer with a stable internet connection and a reliable way for us to hear your voice. We are using Discord for audio. You can download it for free if you don’t have it already. The computer version works great if you have a microphone, otherwise, you can put it on your phone and use earbuds. You will also need to make a free account on Roll20.net. This doesn’t require any additional downloads. All services will be provided through the browser Social Preparation: • This is a game that we are all playing to have fun. You should be excited to play and also be excited for other people to join you and have fun as well. Players should arrive with an attitude of friendly cooperation. • Previous Dungeons and Dragons experience is not a requirement to join. However, players can prepare for the game by familiarizing themselves with basic gameplay concepts such as rolling different-sided dice and understanding the 6 stats on your character sheet. One on one: • I’d like to schedule a short 5-10 minute conversation over Discord sometime before session 0. Just to introduce myself, answer any questions you might have, and smooth over any snags before we jump into the game.

What Emil brings to the table

I will bring the adventure, core DnD rules, official and unofficial supplemental materials, and a huge amount of enthusiasm! This game is pretty much exactly everything I love about DnD and I'm so excited to bring you mysterious and dangerous dungeons, rival factions, and a chance for you to write your own ending. After you sign up, I'll send a link to the game and all you need to do is log on to have access to everything.

Homebrew rules

I'm not using any homebrew or 3rd party mechanics, so your character will work as written. the Drakkenheim setting has some rules about resting and regaining resources while in dangerous areas called "the Haze", which will be enforced Also, my DMing style includes influence from Blades in the Dark, and Avery Alder. During play, that looks like making sure you guys see long term threats coming before they arrive, and NPCs caring about how you treat them.

How Emil creates a safe table

Drakkenheim is a horror game. Not only because it borrows Gothic and Lovecraftian imagery, but also because it takes the time to examine some of the darker parts of human psychology. Madness and fear and hopelessness and how we can cope with those things are integral to the story we are telling. I think it’s possible to explore those darker places in an RPG in a way that is safe, accessible, and not gratuitous. However, it requires trust and clear communication between the DM and players. When you sign up, I’ll send a lines and veils document. When we meet for session 0 we can use those answers as a starting point to talk about my DMing style, the overall tone we want to set for the game, and additional safety tools that we will be using. It’s important to me that players feel comfortable using the X-card and open-door policy at any time and for any reason.