Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus (Asynchronous)(Play-by-Post)

Creating your character

We’ll start with a free Session Zero where we’ll go over the campaign, table expectations, and create characters together. Please arrive with a rough character concept in mind, and it’s always helpful to have an alternative idea in case you decide to change direction during character creation

Preparing for the session

Players will need access to Discord and D&D Beyond (for character sheets and game materials). These platforms are widely used within the tabletop role-playing community and are chosen for their ease of use and accessibility for both new and experienced players.

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

Rules & Rulings The game uses the 2024 D&D ruleset. Players are welcome to mention rules clarifications, but the DM’s ruling is final during play so the game can continue smoothly. 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.