The Gods are in conflict. Choose a side or take their place.

Creating your character

Create your character using the standard array rather than rolling for ability scores. The campaign will begin at level 3, so consider how you may want your character to develop over the long term. You may use character options from any official source, with a few exceptions: characters must be Small or Medium, and the fairy species is not allowed. You do not need a completed character for Session Zero, but you should arrive with a general idea of what you would like to play. Characters may be created through D&D Beyond or with traditional pen and paper, and you are welcome to roll physical dice during the game. Backstories are optional, but you may write one and send it to me. Please do not use AI to create your backstory—D&D is a game of creativity, so this is a great opportunity to begin developing your character yourself. A character voice is not required, but it can make roleplaying more exciting and immersive.

Preparing for the session

Before the campaign begins, create a free D&D Beyond account. I own a large collection of physical and digital D&D books, and your account will allow me to share my digital sources with the group. D&D Beyond will also be used as our virtual tabletop for displaying battle maps. You are not required to build or manage your character through the website. You should also create a free Hero Forge account and design a miniature for your character. This will provide character artwork and a visual representation for use during the campaign. If you have access to material about Theros, feel free to read about the setting, its history, and its gods. However, please do not read the monster sections, as that could reveal creatures and surprises you may encounter during the campaign.

What Jacob Sheldon brings to the table

Come up with a character voice. It doesn’t need to be A-Star quality, but try to make it different from your own. I do use music for my in-person games, and I will do my best to incorporate that into this game as well. I do a nice balance of combat and roleplay, so my rule for both is that what you put into it is what you will get out of it. I try to stick to the rules as written when I can. Still, there are some changes in the new edition of the book I don’t like, for example: divine smite is a free action when you hot for paladins once per turn, twinning a spell using meta magic works for multiple target spells (eldritch blast and magic missile) but not AOE, etc. Some come up as they go and when I make a ruling, I will explain my thinking going forward letting you guys understand. If there is a complaint with a ruling, let's talk about it after the session and not slow down the game.

Homebrew rules

My homebrew rules are crunchy crits. If you don’t know what those are, then I will explain: when you crit, you roll the dice as normal, add your modifier, and then add the maximum damage dice roll (a great axe attack with a modifier of +4 will look like this: 1d12+4+12). If you are drinking a potion yourself, it requires a bonus action, but if you administer it to someone else, it is a full action. I don’t use flanking because it undermines Kobold pack tactics. You will retain your failures of death saving throws until you long rest. If you are knocked unconscious and are brought back, you have your full turn when it comes to you again.

How Jacob Sheldon creates a safe table

Player safety begins before the first session. I will send each player a link to a Lines and Veils document before Session 0. Players may add boundaries anonymously or contact me privately at any time. The document remains open throughout the campaign because boundaries can change as the story develops. During Session 0, we will discuss: * The campaign’s themes, tone, and expected content * Lines, which will not appear in the game * Veils, which may occur but will not be described in detail * Character and player-versus-player boundaries * Expectations regarding romance, violence, horror, discrimination, and other potentially sensitive subjects * Table etiquette, respectful communication, attendance, and rules disagreements * How to pause a scene and how concerns can be raised privately * The open-door policy: anyone may step away or leave a session without being pressured to explain For online play, I use digital X, N, and O cards. Players may activate them through the VTT, post the letter in chat, send it to me privately, say it aloud, or hold it up on camera. Cameras are never required. “X” immediately stops or removes content, “N” warns that the scene is approaching a boundary, and “O” confirms that everyone is comfortable and wants to continue. A player never has to justify using a safety tool. If a safety tool is used, I pause the game, check what needs to change, rewind or redirect the scene, and then continue only when everyone is ready. Safety concerns are not debated during the session. After emotionally intense sessions, I provide time for a short debrief. Players can discuss highlights, concerns, or anything they want handled differently. I also remain available for private messages after the game and will check in directly when a scene has been especially heavy. If necessary, I will adjust future content, revise a boundary, or address a problem privately before the next session. My goal is to create a table where players feel heard, respected, and able to communicate their limits without embarrassment or retaliation.