The Tower: A Year and a Day

Creating your character

Create your character before the first session using D&D Beyond. I’ll review characters before the campaign begins so we can resolve any questions and make sure everything works within the campaign. Characters start at Level 1. Stats are generated by rolling 4d6 on my discord server, rerolling the lowest die, then assigning the three remaining dice to any ability score. The Tower is different from my other campaigns when it comes to character options. The Tower draws people from across the multiverse, so unusual species, classes, backgrounds and character concepts can fit the setting. Standard 2024 Player’s Handbook options are always welcome, but you are not restricted to them. Older material, additional books, homebrew and more unusual or esoteric character options can be considered by arrangement. If you want to use something outside the standard options, talk to me before creating the character. The important question isn't whether something is unusual, but whether we can make it work as a character who belongs in the Tower. Starting equipment follows the normal 2024 rules, although reasonable alternatives can be discussed where they make sense for the character. Before creating your character, send me a basic concept and background. You don't need to write an essay. I want to know who your character is, what motivates them and what sort of person might have been selected by the Tower. You don't need to know why the Tower selected your character. That is part of the mystery and may become important as the campaign develops. Everyone should arrive at Session 1 with a finished character. Session 0 will cover expectations, boundaries, campaign style and the group rather than spending the main session creating characters. You don't need to own a collection of D&D books to participate. D&D Beyond will be used for character creation, and if you want to use material I don't have access to, you may need to provide the relevant information for me to review.

Preparing for the session

Join the campaign Discord server. Discord will be used for group communication, announcements and anything we need to discuss between sessions. Create or have access to a D&D Beyond account. Your character must be created there so I can review it before the campaign starts. Send me a basic character concept before completing your character sheet. Because the Tower draws people from across the multiverse, unusual concepts are welcome, but anything using homebrew, older material or more esoteric options should be discussed with me first. Complete your character on D&D Beyond before Session 1. I’ll review the sheet and resolve any questions or changes beforehand. Install the AboveVTT browser extension/plugin and make sure you can access the campaign from a computer before the first session. AboveVTT is the virtual tabletop we'll use for maps, tokens, combat and other game elements. A computer is required. You don't need to be an expert with AboveVTT. I'll provide the campaign link and instructions and make sure everyone can connect before play. Read the campaign information provided after joining. You don't need to know the Tower's history or understand how its systems work. Discovering those things is part of the game. Make sure you have a reliable microphone, headphones or speakers and a reasonably stable internet connection. A webcam is not required. Please arrive ready to play at the scheduled time. Sessions are two hours and are designed to focus on a single floor wherever possible. The campaign uses a stable four-player party, so regular attendance is particularly important.

What Dead_One brings to the table

You’ll get a fully developed Tower containing hundreds of individual floors, each designed as its own adventure with its own environment, challenges, encounters and secrets. I’ll provide the maps, tokens, handouts, music, ambience and other material needed to play through AboveVTT. The Tower is built around variety. One floor might be a dangerous dungeon crawl, another a puzzle, investigation, social encounter or strange environment. Some will be combat-heavy, while others may barely involve combat at all. You won't know what is waiting above you, and I don't want you to. Although the overall objective is clear, individual floors can have multiple solutions. I prepare the challenges and the world, but I don't expect you to find one particular answer. If you come up with a clever approach that makes sense, we'll work with it. The Tower rewards creativity. I use the Rule of Cool where it fits, while keeping the underlying rules familiar and consistent. If something isn't covered clearly by the rules, I'll make a sensible ruling and keep the game moving rather than stopping for a lengthy rules discussion. I don't rely heavily on character voices. Instead, I use descriptive narration, NPC personalities, music, ambience and sound effects to build the atmosphere. Roleplaying is encouraged but doesn't require acting or voices. You can describe what your character says or does, in character, in third person, or simply explain your approach. A good description can affect how I resolve an action, including giving advantage or removing the need for a roll. Combat can be dangerous and some floors will be deliberately challenging, but combat isn't the sole focus. Exploration, puzzles, investigation, negotiation, discovery and problem-solving are all part of the Tower. Most importantly, the Tower is designed to reward players who experiment. You have a clear objective, but you are not given the solution. You will need to work things out, make decisions and live with the consequences. Every floor is another piece of the puzzle. The question is whether you'll still be alive when you reach the top.

Homebrew rules

I use the same core house rules across my 5e campaigns. They are designed to keep the game moving, reward good descriptions and make actions feel grounded in the situation. Natural 1s: A natural 1 on an attack automatically fails and ends your turn. On significant checks, a natural 1 represents a meaningful failure where appropriate. Natural 20s: A natural 20 on a check is not an automatic success if something is genuinely impossible, but it always produces an exceptional result. A failed check may become an almost-success, while a successful check may produce an especially good result. Flanking: I don't use the standard flanking rule simply because two characters stand on opposite sides of a creature. Position matters when there is a genuine tactical reason, such as attacking from behind or catching a distracted opponent. Sneak Attack: The normal 2024 Rogue rules apply, but I expect players to create the circumstances for a sneak attack rather than simply announce it. Describe how you're hiding, approaching unseen or exploiting a distracted target. Potions: Drinking a potion yourself is a Bonus Action and uses the normal healing roll. Spending your full Action gives maximum healing. Feeding another character a potion takes an Action and uses the normal roll. Roleplaying is encouraged but doesn't require voices or acting. Describe what your character says or does, in character, in third person, or simply explain your approach. A convincing plan may give advantage, reduce the difficulty, or remove the need for a roll entirely. The character sheet tells me what your character can do; your description tells me how they do it.

How Dead_One creates a safe table

Player comfort and safety are important to me, particularly in a long-running campaign where the group will spend a lot of time together. Before the campaign begins, we’ll discuss expectations, boundaries, campaign style, player behaviour and how we want the group to work together. I’ll provide a Lines and Veils document for players to complete before the campaign. Lines are subjects you do not want included in the game at all. Veils are subjects that can exist in the game but should be handled off-screen or without graphic detail. Boundaries can be changed at any point during the campaign. The Tower can involve violence, death, dangerous creatures, disturbing situations and mature themes. Because the Tower draws characters from across the multiverse and its floors vary considerably, unexpected situations can occur. I will respect individual boundaries and use discretion when handling sensitive material. During play, players can privately message me if something makes them uncomfortable. You don't need to justify the request. X means stop or remove it, N means change direction or reduce the intensity, and O means you're comfortable continuing. There may occasionally be a short delay before I see a message during an intense scene, but I'll respond as soon as possible. Session 0 will cover expectations, boundaries, campaign style, player behaviour and how the group will work together. After particularly intense sessions, I'll check in with the group where appropriate and I'm always available privately if someone wants to discuss something that happened during the game or raise a concern. Harassment, discrimination, bullying, sexual harassment, deliberately disruptive behaviour or behaviour intended to make another player uncomfortable will not be tolerated. Everyone should be able to enjoy the game without having to defend their right to be there. You are never required to explain a boundary to the group. If something isn't working for you, tell me privately and we'll deal with it.