The War of a Hundred Banners | D&D 4E Mercenary Campaign

The War of a Hundred Banners | D&D 4E Mercenary Campaign

Lead a battered mercenary company through a succession war. Choose contracts, build your reputation, and shape the future of a divided realm.

TYPE

Campaign

LEVELS

3

LANGUAGE

English

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

18+
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$15.00

/ Session

Details

2 players following this game

Weekly / Sunday - 11:00 AM UTC

Session Duration / 3–4 hours

4 / 5 Seats Filled

Top Game Master

One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.

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Meet your party members

4/5

About the adventure

A disputed succession has shattered one of Thraetauri's wealthiest realms. Royal armies have split between rival claimants, neighboring powers are funding proxies, and mercenary companies have arrived from across the world. There are now so many hired armies on the march that people have begun calling it the War of a Hundred Banners. You are members of a small company betrayed and nearly destroyed during the war's opening battles. Its officers are dead, its wages remain unpaid, and its surviving soldiers have nowhere else to go. The banner, debts, contracts, and command of the company now belong to you. Choose which contracts you accept, who you are willing to fight for, and what lines your company will not cross. Recruit soldiers, make rivals, build a reputation, and turn a band of survivors into something feared, respected, or perhaps worthy of following. Your decisions will shape both the war and the people depending on you.

Game style

Roleplay Heavy

Sandbox / Open World

Rule of Cool (RoC)

Meet the Game Master

5.0

(13)

TOP GM

2 years on StartPlaying

233 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Rule of Cool

Average response time: 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

About me

I'm Dopefish, a GM with over ten years of experience in crafting unforgettable adventures in the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons and beyond. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer eager to embark on your first adventure, I aim to create a thrilling and immersive experience that will leave you eagerly anticipating our next session. I believe in fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment where every player's choices shape the narrative. From treacherous dungeons and mystical realms to complex characters and intricate plots, I tailor each campaign to ensure that your story is unique and memorable. I run my games using Fantasy Grounds or Roll20 as well as Discord for voice and organizing. We don't use cameras.

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Character creation

Creating your character

Characters will be created together before the campaign begins, with help available for anyone unfamiliar with D&D 4E. Every character must have a reason to join the mercenary company and remain responsible for the people serving beneath its banner. Your character does not need to be a professional soldier. Healers, scouts, diplomats, scholars, criminals, refugees, idealists, and ordinary adventurers can all find reasons to take mercenary work.

What to expect

Preparing for the session

Before the game: * Join the campaign Discord server. * Install Fantasy Grounds Unity. The free Demo client is sufficient for players. * Make sure you have a reliable microphone and headphones. * Read the campaign primer and answer the character questionnaire. * Complete the campaign consent checklist and send me any accessibility needs privately. No webcam is required. No previous D&D 4E experience is required, and you do not need to purchase any books or software.

What Dopefish brings to the table

Character Voices: I bring characters to life with unique voices and personalities, adding depth and immersion to our storytelling. Rule of Cool: While I respect the rules, I prioritize fun and creativity. If a cool idea enhances the story, I’m all for it! Improvisation: Flexibility and spontaneity are key. I adapt to the players' choices, ensuring that the narrative evolves organically based on your actions. Beginner-Friendly: New to D&D? No problem! I welcome beginners and provide guidance and teaching throughout our sessions. You'll learn as you play, and I’ll make sure you feel comfortable and confident. Custom Maps and Tokens: Expect custom maps, tokens, portraits, handouts, and other visual material that support both the tactical battles and the world surrounding them. Tactical Combat: D&D 4E combat rewards teamwork, positioning, and clever use of your abilities. Encounters will feature varied objectives, dangerous terrain, intelligent enemies, and situations where victory means more than simply defeating everyone on the battlefield. Mercenary Company Mechanics: Bespoke mechanics will track the company's soldiers, wealth, morale, reputation, and obligations. You will make the important decisions without being buried in accounting or expected to manage every individual soldier. Homebrew World: Immerse yourself in a rich, original setting brimming with history, mysteries, and untamed dangers - a place where your choices leave a lasting mark on an ever-evolving story.

Homebrew rules

The campaign takes place in my original setting of Thraetauri. The core D&D 4E character and combat rules will remain recognizable. A lightweight homebrew system will be used to represent the mercenary company's soldiers, wealth, morale, reputation, and obligations. These rules will support decisions between adventures without requiring players to manage every individual soldier or piece of equipment. The complete rules will be shared and explained before they become relevant.

Equipment needed to play

Internet

Computer

Microphone

Safety

How Dopefish creates a safe table

Before play begins, we will discuss the campaign's themes, boundaries, and expectations. Players may privately communicate any subjects they do not want included through an RPG consent checklist. The Open Door is always in effect. Anyone may step away, request a break, or leave a session without needing to justify themselves. Content can be paused, changed, skipped, or moved off-screen whenever necessary. Individual boundaries established by the group always take priority over planned material.

Content warnings

Blood
Character Death
Death
Execution
Gore
Hostages
Illness
Kidnapping
Language/Cursing
Murder
Scars
Violence
Warfare

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions