Blacktide Caverns (D&D 5e Learn-to-play)

Blacktide Caverns (D&D 5e Learn-to-play)

Deep within the salt-soaked caverns lies the blood-soaked treasure of an ancient pirate lord, ready to be claimed by the cunning and bold.

TYPE

Campaign

LEVELS

1–3

LANGUAGE

English

EXPERIENCE

Beginner

AGE

18+
3 NEEDED TO START
$20.00

/ Session

Details

Weekly / Friday - 5:00 PM UTC

Session Duration / 3–4 hours

Campaign Length / 5–7 Sessions

0 / 6 Seats Filled

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This game will begin once 3 players have joined
About the adventure

For an entire generation, there was terror on the seas, as Callias, the Prince of the Red Sail, carried out a campaign of bloody piratical deeds. Though Callias was eventually laid low by an armada of pirate-hunters, his coastal fortress, the Blacktide Caverns, were never found, and the treasures he plundered from a hundred nations deemed lost. Lost, that is, until an ancient map came unexpectedly into the hands of our unsuspecting heroes. If you have wits and courage enough, you may make it deep enough into the Blacktide Caverns to claim riches and glory... or, even in death, the pirate prince may claim new victims... The Blacktide Caverns is a thrilling treasure-hunt intended to introduce new players to the D&D roleplaying game. You will take command of novice adventurers and delve into a perilous complex of caves and tunnels in search of lost pirate treasure. I've introduced many new players to this game, and am an old hand at teaching the rules through gameplay, allowing you to get right into the action with minimal preparation. Can't wait for you to join us!

Game style

Dungeon Crawl

Game themes

Meet the Game Master
DMs Guild Writer
Game Designer
No Gen AI

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Beginner Friendly, Knows the Rules, Storytelling

About me

I've been running tabletop roleplaying games, in professional and personal capacities, for nearly twelve years now. I cut my teeth with Dungeons & Dragons, but quickly expanded into a wider variety of games, though my core preference has always been for games of heroic fantasy. I love bringing the feel of pulp adventure stories to life, infused with ideas and motifs drawn from history, mythology, and classic literature, of which I have an abiding love. My games are all about presenting problems for players to solve with their own creativity and wits, whether those problems be social, tactical, or philosophical.

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Character creation

Creating your character

As this is a game oriented towards newcomers to the hobby, pre-made characters will be provided which you are highly encouraged to use. If you desire to make your own character, you can message me in advance to reserve that option.

What to expect

Preparing for the session

Please create a Roll20 account and make sure your camera and microphone function with Roll20's integrated voice & video chat. You should also download a copy of the free Basic Rules, and peruse it at your leisure, though doing so is not required.

What Sean Mullins brings to the table

A selection of pre-made characters will be made available for your use, complete with portraits and tokens for in-game use. Maps to serve as visual and mapping aids will also be provided. As your DM, I provide rich description of the game environments and situations, but I am not the teller of a story; I present a scenario, serve as the referee for anything you might attempt, and decide how the world responds to your actions. The story is driven by your decisions about how to deal with the challenges in front of you, not by my pre-planned decisions.

Homebrew rules

My only major departure from the core rules relates to Darkvision. Some non-human races, such as Elves and Dwarfs, ordinarily have the ability to see in the dark. I replace this darkvision ability with different features for these characters. The reason I do so is that darkness and light are key sources of tension and challenge, which constant darkvision tends to remove. I also allocate Experience Points (XP) using a modified formula, so that you gain XP not just for defeating monsters, but also for securing treasure.

Equipment needed to play

Internet

Computer

Microphone

Safety

How Sean Mullins creates a safe table

When you sign up for the game, you will be sent a version of the Monte Cook RPG consent checklist, containing a broad list of possible sensitive topics and themes, allowing you to designate which ones you are comfortable with having happen on-screen or off-screen. Your preferences in this regard will be honored.

Content warnings

Deep or Large Bodies of Water
Drowning
Murder
Violence

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions