SESSION ZERO TODAY | Level 8 Monster Hunting Survival Epic!

Creating your character

You may begin considering your character's basic premise before session zero, but we will be creating characters during Session Zero, so that I can answer any world/lore questions as you go. Characters will start at level 8 and will be created via DNDBeyond. Stats will be either rolled or point-buy.

Preparing for the session

Please create an account on DNDBeyond, Roll20, and Discord if you do not have them already.

What Ethan (GM Viper) brings to the table

I provide a safe, immersive, and cinematic game focused on collaborative storytelling, meaningful choices, and giving your characters room to do genuinely memorable things. Sessions include ambient music, detailed battle and world maps, distinct character voices, memorable NPCs, and vivid descriptions designed to make each location and encounter feel different. Players will also receive a campaign lore document covering the setting, major cultures, regions, and important information their characters would reasonably know before the game begins. I like giving players enough context to create characters who feel like they truly belong in the world without requiring them to study a novel before Session 1. My GM style is Rule of Cool first. I use the rules as a foundation, but if you come up with something creative, cinematic, or clever, I would much rather find a fair way to make it work than shut it down because the exact situation is not covered by the rules. Combat can still be tactical and dangerous, but I want players to feel rewarded for thinking beyond their character sheets and using the environment, their abilities, and their imagination. Above all, I want players to have agency. Your background, relationships, ambitions, and decisions will shape the campaign, and I will actively work elements of your character into the world and ongoing story rather than treating your backstory as something separate from the adventure.

Homebrew rules

I keep homebrew rules fairly light and use them primarily to make combat faster, more cinematic, and more exciting. Potions: Drinking a potion yourself is a Bonus Action. Administering one to another creature still requires an Action. Critical Hits: I use Perkins-style critical hits, making crits feel appropriately powerful instead of letting a bad damage roll turn your natural 20 into a disappointment. Death & Revival: I use custom character death and resurrection rules that make death meaningful without making it arbitrary or overly punishing. Revival is possible, but returning from death is never something characters should take completely for granted. Any campaign-specific homebrew rules will be explained before they become relevant, and I am always willing to make a Rule of Cool ruling when a creative idea makes for a better moment at the table.

How Ethan (GM Viper) creates a safe table

Player comfort and communication come first. Before Session Zero, I send out a Lines and Veils document so everyone can privately establish topics they do not want included or would prefer kept off-screen. We will also discuss tone, boundaries, expectations, and any other concerns together during Session Zero. I maintain an open-door policy at all times. Players are free to step away from the table, message me privately, or bring up a concern without needing to justify it. I also use a short break roughly halfway through each session so everyone has a chance to reset. At the end of every session, we do a brief debrief using Stars and Wishes. This gives players a chance to highlight what they enjoyed, mention anything they would like more or less of, and help shape the direction of future sessions. If something ever needs to be adjusted, I would rather address it early and make sure the table stays comfortable, respectful, and fun for everyone.