Image by Paolo Uccello
Let's Slay a Dragon! | Black Wyrm of Brandonsford Mini-Hexcrawl
A wyrm is menacing the good people of Brandonsford. Be the brave hero who saves them! (Or just go after the beast's hoard, I won't judge)
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Thursday - 9:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3 hours
Campaign Length / 4–7 Sessions
1 / 5 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
1/5
About the adventure
Rumors reach you that the forest town of Brandonsford is seeking adventurers to hunt a small but fearful dragon. The monster took a lair in the nearby woods, leaving townsfolk terrified and barricaded in their houses. 1,000 gold pieces will go to whomever slays the beast, as well as any of the lair's riches the wyrm is protecting... Welcome to the The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford! In this 1-3 level rustic fantasy mini campaign you will face the purest of fantasy scenarios. You'll gather rumors in town, explore the mysterious wilderness nearby, delve into dungeons and kill the monster. The premise is simple and the flavor is classic fantasy, but the scenario is an amazing open sandbox where players choose their own adventure. There are multiple hooks you can follow, and your path towards your final goal will be full of colorful characters, thrilling encounters and exciting side quests! If you're a veteran player who wants to scratch that classic fantasy itch, or if you're a beginner who wants to start with a very simple but engaging adventure, this game is for you!
Game style
Dungeon Crawl
Hexcrawl / Exploration
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
2 years on StartPlaying
1 game hosted
Highly rated for: Beginner Friendly, Inclusive, World Builder
About me
I'm an educator, writer, web developer, amateur improv actor and GM with over 25 years of experience. I grew up in Italy, moved to Canada and got adopted into Brazilian culture. I live a multicultural, eclectic life and I bring this variety to my table. I'm well-versed in old-school and contemporary play styles, so my games are fun for casual players and hobby enthusiasts alike. I discovered TTRPGs in the D&D 3.5 era, when I ran several Forgotten Realms and Star Wars d20 campaigns. I eventually branched out into Cyberpunk 2020 and Vampire, as well as indie titles. After discovering the OSR, I GM'd many games using Swords & Wizardry: White Box, Old-School Essentials, Mothership and Shadowdark. I also have a soft spot for epic fantasy systems (Against the Darkmaster, The One Ring) and pop culture-inspired PbtA systems (Cartel, Pasiòn de las Pasiones). Professional skills I use as a GM: 🎓 Humanities PhD. My in-depth knowledge of literary genres helps me portray them convincingly in games. 👨🏫 Teacher. I read players' emotions well, and ensure everyone shares spotlight time. 🎭 Improv. I welcome unexpected situations, and transform them into storytelling opportunities. 💻 Tech. I'm proficient with digital tools, and aim to use them to make online sessions as fun as in-person ones. 🗣️ Polyglot. I can run games in English, Italian and Portuguese, including Learn to Play sessions. When you sit at my table, you get a GM who is friendly, professional, organized and fun!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We'll generate characters during Session 0. This will be also a chance to learn or review Shadowdark's core rules. Joining after session 0? We can meet individually and go through character generation together. Joining at the last minute? Pregens are also available!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Required: - Join the Discord server (you'll need a Discord account; I'll share the server link via an onboarding message) - Use a desktop or laptop computer - Test your microphone - Test your webcam - Get to a relatively quiet area for the duration of the session Optional: - Familiarize yourself with Owlbear Rodeo (I'll also give you a basic rundown at the beginning of the session) - Read the Free ShadowDark Player Quickstart Guide (https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/products/shadowdark-rpg-quickstart-set-pdf) if you want to understand the game's spirit and core mechanics (again, I'll also recap this before we start playing) - Get some physical TTRPG dice if you prefer rolling them yourself!
What Andrea (Roll Onward) brings to the table
Although we play online, I aim to recreate a genuine and warm in-person gaming experience. We'll use a simple gaming platform like Owlbear Rodeo as we'd use miniatures and maps on a real table. If you want to add to that feel, you're also encouraged to roll your own physical dice! The game will feature: - Dedicated Discord Server - Owlbear Rodeo Setup with adventure maps - Tokens and Assets - Easy-to-edit character sheets on Google Docs - A warm and organized GM who cares about you having fun and get the most out of play time.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Webcam
Physical Dice
Platforms used
Safety
How Andrea (Roll Onward) creates a safe table
- Session 0. We'll get to know each other, and understand what we like and don't like when we play so to create a safe and collaborative environment. We'll also generate characters together and, if time allows, play the beginning of the campaign. - Breaks. We'll have at least one short break (about 5-10 minutes) mid-way through the session, and a quick check-in before we resume play. - X, N & O cards: You can send them to me in private via Discord chat or declare them publicly via video, verbally or group chat. - Debriefing + Stars and Wishes after each session. A quick group conversation before wrapping up to understand how we're doing as a group, what we loved and what we would like to see more as the campaign progresses.
Content warnings
Safety tools used