The Wells Within Walls / I_I \A Dark Fantasy Open-World Campaign

Creating your character

Free Session 0 will be held to finish the characters. We're starting at level 1; we use regular point-buy. Background bonuses can be fully custom (+2, +1, or +1, +1, +1 to different ability scores of your choice; origin feat of your choice; two skill proficiencies of your choice; one proficiency with a set of tools, instruments, or gaming sets of your choice). Background choice will be for roleplay and interactions. Before session 0, I'd like to speak in private (most likely over text, since a voice call might be hard to schedule) about character ideas and goals. Then we'll discuss possible areas they could be from, interactions they had in life prior to the campaign, and knowledge of the world they'd hold. I allow all official species and subclasses of 2014 and 2024. If a 2024 version of it exists, we'll use that. If it doesn't, we'll use the old one within the new rules (for example, the ability score increase is now in backgrounds, so the species wouldn't give it). I have changes to some classes and subclasses that will be an option for you, or you can play it RAW. I also allow any creature from the official Monster Manual to be playable as a species. However, I think it would be a shame if that became the entire identity of your character, so think what would be fun for you and others. In addition, powerful creatures (such as dragons) would have limitations early on, and we'd have a plan for you to regain that power as you level (for example, as a dragon you might be cursed and only be able to turn back into your true form at full strength towards the end of the campaign). The freedom is there, but the power will either come at a cost (large creatures deal more melee damage, but need more food, have a harder time going indoors, and would have trouble finding armour that fits them).

Preparing for the session

We will use Discord for voice calls and tracking the campaign notes. So you will need a Discord account. For playing, we will use Foundry VTT. You'll have to create an account on the website that hosts the server (it's free and only needs an email). We will check how the server works for everyone during Session 0. You'll need a character and backstory idea. We'll then speak (most likely via text, as mentioned above) to figure out the details. Afterwards, you'll have to make the character somewhere I can access it, so I can import it into the server. That can be on DnDBeyond, or a fillable PDF file. Characters will start with NO items for the first session. You can also just tell me the main things over Discord, and I’ll set up the rest for you. I'd like it if you send that to me at least 24 hours before session 0; otherwise, I will import it after session 0. It would help to have it on the server for session 0, but it's not a requirement.

What Julian brings to the table

I will provide the world and all the information you'll need. If there’s anything else you want to know, I'll always be open to answering questions during sessions or privately between sessions, when available. The game will take place on a Foundry server. A lot of the game will be roleplay, but the server will have maps, background images, character images, battlemaps, and a platform to make rolls. I will also provide Google Documents with lore and other campaign information that will always be available to you. I prefer rules to be consistent; however, I'm always open to finding ways to bend them or make exceptions through abilities you can gain in the narrative. We'd work together to figure out how to bring your vision to the game. I use background music via a Discord bot, but nothing too special. It's fully optional, and you can mute it at any time. Battlemaps might have dynamic lighting, or might be open, based on if it would add to the scenes. I tend to focus on the description more than adding additional effects due to the scale of the open world. But most combats will have maps, and I'm often open to innovative tactics. While the game will take place on Foundry, the server will not be open until the game and 1 hour before and after the sessions. Changes to the character will have to be done in that time or texted to me so I can do them. I will often use a camera, but that is not at all required from any players. It is optional, but I will not push for it - it's your choice. I will use my camera because I prefer it when people see my face when NPCs are speaking, and I might use gestures while describing things.

Homebrew rules

These will also be in a different document and on the Discord server: -Optional changes to some classes and subclasses. -Gritty Realist rests: a short rest is 8 hours, and a long rest is 7 days in a safe place. - Every even level (2, 4, 6...) you will get an extra +1 to an ability score. - You can gain extra abilities, bonuses, and boons as we play. For example, you could get a +1 bonus to your cooking checks after you finish a quest about baking bread; but you might also get a lot more, such as extra feats or unique abilities from other quests and achievements. - Downtime Story Levelling. To level up, you will have to get through a story point (you will know in advance what gives you levels) and spend a few weeks in a safe area, paying gold for training. So levelling only happens between your adventures. - Grappling uses the old Contested Skill Check rules. This doesn’t change the abilities in 2024 rules automatically grapple, only the active attempts. - You can drink a Healing Potion as a Bonus Action or an Action. If you drink it as an Action, you regain the maximum healing you can. Giving someone else a potion is an Action, and you roll for the healing. - You can perform a Bonus Action as your Action (NOT the other way around). Meaning you take "Action + Bonus Action" or "Bonus Action + Bonus Action". - If something deals poison damage that requires a wound done by physical damage (for example, a spider's bite), if you can somehow reduce the physical damage to 0, you do not take any poison damage of that instance. - Creatures that are underwater, in heavy rain, or otherwise soaked have disadvantage on saving throws against spells and effects that deal lightning damage. - Magical items can be destroyed, but are a lot more resilient. A magical wooden wand might be as sturdy as a metal rod, but it can be destroyed. The higher the rarity of an item, the sturdier it is. Some cursed items, legendary items, and artifacts can only be destroyed under certain conditions (like throwing them into the volcano in which they were forged). - Pocket Dimensions cannot enter each other. That means Bags of Holding simply cannot be placed inside one another. Dimensional Domains don't follow this rule (such as a Magnificent Mansion). - When Helping someone, you choose if you want to give them advantage or a bonus to the roll equal to your proficiency bonus (this way multiple people can help). You can only be helped by a number of people up to your proficiency bonus (so that the bonuses aren't infinite). - Everyone has a certain amount of energy, which can be expressed as hit points. That includes regular people. Wounds also heal quickly through rests. - There are custom firearms, but they have their own positives and negatives. - Critical opportunities. When you or an enemy crits in combat, you have the OPTION TO CHOOSE to exploit it. If you succeed, you get a bonus; if you fail, the enemy gets an additional bonus.

How Julian creates a safe table

This is a paid game, but we're all adults here. I want everyone to communicate openly. That doesn't mean that you have to always do it with the entire group. I am here as both the arbitrator for the rules and the social aspect of this game. Anyone can come to me at any point, and I'll be open to talk and try to resolve any issue I can. Also, you shouldn’t keep silent if something happens during a session. The sessions will last for up to 5 hours, with an hour dedicated for talking before and/or after the session, as well as taking breaks. I think we'll have 2 or 3 breaks, each around 10 minutes long. Anyone can ask for a break, and if no one does, I'll call for them during a session before long segments (such as before or after combat). You can ask for a break publically or text me on discord during a session that you want a break, and I will do it. On top of that, we will establish boundaries in private with all of you before session 0, and during session 0 I will present those to everyone. Boundaries are non-nagotiable, and have to be kept. Of course, that means that someone at the table might change their minds about the campaign, which is another reason why session 0 is free. There are a lot of content warnings for this game, and it isn't for everyone. That's how all games go, and I don’t mean anything wrong with it. My way of telling stories and building the world is not to shy away from things (although some things I do keep away from, and most of those are banned on this platform anyway), but to depict them as they are. For example, there's alcoholism and abuse in the campaign, but it will never be glorified or considered a good thing. In the end, the main way to keep safety at the table is to be open and honest. I am the person who will not abuse that trust. I am here to make sure everything is good. But that also means that going into this game, you have to be a team player.