Pokémon D&D: Virelia

Creating your character

creation will happen before the first paid session so Session 1 can begin with everyone ready to play. Once accepted into the game, players will join the Discord, receive the Player Quick Overview, Trainer Character Creation guide, Trainer Feat list, and custom Excel Trainer/Team workbook, and I’ll be available to help build or review characters. We can also use a short pre-game Session Zero/check-in to establish party connections, starter choices, boundaries, and where the group wants to begin in Virelia. Characters begin at Trainer Level 1 with one approved Level 1 starter Pokémon, Bond 10, and one bonus Level 1 feat. For fairness across multiple tables, ability scores use 27-point buy or the standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) rather than rolled stats. Trainers use the 2014 D&D 5e rules chassis, with existing classes reskinned into Pokémon Trainer roles and additional Pokémon-specific Trainer abilities. Players may use official 2014 5e class/subclass material, while Unearthed Arcana, third-party material, and outside homebrew require approval.

Preparing for the session

- Join the campaign Discord server. Voice chat, announcements, scheduling, campaign updates, and between-session communication will all happen there. - Have a working microphone and stable internet connection. This is a voice-based online game, so clear communication is important. - Use a computer or laptop if possible. Players will be using maps and a custom Excel workbook during play, so a larger screen is strongly recommended over mobile play. - Make sure you can open and edit Excel files. Microsoft Excel is ideal, but another program that properly supports .xlsx files may work as long as it does not break formulas or dropdowns. - Read the Player Quick Overview. You do not need to memorize the rules, but you should understand the basics of commanding Pokémon, switching, capturing, using Moves, Bond, and fainting. - Create your Trainer before Session 1. Characters begin at Level 1 using the campaign’s 2014 D&D 5e-based character creation rules, with the custom Trainer class conversion and feat options. - Choose an approved starter Pokémon. Your starter also begins at Level 1 with Bond 10 and its starting Moves. - Complete your Trainer/Team workbook. Add your Trainer information, starter Pokémon, starting equipment, feat, class features, and inventory before the first session. - Submit your finished character for review. I’ll check the character and starter before play so any questions or corrections can be handled ahead of time. - Be ready for reliable weekly attendance. This is a long-form campaign with a shared world, so consistency matters.

What liam fox brings to the table

Players can expect a high prep, sandboxy campaign with heavy emphasis on roleplay, exploration, tactical combat, and player agency. I'll provide the custom rules, Trainer/Team excel workbook, regional maps, battle maps, quick reference sheets, Pokémon resources, and campaign discord needed to play! All in an effort to make the custom rules for things like Pokémon easy to reference and not turn into a ten document search. My GM'ing style tends towards more immersive but utilitarian, using character voice when it helps differentiate NPCs, ambient music/sounds where appropriate, and visual maps for exploration and battle. Battles are tactical and positional but I don't want to devolve into one true path combat, think more using the environment, support from Pokémon, Trainers, and the terrain to one's advantage rather than a single correct answer. I'm largely a Rules as Written kind of person, particularly for things like 5e's core mechanics, but I'm also a Rule of Cool GM. If it's an interesting idea that doesn't ruin someone else's fun or negate another player's options I'm all for it. And if someone has a rules question during the session, I'll make a ruling on the spot to keep things moving and table the deeper analysis for later. Player's should also expect a reactive world, Virelia is a sandbox and I'm not going to railroad them down a single path based on who they are. The world will react to their choices, but you can expect to see things related to Gyms/Towers, rare Pokémon, rivalries, Ranger work, research, ruins, Tournaments, or whatever else is on the PCs' plate. I'll prep the world around what they're interested in and want to see, and let consequences flow from their actions. Above all, I want to foster a friendly, collaborative, inviting, and story driven campaign. New players will feel welcome, but experienced players can have fun too; in between, I want players to drive the story while the world reacts, and my PCs grow as people, and their Pokémon teams evolve.

Homebrew rules

This game uses D&D 5e as the base ruleset, with a streamlined Pokémon layer added on top. The main homebrew rules are: - Trainers can carry up to 6 Pokémon, with normally 1 active at a time. - Trainers use an Action to Command Pokémon; the active Pokémon then takes its own movement, action, bonus action, and reaction. - Pokémon know a maximum of 4 combat Moves at once. - Type effectiveness uses a simplified Power Die system instead of doubling/halving damage. Capture Checks use a d20 + Trainer proficiency against the Pokémon’s Capture DC, with Advantage/Disadvantage based on HP, status, and circumstances. Pokémon use Bond Strength 1–20, based on the Stibbles companion system, to represent friendship and trust. - Pokémon level from 1–20, use normal 5e proficiency scaling, and can evolve when their listed requirements are met. - Most new Moves are learned through TMs, Move Tutors, training, and story rewards rather than large automatic level-up learnsets. - In sanctioned Trainer battles, Pokémon faint at 0 HP and do not make death saves. In dangerous wild or hostile encounters, normal 5e death rules can apply. - Switching Pokémon normally uses an Action, though some class features and feats can improve this. Trainers receive Pokémon-specific class abilities at levels 3, 7, 11, and 15 in addition to their normal 5e class progression. - Custom Trainer Feats are available alongside approved 2014 5e feats. - Gym Leaders scale their teams based on the challenger’s Badge count, allowing the campaign to remain open-world. The goal of the homebrew is to keep the game easy to learn: if normal 5e or Stibbles already has a rule that works, we use it rather than inventing a second system.

How liam fox creates a safe table

I use Lines and Veils to establish hard limits and fade-to-black topics before the campaign starts. Players can also update those boundaries later if something changes. During play, I use a simple digital X / N / O safety system through Discord or private message: X means stop or remove the content, N means the scene is approaching a limit, and O means everything is okay and play can continue. Players never need to justify why they are using a safety tool. Anyone can also message me privately during or after a session if they are uncomfortable with something, need a scene adjusted, or have an issue with another player. If a difficult or intense scene comes up, I am happy to pause, redirect, fade to black, or check in with the group afterward. The campaign can include danger, conflict, frightening situations, and darker story elements, but the goal is still a fun collaborative Pokémon adventure. Real-world harassment, discrimination, sexual pressure, bullying, or deliberately making another player uncomfortable will not be tolerated. PvP is only allowed within agreed table boundaries and should never be used to override another player’s agency. After especially intense sessions, I may do a quick check-in or invite players to share Stars and Wishes—what they enjoyed and what they would like more or less of going forward.