Whispers in the Mist: Defying the Curse of Strahd

Creating your character

You will be creating a level 1 character. You may use any official race but the more exotic races must be approved. For example any Spell Jammer race. There are no limitations on class selection as long as it is official material. This caveat that if the material is 3rd party it might need to be approved. If you would like to use homebrew material of any kind you must get permission first. You may roll or use point buy for stats. Please no evil characters. A D&Dbeyond campaign will be provided for character creation. Be ready to either create your character at Session Zero or discuss them during.

Preparing for the session

You will need a good mic and internet connection. You will need a Discord account for communication outside the game. You will need to make a Foundry account. We will be rolling in either Foundry or DnDBeyond.

What Zachary brings to the table

We will be playing on Foundry VTT, with immersive maps, tokens, music, and other enhancements to help bring the world to life. You will also have access to a D&D Beyond campaign containing almost all official character creation content, giving you plenty of options when creating your character. While I generally follow Rules as Written, I also believe there are times when the Rule of Cool can make for a better game. If something fits the moment or helps keep the game moving, I'm happy to make a ruling that favors fun and good storytelling. I also put effort into keeping combat engaging and varied. I want encounters to feel like more than simply taking turns attacking, while still making sure everyone has opportunities to contribute.

Homebrew rules

Drinking a potion is a bonus action. I use a homebrew rule for death saving throws called Death's Door. It gives changes to do things while making death saving throws so you are still part of the combat. More rules maybe added depending on how the group feels.

How Zachary creates a safe table

Safety and Content One of the main themes of this campaign is gothic horror, so darker and potentially disturbing elements will appear regularly. That said, everyone should feel comfortable at the table. We will use the Lines and Veils safety tool, along with several other safety tools, to help establish boundaries before and during the campaign. There will be a free Session Zero for the group to meet, discuss the campaign, and establish expectations. We will also create characters during this session and go over any questions you have about the campaign, setting, or what to expect from the game. Safety Tools Lines and Veils: Lines are subjects or situations that you do not want to appear in the game at all. They are a hard limit. Veils are subjects that may exist in the game, but you do not want them described in detail. If one comes up, we will simply fade to black and move on. X, N, and O Cards: These are digital tools available through the VTT that allow you to signal how you are feeling about something during the game without needing to interrupt the session or explain yourself. Open Door: You are always free to step away from the game if you need a break. No explanation is required. Stars and Wishes: At the end of a session, players can share what they enjoyed (Stars) and anything they would like to see changed, improved, or explored more (Wishes). If something comes up during a live game that makes you uncomfortable, you can speak up at any time. The scene or action will stop immediately, and we will move on without requiring you to explain why. Code of Conduct * Respect your fellow players. No bullying, hazing, or deliberately picking on another player or their character. You are a team, and everyone should be treated with respect. * Keep sexual content out of the game. Light flirting or sweet-talking may be used as a form of persuasion with NPCs, but sexual content is not part of the game. * Give everyone room to participate. Don't shut down another player's ideas or actions. Every player should have an opportunity to explain what their character wants to do. If you say, "My character will try..." and the action is possible within the game, we'll play out what happens. If you ask the party for their opinion, the group can discuss and decide how to proceed. * There are no stupid ideas. Characters may make bad decisions, and players may suggest plans that don't work. That's part of D&D. We can discuss ideas and consequences without shutting someone down. * Safety comes first. The above expectations can always be overridden if something is making you uncomfortable. Speak up, use one of the safety tools, or step away from the game whenever you need to.