AD&D DL4 Dragons of Desolation: Path to Thorbardin

AD&D DL4 Dragons of Desolation: Path to Thorbardin

Trapped between the Red Dragonarmy and the Kharolis Mountains, you must find ancient Thorbardin and bargain with its dwarven thanes for your survival.

TYPE

Campaign

SYSTEM

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1e

LEVELS

6–8

LANGUAGE

English

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

18+
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$25.00

/ Session

Details

3 players following this game

Bi-weekly / Saturday - 11:00 PM UTC

Session Duration / 3.5–4.5 hours

Campaign Length / 6–10 Sessions

4 / 8 Seats Filled

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One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.

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This game will begin once 6 players have joined

Meet your party members

4/8

About the adventure

The draconian hordes of the Red Dragonarmy have conquered the civilized lands of Abanasinia. As leaders of a struggling, starving band of refugees rescued from Pax Tharkas, you have brought hundreds of innocent souls out of slavery—but freedom is not yet won. Trapped between the relentless army pursuing you and the towering, impassable peaks of the Kharolis Mountains ahead, your only hope lies deep within the earth: the long-lost doors of the ancient dwarven kingdom of Thorbardin. To save your people, you must brave treacherous mountain passes, navigate political intrigue among distrustful dwarven thanes, and confront ancient horrors buried in the dark. Will you earn safe passage for the refugees, or will the dragonarmies crush the last remnants of hope on Krynn? This game will be live-streamed actual play on the DLSaga YouTube channel! Join us at the table as we bring this classic epic to life for the audience. Whether you are a seasoned roleplayer or stepping into a classic TSR module for the very first time, new players are warmly welcomed and fully supported at our table. What to Expect at the Table This game is a mix of epic heroic narrative, tactical survival, and classic dungeon exploration. Expect a cinematic story where resource management, clever diplomacy, and roleplay matter just as much as combat prowess. System: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st Edition) — Pre-generated characters provided. Tone: Epic high fantasy, dramatic stakes, and rich narrative lore. Playstyle: Balanced combination of tactical encounters, exploration, and heavy story focus. Who It’s For: Perfect for classic TSR module enthusiasts, Dragonlance novel fans, and any player who loves story-rich adventures. Both veteran grognards and curious modern players looking to experience D&D’s roots (or join a live stream) are warmly welcome!

Game style

Dungeon Crawl

Hexcrawl / Exploration

Roleplay Heavy

Rule of Cool (RoC)

Rules as Written (RaW)

Combat Heavy

Meet the Game Master

5.0

(19)

TOP GM
Streamer
Podcaster
Military Veteran
Published Writer
Artist
Educator
Voice Actor
Game Designer

Less than a year on StartPlaying

44 games hosted

Highly rated for: Knows the Rules, Inclusive, Creativity

About me

With over 30 years of experience in tabletop roleplaying games, I bring a deep love of classic systems and immersive storytelling to every table I run. My roots are firmly planted in old-school gaming—especially AD&D—but I also actively run and enjoy modern systems, including D&D 5.5e. I have a strong preference for rich, lore-driven settings. When using established fantasy systems, I most often run games in Dragonlance or within my own original DireLands campaign world, both of which emphasize character-driven narratives, meaningful choices, and long-term consequences. In addition to fantasy, I specialize in darker, more atmospheric campaigns. I run a fully homebrewed cosmic horror setting using the In Nomine system, inspired by World of Darkness themes and infused with elements of Clive Barker and classic monsters. These games focus on moral tension, surreal horror, and unsettling mysteries. Whether guiding epic heroes or exploring the shadows of the unknown, my goal as a Game Master is to create memorable stories, collaborative worlds, and engaging experiences for every player at the table.

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Character creation

Creating your character

We will be using pre-generated characters for this adventure: the iconic Heroes of the Lance! How to Choose: Character selection is first-come, first-served. Once you sign up for the game, I will share the available list of heroes with you so you can claim your preferred PC right away. Level & Rules: Characters start at Levels 6–8 per the module guidelines, utilizing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st Edition) mechanics adapted specifically for the world of Krynn. When It Happens: Character assignment and brief orientation take place before our first session so we can dive straight into the action when the cameras roll!

What to expect

Preparing for the session

Please complete these quick steps prior to our first session so we are ready to go live! 1. Join Discord: You will need a Discord account. Join my Discord server and share your Discord username with me. I will assign you the appropriate role to grant access to our private text and voice channels. 2. Set Up Roll20: Create a free account on Roll20.net. We will use Roll20 as our Virtual Tabletop (VTT) to view maps, see artwork, listen to ambient music, and manage character sheets. 3. Hardware Requirements: A decent microphone, headphones, and a stable internet connection are required for high-quality audio during the live stream. A webcam is mandatory! 4. Pre-Stream Briefing: Review your assigned hero's character sheet on Roll20 and familiarize yourself with their backstory and abilities before session time.

What AdamPC brings to the table

What I Provide & My GM Style: When you sit down at my table, you can expect an immersive, cinematic, and faithful recreation of classic Advanced Dungeons & Dragons mechanics blended with modern virtual tabletop presentation. Here is what I bring to the campaign: Immersive Atmosphere & Audio: I use atmospheric ambient music and soundscapes on our Roll20 VTT to draw you straight into the world of Krynn, paired with high-quality battlemaps and official art to bring every location to life. Voice Acting & Narration: I provide distinct voices for monsters, villains, and NPCs, bringing the dramatic storytelling of the Dragonlance saga to the forefront. I also dynamically narrate combat to keep the tension high and cinematic. Rules & Rulings: We stick closely to the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st Edition) rules as written, utilizing a slightly modified combat process to keep things smooth and engaging. The Rule of Cool & Ingenuity: While we respect the rules, I heavily reward player imagination, clever tactics, and out-of-the-box ingenuity. If you come up with a brilliant, creative solution to a deadly problem, the table will back you up!

Homebrew rules

While we stick closely to the 1st Edition AD&D Rules as Written (RAW), I implement a couple of modifications to keep combat flowing smoothly and dynamically: Flexible Action Declaration: Players are not required to declare their actions ahead of time at the start of a combat round, allowing you to react dynamically to the battlefield as your turn arrives. Movement & Attack Flexibility: You may move up to half of your total movement speed and still make a single melee or ranged weapon attack during your turn.

Equipment needed to play

Internet

Computer

Microphone

Headphones

Webcam

Safety

How AdamPC creates a safe table

Your safety, comfort, and fun at the table are my top priorities. To ensure everyone feels secure and respected throughout our campaign, we use the following practices: Pre-Game Briefing: Before we begin playing, I will brief everyone on the tone, themes, and expectations of the adventure so there are no surprises. Digital Safety Tools: We utilize X, N, and O cards digitally during the game. You can use these at any time to pause or fade out content if a scene crosses a boundary. Stars and Wishes: At the end of our sessions, we hold a brief debrief using "Stars and Wishes" to share what worked well, what we loved, and what we want to see (or avoid) moving forward. Open communication is always welcome at my table!

Content warnings

Blood
Character Death
Death
Mass Death
Murder
Racism
Slavery
Trauma

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions