Adventures with Homebrewster (for Beginners) - H1 Keep on the Shadowfell for 5e

About the adventure

As intrepid adventurers you set out, traveling by road to the small town of Winterhaven where your friend Douven Staul is said to have wondered off to last. Douven, a rabid explorer of old ruins, had found a map that revealed the location of a dragon’s tomb not far from the village. He figured if a dragon was buried there, why not also its hoard? The explorer should have returned some time ago, and his continuing absence bodes ill. The wife of Douven has reached out to each of you to go find him, as a fellow friend. With her kind but urgently worded letter in your pocket, you meet up on your way and discuss your plan of action... This is a game for new players to D&D, as well as players with experience who're looking for a new adventure to explore. This is a module conversion from D&D 4th edition to D&D 5th edition, completely balanced by yours truly. We will be using this adventure to explore the first three levels (possibly four) of the 5th edition character levelling system, as well as learn every core rule there is to learn so that you'll be a full fledged adventurer by the end. Expected adventure length: 5-9 sessions, each 4 hours. Session 0?: Yes, and this will be free.

Additional Details

How to prepare

Please ensure that you have a webcam and microphone. Please make sure your setup is tested, as there's nothing as flow-killing as technical difficulties mid-play. I will ensure to have the best sound and video quality, though I do not expect that level of hardware from everyone. Also please make sure you have a Roll20 account (the free account will do), as well as an account on D&D Beyond for character sheet maintanence. Other than that, everything will be provided at the table!

What I provide

I've got everything from maps on Roll20, audio through Battlebards, books on D&D beyond, Macros on roll20, monster tokens, and a player token creator. And if you have any specific requests, please let me know in Session 0 and I will do my best to make it happen!

Gameplay details

As described before, this adventure is a module converted and run by me, but that does not mean that we are on rails here. This adventure is curated to learning and smooth progress towards expertise and great story, but that by no means excludes tangents and side quests based on PC or Player interests. There will be a healthy blend of RP and puzzles, with a slight focus on combat by virtue of the module's nature. That said, I believe in Narrative Combat. No "I hit him for 5" from me, and more "I swing my axe, barely grazing their shoulder as they manage to step backwards in the last moment. I deal 5 damage." We let the narrative guide the dice rolls, and the dice rolls guide the narrative. Lastly, there will be a break at the 2 hour mark for a quick bio break and drink refill. During that time, there is an open door policy with me for any questions and concerns regarding the game. This 15-20 minute break can be shortened as needed, but will always be offered. And if you have any concern during the game, typing to me so as to not interrupt the flow of the game is always free. I want everyone to feel safe, excited and be engaged, so I do request that nobody records or does "something in the background" despite all temptations.

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

(none)

How will character creation work

Character creation can be done in 2 ways. 1. I have templates of character sheets ready to go, if you'd rather immediately jump into the story of your character and not waste time thinking about pesky "options". All relevant rules and stats will still be explained. 2. We create characters together from scratch using the basic D&D 5e rules (limiting options helps streamline and prevents boredom) where you get more creative control of the micro elements of your character, with my help every step of the way. Regardless of your choice, we'll be doing this during Session 0, so make sure you're energized and excited!

Players can expect

• Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
• Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
• If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.