Dino World | D&D 5e | Level 5 one-shot | Beginner-friendly

About the adventure

Come fight dinosaurs in the jungle in a D&D 5e 5th level one-shot that's fun for beginners and veterans alike! ------------- One year ago, entrepreneur Jon'hamon Attenbright funded the excavation and study of a remote, uninhabited island rumored to contain the remains of ancient beasts spoken of only in legend. Through a "proprietary blend of benign necromancy and alchemy," his team of experts succeeded in reanimating these long-extinct creatures - referred to in academic circles as "dinosaurs" - not as mindless skeletons or golems, but as living, breathing beings. In an unexpected turn of events, he then used these findings to open what can only be described as a theme park. "Dino World," as he called it, was to be an immersive experience where people from all walks of life could visit and witness these creatures firsthand. The park was due to open soon, but through an unfortunate and entirely unforeseeable series of events, the grand opening a few weeks ago ended in disaster. Catastrophe layered on catastrophe led to the whole island being evacuated, though fortunately with minimal casualties. Now Attenbright has put his considerable resources toward hiring a team of adventurers to enter the park and salvage what they can of the technology that makes it run -- and of course rescue survivors, should any remain. ------------- You'll be playing a team of level 5 adventurers who have been recruited for this job. The adventure starts on the day you all reach the island together aboard an airship and will mostly focus on exploration and combat. There is room for roleplay as well, but social interactions won't be a core part of the adventure. Expect danger, intrigue, and most importantly, lots of dinosaurs. Gameplay will be in Roll20 with pre-game coordination in a private Discord server. If Roll20 audio/video isn't behaving, we'll use Discord as an audio backup. This one-shot is loosely adapted from the Dino World adventure published by Celeste Conowitch on DMs Guild and may also contain similarities to an unrelated and legally distinct series of beloved books/films. Familiarity with/appreciation of said series is not required to enjoy this game. It's a self-contained narrative in its own right and is not recreating a known story or cast of characters - familiarity just offers an extra layer of enjoyment for those who recognize the many references.

Additional Details

How to prepare

* You'll need a working microphone and audio, access to a computer (in an environment without too much background noise), and a stable internet connection. Webcam is encouraged but not required. * We will use Discord for pre-game communication and Roll20 for the game itself, so you need an account on both sites. All players must accept the Roll20 invite at least 1 hour before our game so I can ensure everything is set up. * You'll create your character sheet ahead of time and send it to me at least 1 hour before our game. I will also need an image to use for your character's Roll20 token. If you need help with character creation, reach out at least 24 hours before the game and I'll gladly work with you on it or share a few pre-generated characters you can choose from. * Use whatever dice work for you - virtual or physical. We're all grownups here, and I trust you not to cheat yourself out of the incredible moments that can come from a low roll.

What I provide

As a DM, I provide: - Shared access to the Player's Handbook, Xanathar's, and Tasha's through D&D Beyond - Pre-game communication on a private Discord server - A neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ friendly environment - Detailed maps for combat and exploration that encourage interactions and creative problem solving - Narrative descriptions to enhance immersion - A focus on cooperative storytelling and facilitating opportunities for PCs to do cool things - Background music - Character creation help for new players - An in-depth knowledge of 5e rules based on hundreds of hours played and thousands of hours watching Critical Role/Dimension 20/etc. - A willingness to ignore/bend the rules when something makes narrative sense or it's going to be boring for you to watch me frantically search through a rulebook - A desperate need to justify the Creative Writing minor that I got alongside my business degree ten years ago - Puns, probably

Gameplay details

Players can disclose any Lines/Veils in the pre-game questionnaire I'll share over Discord. I will review all lines and veils anonymously before the game starts, and we will review X/N/O. If at any point a player becomes uncomfortable, they are encouraged to drop an X or N in the chat. That said, I don't anticipate this adventure touching on any sensitive themes beyond the violence inherent in fighting dinosaurs. I don't do graphic descriptions in combat and will get everyone's comfort with profanity as part of Lines and Veils. Players can expect a baseline PG-13 level of violence and profanity unless the group decides otherwise. I will never include or condone racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, ableism, or any other harmful behavior or attitudes.

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

Lines and Veils
Open Door
X, N, and O Cards

How will character creation work

Players will create their characters before the game. If you're new and need help with character creation, please reach out at least 24 hours before the game. I will also have a few pre-generated character sheets that you can choose from if you prefer. Level: All characters will be level 5 and created using standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) for base stats. Class/Race: All classes and races from published WotC materials are permitted, including custom lineage rules and optional features from Tasha's. For the sake of balance, no homebrew classes/races. Multiclassing and feats are allowed. Equipment: You will begin with normal starting equipment for your class/background, one standard healing potion, and one uncommon magic item (from WotC materials only). In addition to this, you each have a budget of 300 gp to spend on gear from a list that I will share in Discord. Character sheets: D&D Beyond is encouraged (especially for new players), but any format is fine as long as it can be sent to me. Backstories: We'll assume that none of your characters know each other unless you say otherwise. Your backstory will not significantly influence this adventure, so feel free to have as much or as little as you would like. I recommend at least knowing why your character said yes to a highly dangerous mission in exchange for a lot of money.

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.