Ghosts of Saltmarsh

About the adventure

All is not well in the port town of Saltmarsh. But then again, there's nothing new there. The town is a haven for Piracy and Banditry of all flavors, where the people do what they must just to get by. Even here, at the banks of the Azure Sea, the most faint of heart would struggle not to hear the call to adventure. What drew you to this place, at the edge of the Kingdom? Do you seek to be a Swashbuckler or a Skallywag? A Crook or a Captain? Or perhaps you just seek an answer to what lies at the edge of the horizon? Lets just hope you don't get eaten by a Kraken before you get the chance to find out. The content of the Ghosts of Saltmarsh Adventure Book itself is split across a number of smaller adventures, not directly linked to any grand plot, albeit with a few recurring elements. For me as a DM however, the fun of the book is the adventures (and more often than not, Misadventures) it allows you and your party to get into on the way to wherever you're going. The Saltmarsh book is, first and foremost, a swashbuckling sandbox for players to get lost in. It drops you and your companions into the town of Saltmarsh and lets you chart your own course from there. While there are plenty of plot hooks, should you want to find work on a merchant vessel instead, or join up with the local mariners guild, the Journey is just as important as the destination. At my table, your stories as Player Characters will take center stage. Saltmarsh is all about the journey you and your characters go through, whichever direction you choose to take it. The loud and bombastic moments of combat, punctuated by the quieter character driven moments between them, granting context to the struggles. This is a world that does not care about you. You are not the chosen ones, or warriors destined to slay the demon king. With that in mind, I intend to challenge you. I want to give you a story you will remember long after you leave my table. Just remember, no matter how bad things may seem, there is no obstacle you cannot overcome as a Crew.

Additional Details

How to prepare

There are only four mandatory elements at my table, a Discord Account (And preferably installed onto your PC, though you are welcome to use the browser extension) as I run all of my games through there, a DnDBeyond account, a Mural account (I will discuss further in session 0) and a working Microphone. From there, I use Foundry Vtt to run all my combat encounters, which is free for players to use in Browser (Though I am currently experimenting with switching to TaleSpire). I am happy to use webcams as well, but I understand not every group is comfortable using them. This is something that can be discussed in session 0. While knowing the rules ahead of time will certainly make my job much easier, it is not essential, as one of the best ways to learn DnD is by doing.

What I provide

I design all of the maps we will use in game myself, either from scratch or based on the dungeon designs from the various DnD Adventure books. This way, I can ensure they are exactly what I want them to be every time. I also have access to all official content via DnDBeyond, which I will share with the group at the start of Session 0.

Gameplay details

Games at my table often include descriptions of graphic violence, swearing and other such adult themes. As part of every game I run, I ask my players to fill in an anonymous tabletop safety form, as well as facilitating a free session 0 to discuss the results from the form as well as discuss any further topics raised by the form or the players themselves. I also run a 'Red Card Rule' at my table, in that any participant can call 'Red Card' at any time for any reason, and everyone will step away to talk about whats occurred, sort out the best way we can move forward, and go from there. Finally, I am open to be contacted on my Discord both in and outside of scheduled games to answer any questions or problems you may have. Doily the DM Discord: DoilytheDM#5045

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

Aftercare
Bleed
Breaks
Debriefing
Lines and Veils
Luxton Technique
Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist
Open Door
Session 0

How will character creation work

This game will start at level 1 and go up to around level 12 following the book as a guide, though I am open to continuing beyond that if there is enough interest. Character creation will begin during and after session 0. This allows me to explain and confirm any homebrew rules we will use at the table, as well as give a more detailed idea of the setting and themes with everyone, before anyone begins making their characters. This also allows me to help anyone who needs it for character creation while I am there. I will then give everyone a week (or two as needed/discussed) to finalize their characters. Over this time, I will be available via my Discord for anyone who needs additional assistance/has backstory queries. Once everyone is happy and set, we'll dive in with Session 1!

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.