D&D Online

Campaign Overview

Tentatively, each session is 4 hours from 5 - 9pm PST each alternative Thursday. If someone is late, I will only wait 10 minutes before starting gameplay. A session will be cancelled if I can't make it, as indicated on this website, or if more than half the players will be absent. Gameplay will be sandbox-based and start in Greyhawk. To secure your "seat" at the table, you must send me an e-mail prior to Session 0. Five player seats will be available. Each session will be preceded by a video call (Google Meet).

We will be making use of Discord, D&D Beyond, Beyond20 and Foundry VTT (besides this website). With respect to Foundry VTT, I find it to be reliable and well-supported. Unless a live die roll is requested, all die rolls will be sent to Foundry VTT with Beyond20. A site called Encounter Library provides a good introduction to the VTT's use. Even though the VTT has character creation options, you will create your character in D&D Beyond; 20 Wizards of the Coast publications are available to you.

The campaign is centered around the Azure Sea and Amedio Jungle. Like Ghosts of Saltmarsh, you will be going out to sea. You will also face demigods attempting to dominate the region. Not all demigods, however, are foes attempting to dominate life within Greyhawk. Some will attempt to aid those battling opposing forces. You will need to determine friend from foe and act accordingly. I tend to ignore CR. Characters should be smart enough to run away from things at times; not all battles are winnable.

• Type of Game — the game is a brief railroad that leads to a sandbox-based campaign. In the game, there is an initial storyline that leads to Gryrax in the Principality of Ulek, but from there, players can go in any direction.
• Style of Play — gameplay will involve involve delving into dungeons, chasing or being chased, doing investigations now and then, as well as dealing with magic items. Combat will also be involved.

Setting: Greyhawk

Created by Gary Gygax in the 1980s, Greyhawk was the main setting for D&D for many years. Create your character based on what is presented online. The background that you come up with should be associated with the Flanaess region of Oerth. However, note that in the 2nd half of the game, you will transition to a homebrew offshoot of initial gameplay. Take a look at the 2024 Dungeon Master Guide, Players Handbook and Monster Manual when you have time. Feel free to bring up anything in those source books at Session 0.

Initially the setting was just a homestyle world based on Middle-Earth, as noted above, with its own history and set of maps. As I revised it, this soon changed, but one thing remained: the barrier around the newly found land-mass. You are all aware of this. The campaign is centred around the Azure Sea and the Amedio Jungle. Like Ghosts of Saltmarsh, you will be going out to sea. You will also face demigods attempting to dominate the region. Not all demigods, however, are foes attempting to dominate life within Greyhawk.

• Barrier in the Azure - In 564 CY, a group of sailors discovered a mysterious circular barrier in the Azure Sea, north of the Olman Islands. Many speculated that it was somehow controlled from the Amedio Jungle, but the western side of the barrier was too distant to confirm. Over the next six years, numerous attempts were made to cross the barrier, but many who tried ever returned.
• Barrier in the Azure - The barrier was deemed a peril to all who encountered it, with high winds often tearing ships apart. Despite the danger, some sailors persisted and managed to return with treasures. Survivors who made it to Fort Easthook reported that the inner seas were home to Krakens and other terrifying monsters. As a result, many sailors refused to venture into the heart of the Azure Sea.

Character Creation

I would suggest making use of the Player’s Handbook to create a paper version of your character first, and then proceed to D&D Beyond once you have decided how you want to approach playing your character. It contains all the info you need to create a character, starting in Chapter 2. The classes are explained in detail starting in Chapter 3. Unlike with earlier versions of the game, 5.5E 2004 starts with the classes. When I started playing D&D, the abilities were rolled first and then the class was chosen. If you want, you can proceed this way as well, starting on page 10. If you don’t have a copy of the PHB, you will find it at AnyFlip.

The record sheet for D&D 2024 can be found here: 5.5E 2004. In the Player’s Handbook, it is on pp. 34-35. I think that the information in the book could be better organized, but you can find most things listed near where they need to be. There should have been a detachable record sheet inside, but there wasn’t. 🥺 Keep in mind that your character needs to be compatible with Greyhawk and (D&D) high magic orientated worlds. Take a look at the classes available in the Player's Handbook. Which ones appeal to you?

When I first started playing D&D in the 1980s, we rolled the abilities first and then determined the class afterwards. Today, many dive right into choosing the class and then tackle the abilities afterwards. Regardless, I think you should start with a character concept/idea first and then proceed to the section in the PHB that deals with that sort of character. Note that all characters will be entered online using D&D Beyond. All of the information pertaining to your character can be stored there and then saved as a PDF. Look through the PHB and decide what is important re: your character.

There are many different ways to approach playing D&D 2024. If you wish to play a magic-user, you don't need to stand out like a sore thumb with a pointy hat, so that you are more easily targeted. Dress as you wish, and take whatever precautions make sense during the game. You need not be like Gandalf. It is perhaps best to avoid things that are stereotypical or repeated too much. In the end though, it is up to you what type of character that you are going to play. Discuss matters with other players on Discord and decide what is best overall. Keep in mind that multiclassing is allowed, and that the classes can be altered; notably the Ranger (Facebook, YouTube). Reach out to other players and get their feedback.

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