Treasure, Mysteries, & Dragon Slaying: Hoard of the Dragon Queen!

When villages and towns are pillaged, leaving whispers of an ancient, dragon-worshipping cult in their wake, the Sword Coast calls for heroes. Will you rise to the challenge?

Hoard of the Dragon Queen is a D&D 5th edition adventure that takes characters from level 1 to 8. Along the way, you'll explore the breadth of the Sword Coast, D&D's most iconic setting, from Baldur's Gate to Waterdeep! You'll investigate murder mysteries and find missing treasure! You'll storm a castle in a swamp filled with monsters, and you'll slay a legendary dragon aboard a flying castle in the clouds! This story, however, has humble beginnings. The adventure begins in the sleepy town of Greenest, two or three tendays South of Baldur's Gate.

Your character's life has been altered by the stirrings along the Sword Coast, one way or another. Perhaps a good friend of yours has called for aid in Greenest. Perhaps you or someone you know was attacked by this mysterious dragon cult. Perhaps, even, you were once a cult member, and you now seek to destroy them! We'll work together to craft a backstory that weaves your character into the adventure; your backstory will be relevant, (if you want it to be)!

Expect an epic narrative, filled with vibrant, voiced NPCs and enemies; tactical combat with custom maps; an inclusive, beginner friendly environment; and a suite of official & custom options available to you!

Startplaying Link

Startplaying is an online platform for paid RPG games: https://startplaying.games/adventure/cmai8x668000r12djmusk1n5g

How to Prepare

- Clear, working microphone & a quiet, comfortable space to play
- A Discord account, a DnDBeyond account, and a Roll20 Account (All free!)

What I provide

- A game shaped by your input & feedback; we're telling a story together, and your choices (both in & out of game) matter!
- Most official D&D 5e content & DnDBeyond content sharing
- A private Discord server for in-game voice chat and out-of-game discussion; you'll be able to join here after signing up.
- Custom-made maps and tokens for Roll20 VTT.
- An open door & a friendly, professional vibe; your safety, comfort & fun are my #1 priorities.
- A 50% discount for character art by character artist LaxLeo on Etsy! (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/946147952/dnd-character-commissions) This is the artist that drew the campaign banner!

Gameplay Details

Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist:
- All players are required to fill out a consent checklist of topics that could cause discomfort during gameplay, indicating Green (enthusiastic consent), yellow (uncertain), or red (hard no). Everyone's answers will be anonymously communicated to the group.

Session 0 Outline: (free for all players!)
- Everyone will receive a copy of the RPG Consent Checklist to fill out before session 1.
- Social Contract Discussion: This is a chance or everyone to get on the same page about their expectations of what is & isn't okay at the game table. (I.E: How much out-of-game talk do you like? How do you feel about PC-conflict?)
- Gameplay Discussion: This is your opportunity to give your opinion on how you'd like the game to be run, and to ask me any questions about how I DM. (I.E: What are your thoughts on PC death? When do I call for ability checks?)
- Character creation! I like to start character creation as a group, to ensure everyone gets a chance to make their character unique. This is also a chance for me to answer any questions you may have about the world / adventure, and help you to integrate your character into the world. I use DnDBeyond for character sheets.

Open Door Policy:
- If there's ever anything you want/need to discuss with me, I carry an open-door policy. Your safety, comfort, and fun are my priorities.

Breaks:
- Each session will include a break at about the half-way mark. Break duration will be discussed in Session 0, but typically lands around 10 minutes.

Stars & Wishes:
- At any point, you'll be able to leave your Stars & Wishes in a dedicated Discord channel for me to see. Respectful feedback will always be appreciated.

How will Character Creation work?

Premade character sheets are available.

Character creation will be done during session 0, but having some character concepts ready is a good idea. I use DnDBeyond to host character sheets.

Some guidelines:
- Point-buy Ability Scores & Fixed HP
- No Eberron, Spelljammer, Planescape, or Critical Role Content
- Homebrew, Unearthed Arcana, & 3rd-party supplements subject to approval

I offer/allow some homebrew alterations to certain character options that I've seen players get frustrated with in the past (I.E: older subclasses that aren't compatible with the 2024 rules, like Circle of the Shepherd Druid). These are open to discussion - my priority is ensuring the rules facilitate your fun, and that your character concept can be properly realised within the rules!

I look forward to playing with you! :)
https://startplaying.games/adventure/cmai8x668000r12djmusk1n5g