I am looking for two players to play in a campaign, in which I will be playing the role of the DM. The campaign will mostly revolve around your characters' stories and the relationships between the two of you (and perhaps some key NPCs). In other words, it will be a very character-centered game, which is why I chose to run the game for a very small group.
The game will heavily depend on your characters and their choices. This means several things, but first and foremost, that I haven't prepared anything, yet. I cannot present to you the settings - the theme, the world, restrictions or guidelines for character creation, etc. I want to tailor the game to your characters, but I don't know them yet! Only once I know what kind of game you want to play will I be able to start building it.
With that said, I don't expect you to go in blind and then discover you don't like my style which will, inevitably, be apparent in any game I run. Therefore, I tried listing below a few characteristics of the game I have in mind. They may not all characterize the game we build together, but expect at least some of them to:
Heavy emphasis on characters. Their story, their thoughts, their state of mind, their subconscious - anything that guides their actions. I like the explore these aspects, and see others explore them too. This may seem mostly like an expectation from the players - and it is to a degree - but I will also try to implement scenarios that will prompt those things. Dilemmas, moral questions, puzzles, involving your character's past in their present. Perhaps, in a broader sense too. A campaign that revolves around the inner workings of the mind, maybe?
Dreams and the subconscious. Mostly covered in the above, but even if the campaign doesn't in any way revolve around dreams, I'm very likely to ask you (occasionally) to describe your characters' dreams (at night, not their aspirations), or describe to you their dream not only as entertainment but also as a form of plot-advancing mechanism. For example, if you choose to play a cleric in a setting where the gods aren't very distant, you may receive guidance from your deity in your dreams.
Less reliance on rolls in social situations. You may be asked to roll regardless, and to some extent what I'm about to write here is present in almost any game I believe, but investing effort in writing what exactly your character does (words, body language, and the like) will heavily impact the result of a roll, if one is needed at all. I don't expect you to write a wall of text if your character just asks for directions, but lines like "Gobt tries to persuade the seller to give them a discount" will usually fail automatically or require a much higher roll than even a single line of Gobt explaining why they want the said discount. I emphasized social situations because this is an important pillar of this kind of game, but the same applies to other situations. In general, I want you to show, not tell (and will try my best to do the same).
Meaningful Combat. As much as I can, and in the end, it will heavily depend on the kind of game you want to play and your choices, but I intend combat to be interesting and meaningful. Expect fewer combat encounters (after all, you're only two players) but with the goals of combat (most of the time) not just killing everything that moves (even though, it might be a method to reach that goal) and the stakes usually not being your lives (I don't want to kill the characters in a character-driven game, right?). Additionally, enemies will mostly be intelligent enough that you can (barring language barriers, perhaps) communicate with them. For example, maybe you're trying to retrieve an object from a guarded wagon. Killing all the guards will work, but might be too hard for you. They noticed you, so stealth is no longer an option. You may try to retrieve the object and flee with it, or talk your way out of the situation to (temporarily) avoid combat and perhaps gain another opportunity to try a stealthy approach later. Maybe some other creative idea. But if you try to fight your way through, take the object and then flee, but realize your efforts are in vain and that you're best off surrendering, once you do, you can expect not to be executed on the spot.
A world of our own. There are no modules (as far as I know, but I didn't bother checking) that are built for such a small party. Therefore, the adventure will mostly be homebrewed, and as such, will most likely ( = unless you specifically request so) not be run in any official settings, as I'm not too familiar with any of their intricate details. This also opens up the possibility of homebrewed classes/subclasses/races/whatever, but I can't promise I will approve anything before we start looking into it.
Lower levels, mostly. This is perhaps the least important one of the aspects above, and the one I'm most likely to drop - if I do. I find that in games where the characters are lower leveled, there is often more room for character actions because your toolkit is still small and not everything can be solved with a spell you happen to have prepared. However, since there are only two players, it is possible that at higher levels this won't be less relevant, as I feel it is in larger groups. Thus, if I find things are going well, I will consider higher levels too. Don't expect to start the game anywhere above level 5, however, and most likely, somewhere between levels 1 and 3.
Other companions. You are two players, but you may travel with other companions. Based on your choices mostly, for either short or long periods of time, with either a single individual or a group. I don't plan on recruiting more party members (maybe, at most, just one more if it seems right) so those companions will be NPCs, but the game is about you and not about them. If they accompany you, don't expect them to do a lot for you, or rather, don't expect them to do things without you asking them to. I'm not saying they'll be mindless puppets following you, but if you're presented with a problem, either you need to solve it on your own or I expect you to know how to utilize your companions (ask them to do something specific, direct them) because they either won't or have tried their best and failed.
Additionally, notice that in this game there will be two players, who are expected to (somewhere between mostly and exclusively) stay together throughout the adventure. While this holds for larger groups too, I think having a predefined relationship between the two is crucial for this game to succeed. Just two strangers who met at a tavern and decided to hunt slimes together? Not a very strong bond there. When we build your characters, I will expect you (with my assistance, if needed) to come up with some strong bond between the characters. Some simple examples might include siblings, lovers*, a master-retainer relationship, childhood friends... You get the idea. You can get creative with it, but it will need to be something that holds. *Regarding lovers, do note that I'm not here to play your romantic fantasies. While romance might be part of the game, expect it to be mostly veiled. If the two characters are lovers, don't expect a detailed night in your bedroom to be a part of the game. If your characters aren't lovers but are actively looking for romantic partners, that is fine, but again, don't expect a detailed night in your sheets being part of the game.
So, how does one apply to this game? How do you create a character for a game if you don't know what game you're playing? Well, you don't. I will first pick players, then we will determine what kind of game we want to play, and then create the characters and the settings. I expect I'll see more than exactly two applications, so to pick between them, I'd want to know about you a little. Therefore, to apply please:
Tell me what kind of game you wish to play. What aspects of a typical game do you enjoy the most? What might be themes you will be interested in playing? You don't need to be very detailed but give me a general feel so I can decide whether it fits what I am looking for or not, and additionally, so that I can pair up two players who seek to play a similar type of game.
Respond to exactly one of the prompts found in the spoiler below, as if it were part of the game. The response shouldn't be too long but don't expect one line to nail you a spot. You may use any character you can think of while responding, even one that you aren't looking at playing in this game (in fact, playing as a character you're already familiar with might make it simpler for you, but that's not required of course). You may refer to events as if we all know what they mean (as if they happened in our game recently). In case you want to use a feature (spell, attack, some check, whatever), you may assume any character level you want and use the feature the way you'd use it in-game. I don't need you to build a character to apply, so if for some reason you need to make a roll, apply any arbitrary bonus you deem reasonable. You may also just present the result without rolling in the forum (as if you rolled in your character sheet, or on your own, and are just reporting the result of the roll).
**If you wish to apply as a pair, the username of the person you want to apply with.
** You may apply as a pair, in which case I still want each of you to apply like anyone else, just add your partner's name somewhere at the top/bottom of the application so I know that you are applying together. I can't say whether applying as a pair will give you an advantage or not, it depends on the applications. It will, however, allow you to be sure you'll be playing with someone you think you enjoy playing with. If you want to apply as a pair but don't have one (why though?), you may add "Searching for a partner" at the top of your applications so others can see. But, please, if you want to discuss things between you, do it in private so this thread isn't flooded with multiple conversations of possible pairs.
1. Finally, the candle burnt out, signaling your watch is over. It's been a long day and a long watch. Even with Gobt walking along with you, three watches per night still means every watch is nearly three hours. Fortunately, nothing happened so far. Hopefully, nothing will happen later. You shake Loon awake, asking them to take their watch now. They grunt, but slide out of their bedroll and take their seat by the fire. At least the night isn't as cold as the last one. You slide into your bedroll and, soon, your thoughts fade and give room for dreams to occupy your mind while you sleep. Please describe your dreams tonight.
2. You push Loon up, until you finally feel his weight dropping off as he finds a grip and pulls himself up. So far, you've been quiet, and it doesn't seem like anybody noticed you. You look through the window near you, but the mansion is dark inside. At this hour, everyone should be asleep, so the lack of lights is a good sign. If the two of you get caught here... you're only certain it won't end well. Loon whispers to catch your attention, his hand is stretched down to you, ready to help you out. You take their hand and find a grip for your leg, ready to be pulled up. "One... two... three!" Just as you jump up and expect Loon to pull you, you see Loon falling forward over the ledge and immediately after, feel his weight pull you back down and you both crash down on the balcony, your swords and armor clanking against one another. You stand up quickly, ready to give Loon a piece of your mind when you hear another sound of metal hitting against metal from above you. Looking up, you find yourself facing the boot of a heavily armored knight. You fall back on the ground, the knight standing above you. You have no idea how they noticed you or why would they be on the roof, nor why they are alone. But right now, far more important is not getting skewered by his sword, drawn above you. The knight raises their sword, about the thrust down into your chest, but Loon rams into the knight, pushing them off of you, and they both fall prone, wrestling to stand up while keeping the other down. (Imagine the initiative has been rolled.) It is your turn in combat, you are 10' away from the two of them, on a 20'x10' balcony with stone railings about 4' tall.
Lastly, regarding posting frequency, I value quality over quantity, so I think a post once per 2-3 days is the minimum I strive for. This means that, since we have two players and a DM, there should be a minimum of one new post per day (more or less). Of course, faster is okay if the quality of the posts doesn't drastically drop as a result, and I know people have all sorts of things happen so, if you need more time, I just ask that you tell us in advance so we don't think you're ghosting us. Do note that, if you plan on being absent for months, this may not be the game for you as a game consisting of two players and a DM can't really survive if even one person is gone.
I plan on keeping this thread open for at least a week, so take your time if you need to.
Hey there. This looks really promising - I love the idea of a character-tailored setting!
In response to prompt number 1:
With the day's toils weighing heavily upon his eyelids, Gilymede curls up beside the fire, his long, scaly tail swishing contentedly like a cat's. He coils around the stony brazier, coveting its warmth, and feels at that moment homesick for his own hearth, his family hearth, and for the touch of his mother's hand, and for the deep, comforting timbre of his father's voice. Lost in memory as he is, he slips swiftly through the gates of Dream and finds himself once again in that very familiar place. He knows by the frost upon the windowsill that it is wintertime, and during these dark months few in Torvale eat well. But Gaile, as true a worker of miracles as the town has ever seen, sets two steaming pots upon the table as she summons her family for supper. It smells like rabbit, Gilymede fancies. Within seconds, as though popping out of the very woodwork, one, two, three, four, five young hatchlings appear in the kitchen, tapping their clawed toes excitedly and tugging on Gaile's apron. Gilymede smiles as Gwyn, his eldest sister, rubs little Gawain's scales backward -- a provocation which is met with an aggravated snarl. Before a scuffle can break out, however, Glen, always the diplomat, interposes himself between the two and glances at his mother in a self-congratulatory sort of way. Gilymede moves to join them...
I'm surprised that there aren't a lot more entries by now!
I like games with action, usually combat, but I've played many games with action without combat. One campaign I was in was a group of super detectives. We might have one combat in an entire story arc, or maybe no combat at all. But plenty of action involved with solving cases. So talking to get something, or sneaking where we're not supposed to be are all action.
Where I'm weak is with political intrigue. While my characters might be people orientated, I myself am not, I can handle normal interactions ok, but not the complexities of political situations . Or with remember clues from previous sessions (my memory was never good, and has gotten worse with age).
I like the idea of connecting the characters. In the past I've often connected my character with one of my friends, making them siblings, or lovers (no details beyond them sharing a tent).
As for the fiction piece, this is from the point of view of my namesake character, that my profile name and image are from:
Harknail woke Loon as he requested, saying "It doth be thy turn at watch." Then the ancient warforged settled down to rest. Not being really alive, he didn't sleep as such, and remained aware of his surroundings even while resting, but his attention was directed inwards, reviewing and reinforcing his memories. While he briefly recalled how he had met and connected with Loon, most of his time resting was going over the few years of memories he had before being buried beneath the wizards tower that his team was clearing. It was the hanging onto those memories that kept him sane for however long it was before he could dig his way out. So he once again remembered his time as a town guard, mostly accepted even though he was but a surplus weapon from a war that had ended before he was deployed. He went over each precious memory, ending with the final memories of those trapped underground with him. And their final messages for loved ones that he had not been able to deliver. And as the night came to a close, Harknail followed yet again the final advice he had been given, he prayed to Kord, the god of War.
I'm generally not into heavy combat and tend to enjoy more of the roleplay aspects of the game. I enjoy creative problem solving along with lively and engaging character interaction more than just trying to do damage, and that's usually reflected in my characters.
Responding to prompt #2:
Skold's eyes widen as he sees his best, well, OK, his only friend fighting to get the upper hand with an opponent that clearly has him outmatched. Knowing that the clash of weapons will only bring them more unwanted attention, Skold casts web, hoping that the knight and his heavy armor will make him unable to dodge the spell, and counting on Loon's agility to avoid the knight's fate. Ultimately both combatants become entangled in the webbing, unable to move.
Afraid that the knight will call out to summon reinforcements Skold quickly stuffs a piece of cloth in his mouth and binds his hands, before cutting Loon free of the web.
"We've no wish to kill you," he says quietly, standing behind the knight and speaking into his ear, "but if you call out you'll leave us little choice. Stay quiet and we'll be gone before you know it."
An owl swoops down and settles on his shoulder, a mouse held in one strong talon. Skold looks at him and shakes his head. "Nice of you to join us, Uggla. Perhaps if you had come when I asked instead of going hunting, all this could have been avoided. Stay here and keep on eye on him, let me know if he tries to escape."
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"...at worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Hey FireCat and everyone! I’m interested in a long-format, more writerly pbp game.
A bit about me:
I’m 18+. Calling in from the US east coast (UTC-5). I’m the DM for my in-person games, but I enjoy exploring and playing characters in pbp.
My favorite part of the game is the world-building and storytelling aspect. I really enjoy filling in history and lore, and establishing ties between players and in the game-world itself. I like describing my character’s moves and actions (especially in detailing how magic looks and works / how spells are cast). I also have a tendency to do a lot of internal narration - so your post really spoke to me when I saw it.
All that said, I like to think I'm an engaging and respectful player. I prefer RP over combat, though I don’t mind it here and there in pivotal moments. I’m a big fan of fantasy (all levels) and sci-fi, but most of all I like a well thought-out world - with consistent inner logic and enough depth to have sincere drama and genuine humor amidst all the action.
I’d be interested in a game exploring themes of: identity, politics of colonialism, and morality. For tone, I prefer more Game of Thrones than Lord of the Rings, if that makes sense.
For the prompt response - I used a character I’m currently playing in another campaign (Call of the Netherdeep) for ease of reference. She’s a L6 Gunslinger / L1 Artificer gnome, and has a few custom and magic items in her inventory.
I’m happy to answer questions or provide more detail on anything above. Thanks!
Response to Prompt #1:
Aisha trudges past the banked fires lining the perimeter of the camp, unwinding her long scarf from her face and pulling down her goggles to hang loose around her neck. She trades mumbling “Goodnights” and a short, rude hand signal with Gobt, both of them snickering as they head toward their separate tents. She racks her rifle and wipes off the dust as best she can, before nudging Loon awake for his shift.
Her own bedroll is wedged between Loon’s and the two others, in what would be the ‘short straw’ position if she were bigger. She falls into it with a near-silent grunt, and is asleep almost before the tent flaps closed behind Loon.
The dream is familiar. More memory than dream.
And with repetition, more nightmare than memory.
It’s the Second Battle of Ashguard, when the rocks began to fall. But aside from the deep sense of dread that pervades each moment that’s already happened, Aisha is calm. In the way of dreams, time seems to pass strangely. Her XO’s commands echo slowly across the field, even as her hair whips in the wind and the ground shakes with magic and artillery fire and the force of rock meeting earth. The light is different, too - but not in any way she can explain to herself - only that the glint of metal seems to be everywhere, sparking off her fellow soldiers’ armor in the corners of her vision, no matter where she looks.
“Honeybadger!”
She turns, and LJ is standing there, just where he was. The red-painted “H” on his silver armor is just as it was, bright against the brown and grey of everything else, if a little scratched. He’s smiling, just like he was, the idiot - a golden retriever in a human body.
“The crooked nail gets hammered flat.”
That’s not what he’d said. LJ was human, he didn’t know many Gnomish proverbs, and only over repeated the ones she told him when he was joking around. She might’ve said it once, doesn’t remember if or when. But it wasn’t that day. Not in that moment.
But everything else is the same. Just the same.
Aisha tries to do something different; to stop what’s coming. It’s not that she can’t move, but that she can only repeat her words and movements from that day. She hears herself laugh, slightly high and wild with fear, and shout “Go Dook!”. The stupid battle cry from their hometown. Her last words to him were so infuriatingly dumb and useless, yet she can't make herself say anything else.
The feeling of being trapped in her body makes her mind scream.
LJ’s still smiling. He laughs, just like he had before.
“The crooked nail gets h—“
And then he’s gone. Aisha’s hair whips again as a rock the size of a siege engine smashes into the ground inches to her left, scoring across her left arm where she’d been bracing her hand mortar to fire. Its momentum carries it away, she loses track of where, because LJ isn’t there anymore. He isn’t there, there isn’t anything there except for a crumple of metal smaller than she is and a red smear that could be the “H” from his chest plate. But it doesn’t look like anything. It doesn’t look like anything.
It doesn’t look like anything.
-----
Aisha wakes up feeling like her arm should be on fire.
For long minutes, she breathes, heartbeat ramping down as she slowly comes to. It feels like her left elbow should be fractured in multiple places and bloody with abrasion, but it isn’t. It isn’t, and the only actual change from when she went to sleep is a heavy thickness in her throat. Whether from trying to cry or scream…it doesn’t matter now.
She pushes herself upright, wrapping her (unbroken) arms around her knees. Next to her bedroll, her small boots are lined up with Loon’s mid-size and Rosh’s enormous ones, with Seven on last watch. She stares at them, grateful that she’s long since had to replace the old Brand boots. With a twinge of guilt, she’s even more grateful that her new ones are non-empire. She’s had trouble looking at the King’s symbol lately.
She sighs, scrubbing at her eyes and face. She hasn’t had the Ashguard dream in a while.
The proverb is new. But she could really do without any of it. She wishes they would stop.
To her left, Rosh - a goliath of a tiefling - snores lightly, almost delicately for someone her size. Aisha likes Rosh, and the rest of her team, but she can’t shake the feeling that there’s something missing at her ‘nine’.
That’s not new, though, so she pushes it down, and gets up to start another day.
DM: The Sunless Citadel, Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Death House (One-Shot), Strahd Must Die Tonight! (One-Shot) Player:B'Etor(Lost Mine of Phandelver), Aisha "Honeybadger" Fitzsimmons (Call of the Netherdeep)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Hey there, Firecat5.
In terms of themes and genre, I am not too fussy, with the exception of not being a fan of horror or too gritty or dark a setting. I am not interested in romance either. I enjoy all aspects of the game, from building a character and fleshing them out with a backstory to then seeing them grow throughout the campaign during encounters of a social, exploratory or combat nature (in equal measures is fine). As well as just some good old intra-group interactions and exploring of motivations. I see it as a shared storytelling experience, and interacting with the world around the characters is a big part of that.
For me, the mechanics of the game are a big part of it. I like to use the toolkit of the character in creative and interesting ways, and find levelling up to expand that toolkit satisfying. As well as introducing the odd magic item to the mix here and there when the DM feels generous. I would not be so interested in a campaign that would restrict the characters to a low level. Not that I would expect to get to tier 4 necessarily either. I don't think this conflicts with your potential game characteristic around lower levels, but worth mentioning.
I do prefer it when the campaign is centred on the characters, and when they have a purpose, rather than the more open world exploration side of things or when the characters become an incidental part of the story. Even if the link to the characters and their purpose is not immediately obvious or there are surprises and pivots along the way. Also, I am not one to play an evil character, although I don't mind a bit of an anti hero.
In terms of combat, I prefer to use a map rather than theatre of the mind. Obviously for smaller skirmishes this becomes less of a necessity. I am happy to use discord for out of game chat if that is preferred, but find the forums allow for an easier experience with formatting of in game posts. The forum roller is a bit finicky for me, so tend to use the D&DBeyond campaign itself to make rolls.
I haven't dipped my toe into the 2024 rules as yet, but would be happy to do so if that is your preference.
We have adventured on these forums together before, but that was some time ago.
I have chosen prompt #2 for my response below.
Bryn lets out the breath he had been holding as he waited for the knight's sword to descend, only for Loon to intercede and likely save his life. His face hurt and he could feel the blood begin to accumulate in his mouth from the kick he took. His mind races, as his keen eyes cut through the darkness to scan for shapes on the rooftop to make sure the knight is truly alone. One thought is front and centre, that they were making too much noise. And yet the knight hadn't actually raised an alarm. He rolls onto one knee, and from there stands, as he briefly looks into the window to confirm that all was still dark inside. It wouldn't stay that way for long if this racket continued.
He curses Grinmal under his breath, wondering if she double booked this job on purpose, as he slowly approaches the prone knight. Or worse, had she warned someone of their coming.
He keeps low, grateful that Loon and the knight were also out of view of anyone on the ground who happened to look up.
"Look", he whispers, as he secretly draws the dagger he keeps behind his back. The scimitar at his waist remaining sheathed for now. "We can have at each other, and alert the house guard and likely the watch, or we can take a breath and think this through. I believe you are here for the same reason as us, and even if you aren't, there's no reason we can't make this worth your while and be amicable. Temporarily at least".
As he speaks, he looks the knight over for signs of heraldry, or anything to indicate he is wrong about their purpose. If they were in fact a loyal house guard, things were only going to get worse.
Persuasion: 18 (in case of dice roller issues whilst editing, original roll is 15)
Would like to be considered as a duo with FairIthilien below, having been in a long running campaign together already.
This sounds super cool, and I've never played a duo campaign. Also, I love the idea that everything is so tailored around characters, that is the kind of roleplaying I love the most.
Duo companion: I've spoken with @VolcanoLair and we would like to pair up if possible.
Prompt chosen: #1
Finally, a well-deserved rest. Essi eyed the bedroll, unsure where she found the strength not to collapse onto it fully clothed and armored. But she didn't. She’d been trained better. With a long sigh, she removed her armor and carefully placed it in the corner of the room. It wasn’t the most dignified resting place for those metal pieces she cared so much about, but it was the cleanest and driest spot available, so it would have to do.
Next, she inspected her sword, methodically cleaning and sharpening the blade until she was satisfied. By the time she was finished, nearly an hour had passed—but it was an hour well spent. An hour that ensured her weapons and armor would be ready when she needed them. An hour that, perhaps, might one day save her life—and her companions’ as well.
As she finally lay down, a deep ache settled into Essi’s muscles. Gods above, it had been a long, cold night. She expected sleep to be elusive, but strangely, it came quickly. The quiet helped—Gobt, for once, was breathing softly instead of his usual snoring. Lulled by his uncharacteristic silence and the wind whispering outside, Essi’s thoughts drifted, unraveling into sleep...
...When she opened her eyes, the wind had stopped blowing completely. Night had melted into dawn, and her body no longer ached. Essi found herself within the city walls again, but this time, she was not on patrol. She wasn't even armored, and her weapons were nowhere to be seen. She looked down at herself—she was wearing a gown of the purest white. How strange! She couldn’t even recall the last time she had worn anything so delicate.
Glancing around, everything was familiar yet utterly different. No tension, no screams. No fearful faces. No enemy army at the gates. Only the quiet of a city slowly waking to the morning light. What was this? Was this what cities looked like when they weren’t under siege?
Essi was speechless. She didn't know what to do without a weapon in her hand, without the constant tension keeping her ready for anything. So she simply stood there, looking. At the people passing by, idly chatting. At the sky, the mountains. At the birds flitting between rooftops, their songs unbroken by war. It was so peaceful. So beautiful. How had they even reached this moment? She didn’t know. And, for once, she didn’t care. All she wanted was to cherish it. To hold onto this fragile, impossible dream. She found a place to sit, tilting her face up to the sunlight, letting its warmth soak into her skin...
Waking up was hard. It always was. But it was worse when her dreams took her to this paradise. What did they mean? Was there a chance they could ever become real?
Essi let out a heavy sigh, stretched, and sat up. Gobt was already gone, and for that, she was grateful. She didn’t want him to see the tear she wiped from her cheek.
Kind of game I usually prefer: I think I like almost everything. I guess I'm not into too much horror, and I'm definitely not into a gore story. Beyond that, I think I'm into almost everything.
Question: this will be played on the dndbeyond? That would be my preference, if possible.
Between applications here and in private messages, it seems I have more than I anticipated! As stated, I'll keep this thread open for until one week since I posted it. If anybody's still interested, that means there's a little less than 24 hours left, but you can still apply until then! You'll know recruiting has ended when the "Recruiting" tag is gone.
I don't know how long exactly it would take me to reach a decision, but I'll send a response to the chosen players not later than the end of the weekend.
Meanwhile, since a few of you asked:
1. I plan to run the game on the forums. I find discord to be somewhat uncomfortable for pbp games.
2. Ruleset, at its core, can be either 2014, 2024 or some kind of mix. I'll leave it to the chosen players to decide themselves. Some homebrew rules might or might not be added.
It's been a difficult choice, picking only two of all those great applications. Invitations have been sent to the chosen pair, make sure to check your private messages to see if you got it. If I ever decide to recruit another player to this game, I might consider your applications here first (so don't delete them, unless you don't want to be considered in case that happens).
I hope it works well and is fun for all. Seeing the other applications, I too thought they were better than mine. I'm in many other PBP games, so no regrets. And thanks for letting us know that the selection has been made.
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Hello all.
I am looking for two players to play in a campaign, in which I will be playing the role of the DM. The campaign will mostly revolve around your characters' stories and the relationships between the two of you (and perhaps some key NPCs). In other words, it will be a very character-centered game, which is why I chose to run the game for a very small group.
The game will heavily depend on your characters and their choices. This means several things, but first and foremost, that I haven't prepared anything, yet. I cannot present to you the settings - the theme, the world, restrictions or guidelines for character creation, etc. I want to tailor the game to your characters, but I don't know them yet! Only once I know what kind of game you want to play will I be able to start building it.
With that said, I don't expect you to go in blind and then discover you don't like my style which will, inevitably, be apparent in any game I run. Therefore, I tried listing below a few characteristics of the game I have in mind. They may not all characterize the game we build together, but expect at least some of them to:
I emphasized social situations because this is an important pillar of this kind of game, but the same applies to other situations. In general, I want you to show, not tell (and will try my best to do the same).
Additionally, notice that in this game there will be two players, who are expected to (somewhere between mostly and exclusively) stay together throughout the adventure. While this holds for larger groups too, I think having a predefined relationship between the two is crucial for this game to succeed. Just two strangers who met at a tavern and decided to hunt slimes together? Not a very strong bond there. When we build your characters, I will expect you (with my assistance, if needed) to come up with some strong bond between the characters. Some simple examples might include siblings, lovers*, a master-retainer relationship, childhood friends... You get the idea. You can get creative with it, but it will need to be something that holds.
*Regarding lovers, do note that I'm not here to play your romantic fantasies. While romance might be part of the game, expect it to be mostly veiled. If the two characters are lovers, don't expect a detailed night in your bedroom to be a part of the game. If your characters aren't lovers but are actively looking for romantic partners, that is fine, but again, don't expect a detailed night in your sheets being part of the game.
So, how does one apply to this game? How do you create a character for a game if you don't know what game you're playing? Well, you don't. I will first pick players, then we will determine what kind of game we want to play, and then create the characters and the settings. I expect I'll see more than exactly two applications, so to pick between them, I'd want to know about you a little. Therefore, to apply please:
** You may apply as a pair, in which case I still want each of you to apply like anyone else, just add your partner's name somewhere at the top/bottom of the application so I know that you are applying together. I can't say whether applying as a pair will give you an advantage or not, it depends on the applications. It will, however, allow you to be sure you'll be playing with someone you think you enjoy playing with. If you want to apply as a pair but don't have one (why though?), you may add "Searching for a partner" at the top of your applications so others can see. But, please, if you want to discuss things between you, do it in private so this thread isn't flooded with multiple conversations of possible pairs.
1. Finally, the candle burnt out, signaling your watch is over. It's been a long day and a long watch. Even with Gobt walking along with you, three watches per night still means every watch is nearly three hours. Fortunately, nothing happened so far. Hopefully, nothing will happen later. You shake Loon awake, asking them to take their watch now. They grunt, but slide out of their bedroll and take their seat by the fire. At least the night isn't as cold as the last one. You slide into your bedroll and, soon, your thoughts fade and give room for dreams to occupy your mind while you sleep.
Please describe your dreams tonight.
2. You push Loon up, until you finally feel his weight dropping off as he finds a grip and pulls himself up. So far, you've been quiet, and it doesn't seem like anybody noticed you. You look through the window near you, but the mansion is dark inside. At this hour, everyone should be asleep, so the lack of lights is a good sign. If the two of you get caught here... you're only certain it won't end well. Loon whispers to catch your attention, his hand is stretched down to you, ready to help you out. You take their hand and find a grip for your leg, ready to be pulled up. "One... two... three!"
Just as you jump up and expect Loon to pull you, you see Loon falling forward over the ledge and immediately after, feel his weight pull you back down and you both crash down on the balcony, your swords and armor clanking against one another. You stand up quickly, ready to give Loon a piece of your mind when you hear another sound of metal hitting against metal from above you. Looking up, you find yourself facing the boot of a heavily armored knight.
You fall back on the ground, the knight standing above you. You have no idea how they noticed you or why would they be on the roof, nor why they are alone. But right now, far more important is not getting skewered by his sword, drawn above you. The knight raises their sword, about the thrust down into your chest, but Loon rams into the knight, pushing them off of you, and they both fall prone, wrestling to stand up while keeping the other down.
(Imagine the initiative has been rolled.) It is your turn in combat, you are 10' away from the two of them, on a 20'x10' balcony with stone railings about 4' tall.
Lastly, regarding posting frequency, I value quality over quantity, so I think a post once per 2-3 days is the minimum I strive for. This means that, since we have two players and a DM, there should be a minimum of one new post per day (more or less). Of course, faster is okay if the quality of the posts doesn't drastically drop as a result, and I know people have all sorts of things happen so, if you need more time, I just ask that you tell us in advance so we don't think you're ghosting us. Do note that, if you plan on being absent for months, this may not be the game for you as a game consisting of two players and a DM can't really survive if even one person is gone.
I plan on keeping this thread open for at least a week, so take your time if you need to.
Varielky
Hey there. This looks really promising - I love the idea of a character-tailored setting!
In response to prompt number 1:
With the day's toils weighing heavily upon his eyelids, Gilymede curls up beside the fire, his long, scaly tail swishing contentedly like a cat's. He coils around the stony brazier, coveting its warmth, and feels at that moment homesick for his own hearth, his family hearth, and for the touch of his mother's hand, and for the deep, comforting timbre of his father's voice. Lost in memory as he is, he slips swiftly through the gates of Dream and finds himself once again in that very familiar place. He knows by the frost upon the windowsill that it is wintertime, and during these dark months few in Torvale eat well. But Gaile, as true a worker of miracles as the town has ever seen, sets two steaming pots upon the table as she summons her family for supper. It smells like rabbit, Gilymede fancies. Within seconds, as though popping out of the very woodwork, one, two, three, four, five young hatchlings appear in the kitchen, tapping their clawed toes excitedly and tugging on Gaile's apron. Gilymede smiles as Gwyn, his eldest sister, rubs little Gawain's scales backward -- a provocation which is met with an aggravated snarl. Before a scuffle can break out, however, Glen, always the diplomat, interposes himself between the two and glances at his mother in a self-congratulatory sort of way. Gilymede moves to join them...
But something holds him back.
I really hope I'm picked for this:))
Hi there! I'm a Christian musician based in Canada :)
I'm surprised that there aren't a lot more entries by now!
I like games with action, usually combat, but I've played many games with action without combat. One campaign I was in was a group of super detectives. We might have one combat in an entire story arc, or maybe no combat at all. But plenty of action involved with solving cases. So talking to get something, or sneaking where we're not supposed to be are all action.
Where I'm weak is with political intrigue. While my characters might be people orientated, I myself am not, I can handle normal interactions ok, but not the complexities of political situations . Or with remember clues from previous sessions (my memory was never good, and has gotten worse with age).
I like the idea of connecting the characters. In the past I've often connected my character with one of my friends, making them siblings, or lovers (no details beyond them sharing a tent).
As for the fiction piece, this is from the point of view of my namesake character, that my profile name and image are from:
Harknail woke Loon as he requested, saying "It doth be thy turn at watch." Then the ancient warforged settled down to rest. Not being really alive, he didn't sleep as such, and remained aware of his surroundings even while resting, but his attention was directed inwards, reviewing and reinforcing his memories. While he briefly recalled how he had met and connected with Loon, most of his time resting was going over the few years of memories he had before being buried beneath the wizards tower that his team was clearing. It was the hanging onto those memories that kept him sane for however long it was before he could dig his way out. So he once again remembered his time as a town guard, mostly accepted even though he was but a surplus weapon from a war that had ended before he was deployed. He went over each precious memory, ending with the final memories of those trapped underground with him. And their final messages for loved ones that he had not been able to deliver. And as the night came to a close, Harknail followed yet again the final advice he had been given, he prayed to Kord, the god of War.
I'm generally not into heavy combat and tend to enjoy more of the roleplay aspects of the game. I enjoy creative problem solving along with lively and engaging character interaction more than just trying to do damage, and that's usually reflected in my characters.
Responding to prompt #2:
Skold's eyes widen as he sees his best, well, OK, his only friend fighting to get the upper hand with an opponent that clearly has him outmatched. Knowing that the clash of weapons will only bring them more unwanted attention, Skold casts web, hoping that the knight and his heavy armor will make him unable to dodge the spell, and counting on Loon's agility to avoid the knight's fate. Ultimately both combatants become entangled in the webbing, unable to move.
Afraid that the knight will call out to summon reinforcements Skold quickly stuffs a piece of cloth in his mouth and binds his hands, before cutting Loon free of the web.
"We've no wish to kill you," he says quietly, standing behind the knight and speaking into his ear, "but if you call out you'll leave us little choice. Stay quiet and we'll be gone before you know it."
An owl swoops down and settles on his shoulder, a mouse held in one strong talon. Skold looks at him and shakes his head. "Nice of you to join us, Uggla. Perhaps if you had come when I asked instead of going hunting, all this could have been avoided. Stay here and keep on eye on him, let me know if he tries to escape."
"...at worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Hey FireCat and everyone! I’m interested in a long-format, more writerly pbp game.
A bit about me:
I’m 18+. Calling in from the US east coast (UTC-5). I’m the DM for my in-person games, but I enjoy exploring and playing characters in pbp.
My favorite part of the game is the world-building and storytelling aspect. I really enjoy filling in history and lore, and establishing ties between players and in the game-world itself. I like describing my character’s moves and actions (especially in detailing how magic looks and works / how spells are cast). I also have a tendency to do a lot of internal narration - so your post really spoke to me when I saw it.
All that said, I like to think I'm an engaging and respectful player. I prefer RP over combat, though I don’t mind it here and there in pivotal moments. I’m a big fan of fantasy (all levels) and sci-fi, but most of all I like a well thought-out world - with consistent inner logic and enough depth to have sincere drama and genuine humor amidst all the action.
I’d be interested in a game exploring themes of: identity, politics of colonialism, and morality. For tone, I prefer more Game of Thrones than Lord of the Rings, if that makes sense.
For the prompt response - I used a character I’m currently playing in another campaign (Call of the Netherdeep) for ease of reference. She’s a L6 Gunslinger / L1 Artificer gnome, and has a few custom and magic items in her inventory.
I’m happy to answer questions or provide more detail on anything above. Thanks!
Response to Prompt #1:
Aisha trudges past the banked fires lining the perimeter of the camp, unwinding her long scarf from her face and pulling down her goggles to hang loose around her neck. She trades mumbling “Goodnights” and a short, rude hand signal with Gobt, both of them snickering as they head toward their separate tents. She racks her rifle and wipes off the dust as best she can, before nudging Loon awake for his shift.
Her own bedroll is wedged between Loon’s and the two others, in what would be the ‘short straw’ position if she were bigger. She falls into it with a near-silent grunt, and is asleep almost before the tent flaps closed behind Loon.
The dream is familiar. More memory than dream.
And with repetition, more nightmare than memory.
It’s the Second Battle of Ashguard, when the rocks began to fall. But aside from the deep sense of dread that pervades each moment that’s already happened, Aisha is calm. In the way of dreams, time seems to pass strangely. Her XO’s commands echo slowly across the field, even as her hair whips in the wind and the ground shakes with magic and artillery fire and the force of rock meeting earth. The light is different, too - but not in any way she can explain to herself - only that the glint of metal seems to be everywhere, sparking off her fellow soldiers’ armor in the corners of her vision, no matter where she looks.
“Honeybadger!”
She turns, and LJ is standing there, just where he was. The red-painted “H” on his silver armor is just as it was, bright against the brown and grey of everything else, if a little scratched. He’s smiling, just like he was, the idiot - a golden retriever in a human body.
“The crooked nail gets hammered flat.”
That’s not what he’d said. LJ was human, he didn’t know many Gnomish proverbs, and only over repeated the ones she told him when he was joking around. She might’ve said it once, doesn’t remember if or when. But it wasn’t that day. Not in that moment.
But everything else is the same. Just the same.
Aisha tries to do something different; to stop what’s coming. It’s not that she can’t move, but that she can only repeat her words and movements from that day. She hears herself laugh, slightly high and wild with fear, and shout “Go Dook!”. The stupid battle cry from their hometown. Her last words to him were so infuriatingly dumb and useless, yet she can't make herself say anything else.
The feeling of being trapped in her body makes her mind scream.
LJ’s still smiling. He laughs, just like he had before.
“The crooked nail gets h—“
And then he’s gone. Aisha’s hair whips again as a rock the size of a siege engine smashes into the ground inches to her left, scoring across her left arm where she’d been bracing her hand mortar to fire. Its momentum carries it away, she loses track of where, because LJ isn’t there anymore. He isn’t there, there isn’t anything there except for a crumple of metal smaller than she is and a red smear that could be the “H” from his chest plate. But it doesn’t look like anything. It doesn’t look like anything.
It doesn’t look like anything.
-----
Aisha wakes up feeling like her arm should be on fire.
For long minutes, she breathes, heartbeat ramping down as she slowly comes to. It feels like her left elbow should be fractured in multiple places and bloody with abrasion, but it isn’t. It isn’t, and the only actual change from when she went to sleep is a heavy thickness in her throat. Whether from trying to cry or scream…it doesn’t matter now.
She pushes herself upright, wrapping her (unbroken) arms around her knees. Next to her bedroll, her small boots are lined up with Loon’s mid-size and Rosh’s enormous ones, with Seven on last watch. She stares at them, grateful that she’s long since had to replace the old Brand boots. With a twinge of guilt, she’s even more grateful that her new ones are non-empire. She’s had trouble looking at the King’s symbol lately.
She sighs, scrubbing at her eyes and face. She hasn’t had the Ashguard dream in a while.
The proverb is new. But she could really do without any of it. She wishes they would stop.
To her left, Rosh - a goliath of a tiefling - snores lightly, almost delicately for someone her size. Aisha likes Rosh, and the rest of her team, but she can’t shake the feeling that there’s something missing at her ‘nine’.
That’s not new, though, so she pushes it down, and gets up to start another day.
DM: The Sunless Citadel, Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Death House (One-Shot), Strahd Must Die Tonight! (One-Shot)
Player: B'Etor (Lost Mine of Phandelver), Aisha "Honeybadger" Fitzsimmons (Call of the Netherdeep)
I've been told I am a Hobbit.
Hey there, Firecat5.
In terms of themes and genre, I am not too fussy, with the exception of not being a fan of horror or too gritty or dark a setting. I am not interested in romance either. I enjoy all aspects of the game, from building a character and fleshing them out with a backstory to then seeing them grow throughout the campaign during encounters of a social, exploratory or combat nature (in equal measures is fine). As well as just some good old intra-group interactions and exploring of motivations. I see it as a shared storytelling experience, and interacting with the world around the characters is a big part of that.
For me, the mechanics of the game are a big part of it. I like to use the toolkit of the character in creative and interesting ways, and find levelling up to expand that toolkit satisfying. As well as introducing the odd magic item to the mix here and there when the DM feels generous. I would not be so interested in a campaign that would restrict the characters to a low level. Not that I would expect to get to tier 4 necessarily either. I don't think this conflicts with your potential game characteristic around lower levels, but worth mentioning.
I do prefer it when the campaign is centred on the characters, and when they have a purpose, rather than the more open world exploration side of things or when the characters become an incidental part of the story. Even if the link to the characters and their purpose is not immediately obvious or there are surprises and pivots along the way. Also, I am not one to play an evil character, although I don't mind a bit of an anti hero.
In terms of combat, I prefer to use a map rather than theatre of the mind. Obviously for smaller skirmishes this becomes less of a necessity. I am happy to use discord for out of game chat if that is preferred, but find the forums allow for an easier experience with formatting of in game posts. The forum roller is a bit finicky for me, so tend to use the D&DBeyond campaign itself to make rolls.
I haven't dipped my toe into the 2024 rules as yet, but would be happy to do so if that is your preference.
We have adventured on these forums together before, but that was some time ago.
I have chosen prompt #2 for my response below.
Bryn lets out the breath he had been holding as he waited for the knight's sword to descend, only for Loon to intercede and likely save his life. His face hurt and he could feel the blood begin to accumulate in his mouth from the kick he took. His mind races, as his keen eyes cut through the darkness to scan for shapes on the rooftop to make sure the knight is truly alone. One thought is front and centre, that they were making too much noise. And yet the knight hadn't actually raised an alarm. He rolls onto one knee, and from there stands, as he briefly looks into the window to confirm that all was still dark inside. It wouldn't stay that way for long if this racket continued.
He curses Grinmal under his breath, wondering if she double booked this job on purpose, as he slowly approaches the prone knight. Or worse, had she warned someone of their coming.
He keeps low, grateful that Loon and the knight were also out of view of anyone on the ground who happened to look up.
"Look", he whispers, as he secretly draws the dagger he keeps behind his back. The scimitar at his waist remaining sheathed for now. "We can have at each other, and alert the house guard and likely the watch, or we can take a breath and think this through. I believe you are here for the same reason as us, and even if you aren't, there's no reason we can't make this worth your while and be amicable. Temporarily at least".
As he speaks, he looks the knight over for signs of heraldry, or anything to indicate he is wrong about their purpose. If they were in fact a loyal house guard, things were only going to get worse.
Persuasion: 18 (in case of dice roller issues whilst editing, original roll is 15)
Would like to be considered as a duo with FairIthilien below, having been in a long running campaign together already.
Hi!
This sounds super cool, and I've never played a duo campaign. Also, I love the idea that everything is so tailored around characters, that is the kind of roleplaying I love the most.
Duo companion: I've spoken with @VolcanoLair and we would like to pair up if possible.
Prompt chosen: #1
Finally, a well-deserved rest. Essi eyed the bedroll, unsure where she found the strength not to collapse onto it fully clothed and armored. But she didn't. She’d been trained better. With a long sigh, she removed her armor and carefully placed it in the corner of the room. It wasn’t the most dignified resting place for those metal pieces she cared so much about, but it was the cleanest and driest spot available, so it would have to do.
Next, she inspected her sword, methodically cleaning and sharpening the blade until she was satisfied. By the time she was finished, nearly an hour had passed—but it was an hour well spent. An hour that ensured her weapons and armor would be ready when she needed them. An hour that, perhaps, might one day save her life—and her companions’ as well.
As she finally lay down, a deep ache settled into Essi’s muscles. Gods above, it had been a long, cold night. She expected sleep to be elusive, but strangely, it came quickly. The quiet helped—Gobt, for once, was breathing softly instead of his usual snoring. Lulled by his uncharacteristic silence and the wind whispering outside, Essi’s thoughts drifted, unraveling into sleep...
...When she opened her eyes, the wind had stopped blowing completely. Night had melted into dawn, and her body no longer ached. Essi found herself within the city walls again, but this time, she was not on patrol. She wasn't even armored, and her weapons were nowhere to be seen. She looked down at herself—she was wearing a gown of the purest white. How strange! She couldn’t even recall the last time she had worn anything so delicate.
Glancing around, everything was familiar yet utterly different. No tension, no screams. No fearful faces. No enemy army at the gates. Only the quiet of a city slowly waking to the morning light. What was this? Was this what cities looked like when they weren’t under siege?
Essi was speechless. She didn't know what to do without a weapon in her hand, without the constant tension keeping her ready for anything. So she simply stood there, looking. At the people passing by, idly chatting. At the sky, the mountains. At the birds flitting between rooftops, their songs unbroken by war. It was so peaceful. So beautiful. How had they even reached this moment? She didn’t know. And, for once, she didn’t care. All she wanted was to cherish it. To hold onto this fragile, impossible dream. She found a place to sit, tilting her face up to the sunlight, letting its warmth soak into her skin...
Waking up was hard. It always was. But it was worse when her dreams took her to this paradise. What did they mean? Was there a chance they could ever become real?
Essi let out a heavy sigh, stretched, and sat up. Gobt was already gone, and for that, she was grateful. She didn’t want him to see the tear she wiped from her cheek.
Kind of game I usually prefer: I think I like almost everything. I guess I'm not into too much horror, and I'm definitely not into a gore story. Beyond that, I think I'm into almost everything.
Question: this will be played on the dndbeyond? That would be my preference, if possible.
Thanks!
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Hello again,
Between applications here and in private messages, it seems I have more than I anticipated! As stated, I'll keep this thread open for until one week since I posted it. If anybody's still interested, that means there's a little less than 24 hours left, but you can still apply until then! You'll know recruiting has ended when the "Recruiting" tag is gone.
I don't know how long exactly it would take me to reach a decision, but I'll send a response to the chosen players not later than the end of the weekend.
Meanwhile, since a few of you asked:
1. I plan to run the game on the forums. I find discord to be somewhat uncomfortable for pbp games.
2. Ruleset, at its core, can be either 2014, 2024 or some kind of mix. I'll leave it to the chosen players to decide themselves. Some homebrew rules might or might not be added.
Varielky
Hello all,
It's been a difficult choice, picking only two of all those great applications. Invitations have been sent to the chosen pair, make sure to check your private messages to see if you got it. If I ever decide to recruit another player to this game, I might consider your applications here first (so don't delete them, unless you don't want to be considered in case that happens).
Varielky
I hope it works well and is fun for all. Seeing the other applications, I too thought they were better than mine. I'm in many other PBP games, so no regrets. And thanks for letting us know that the selection has been made.