Game Setting

1. Game setting will be Forgotten Realms, based loosely on the v. 3.5 sourcebooks. Year will be 1383 DR, 2 years before the cataclysmic Spellplague on Faerun which was heralded by the introduction of 4th edition.
  1a. Game will begin in Damara.

2. While the game will generally be accurate to the setting some creative liberty will occur. Therefore, the game should not be held to be 100% accurate to the setting politically, religiously, historically or otherwise.

3. Game will follow a branching linear plot with decisions made by the party affecting the theme and direction of the game.


Game Style

1. Game will be played using the standard Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition ruleset. For allowed sourcebooks and banned material please refer to the RTJ & Character Creation thread.

2. While I am an experienced DM, the vast majority of that experience has been with v. 3.5 since its release. I am open to discussion about rulings and decisions however, I will almost always err on the side of the written rules and errata.
 2a. That said, on all matters related to the rules and other mechanics the DM has the final say. If you do not agree with how a situation was handled or a ruling made, message the DM privately to address your concern. I will consider what you have to say and may alter the previous decision but am under no obligation to do so.

3. Player Character Death: In the event of a PC death the player will be able to create a character at the level of their previous character with experience reset to the base for that level. The characters non-magical equipment will be sold and all gold used to fund their funeral and memorial expenses. Any magic items stay with the party for their distribution.
  3a. While I will not go out of my way to kill off PC's please be aware that actions have consequences. The PC's start as fledgeling 2nd level adventurers and there are many, many threats and powerful beings in Faerun. Intelligent foes can be expected to act intelligently, NPC's may flee, fight to the death or bargain and beg for their lives.

3. For at least the first Chapter of the game there will be an emphasis on roleplaying over combat. If I was to grade my expectations for the game, I would estimate 60% roleplaying, 30% combat 10% puzzle. (i.e Roughly for every 100 posts you can expect that amount of activity.)

4. Campaign will proceed as a Chapter progression; experience will be awarded at certain Chapter milestones. The amount of experience awarded will be based on (in order of importance) roleplaying, party interactions, combat and ingenuity. All characters will be awarded the same experience amount.
  4a. Note well before applying: This will not be a fast-paced game for character advancement.

5. Posting Rate: An expected availability from players to post at least every second day with more attention during combat. Play-by-post combat can drag on and while I understand that players want to use their cool powers and gain treasures it is no fun for anyone if it takes two weeks to end one turn. Your character may be NPC'd or take no action if other players are left waiting on your post.
  5a. As a DM I currently have availability daily weekdays as I am fortunate enough to be able to post from work. I may have time over the weekends, but it will likely be unreliable. I will hold myself to maintain the posting rate of the group. If the pace progresses quicker than three posts per week then I expect I should be able to maintain the same. (Subject to change.)
  5b. I do not want to limit posting but please use common sense. If you are sharing a scene with other PC's please allow suitable time for them to reply before moving on. If two PC's are in a scene alone, or in conversation then there is no need to limit their posts.

6. If you will be unavailable to post for one week or more please post your absence in the OOC thread. If you do not post for one week without notifying of an absence your character will be NPC'd and I will PM you, if I have no response after a further week your character will be written out of the game and a new player and character found. Any player whose character is removed from the game this way will not be allowed to re-join.

7. Posting Style: Choose a color for your character's speech, ensuring it is unique from any other player. Orange and Yellow will be used by NPC's. Use "quotation marks" for plain speech, italics for thoughts and small for whispers.

8. This is a reminder to please ensure you have read all available threads before submitting a RTJ, I do not want to go through dozens of copy/pasted characters and it will be characters that are created with the setting and starting location in mind that will be more likely to be approved. Please put the word snowman somewhere in your RTJ so I know you have read over the available threads.

9. This game is marked as Mature and the RPoL Mature Games Policy is in effect.



Posting

1. Dice rolls are to be made with the RPoL dice roller and copied in orange to the bottom of the relevent post.

2. If, as a part of a post, a player wants to make an ability check you are welcome to go ahead and make a roll. Please paste the reason and the result at the bottom of your post in orange colored text.
  2a. Otherwise I will PM you to make a check if I feel one is needed to continue.

3. Language Groups are active
  When posting:
  Click 'Insert a private line'
  Select language you want to speak under 'The Language Group'
  Enter your speech as you would a normal private line
  RPoL will scramble the speech for anyone who does not speak the language


House Rules & Clarifications

1. D&D Beyond
  You will need a free D&D Beyond account to play in this game. I will be using my Master Tier subscription content sharing to allow all players (and myself) to create and manage their character in this campaign online through the D&D Beyond Website and App.
  If approved, as long as you are a player in this campaign you will have digital access to:
The Player’s Handbook, Volo's Guide to Monsters, Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, Xanathar's Guide to Everything and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.

2. A character is able to assist another in an ability check, providing advantage, if the situation warrants it.

3. A character is able to assist another in a skill check, providing advantage, if the situation warrants it.

4. Resting
  4a. Long Rest
A long rest is a period of extended downtime, at least 8 hours long, during which a character sleeps for 6 hours (Elves meditate for 4) and may perform light activity: reading, talking, eating, or standing watch for no more than 2 hours (Elves 4). If the rest is interrupted by a period of strenuous activity–at least 1 hour of walking, fighting, casting spells, or similar adventuring activity–the characters must begin the rest again to gain any benefit from it.
  4b. Short Rest
A Short Rest is a period of downtime, at least 1 hour long, during which a character does nothing more strenuous than eating, drinking, reading, and tending to wounds.

5. Donning/Doffing Armor
  Characters will always be assumed to have their armor worn unless a situation specifically calls for it to be removed. (ie. attending a ballroom dance or a formal dinner with a Duke) Worn armor will likely never be an issue and it will not affect resting. We will all just assume you are taking care of hygiene so you don't stink up the party. This is a mechanical rule, if players want to roleplay donning/doffing armor then go for it!

6. Ammunition
  It will always be assumed you have enough basic ammunition (arrows, bolts, sling stones) for an adventure. Just record a single stack on your character sheet and they will not deplete.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:27, Sun 18 July 2021.