Expedition to Sleeper Island - a D&D 5e West Marches Campaign

[Koreapsu]

Expedition to Sleeper Island

https://discord.gg/KJwP5hK

Game Details

FG License: GMs have ultimate – you can play for free.
Game System: D&D 5e

Time Zone: All
Day of week and time: Any

Planned Frequency: You can play as much as you want.
Term:Long term with the ability to sign in and out of the campaign for periods.

Text or Voice: Voice for the majority, text for some RP outside turns or mechanics
Voice software used: Discord

Roleplay & Combat mix: 50/50. This type of game is more exploration/combat than RP/combat. Town encounters will be at a minimum so RP will be characters dealing with problems in the field rather than swindling a merchant. There will be quite a few DMs so play style will vary.
Number of Players in game & needed: We have about 300 atm, but the more the merrier. Looking for DMs and players.
Character starting level & equipment: 1st level, standard gear for background and class.
Character restrictions: Core rules from all official releases (PHB, Volos, DMG, SCAG, EE, Adventure Supplements, Xans) UA sub-classes but single class only for UA.

Details of your scenario:
In a West Marches campaign you start in a border city on the edge of a frontier. To the west is Katashaka, to the east is ocean. The fortified village you're in is populated but these people are not the explorers - you are. You can't go to the local sage and ask him about that lost temple you've heard about, you just have to visit it yourself. All the clues are found to the west, all the lore is to the west, all the fun is to the west.. There is no adventure to be had in the village, it's just the restocking and staging point for adventure to the west.
You'll start out on the edge of a huge map that will roughly scale in level as you move away from the city. This doesn't mean it'll be linear, just that you won't walk out in a dragon's den at level 1. That said the rule of thumb is that deadly areas can happen inside any zone but these areas are either well known and obvious (so you can choose to avoid them), or hidden and mysterious (so you really have to be looking to find them). Each area (let's say the Blackheart Woods) has its own history, flora, and fauna. On the borders you might find creatures from one area crossing over (goblins from a forest might raid the mountains etc).
The setting is organic, so think about what happens when you leave a zone? Does that old ruin stay empty never to be seen again? Or does a new set of creatures take up residence and use it as their base of operations? "Clearing out" a dungeon isn't permanent and areas will have places you're just too low level to access (through locked doors, traps, monsters, magic etc) so you'll want to return to clear out that room at the end of the dungeon you couldn't get into.

How it Works
Lots of people are busy and have busy lives and wives (and husbands). This kind of game will lend itself to the person with time, or the one with very little.
Content will be created as DMs post missions. You are also free to suggest missions yourself and DMs are encouraged to use these leads.

So when you turn up back in town you can jump on the table in the tavern and brag to the people that couldn't make it to the session about the amazing loot you found and the awesome monsters you defeated. Or maybe you talk to the others and try to work out a different party composition so that you can get past that group of black puddings in the last room with the mysterious chest. The next time you go out you could be in a group with these people (who want some of that loot).

Play as Much as you Want
Want to play twice a week? No problem - arrange a group. Can only make it once a month? No worries you can still join in, you'll just be sitting in the tavern a bit waiting for the others. You'll go through a lot of ale. There be a base level set, so you'll never be too far behind the others,

Shared Resources
DMs will set up some online resources that you can edit – They’ll NEVER edit them. This part is up to the players- if you don't share info you'll have no leads to follow. The map is yours.

The Map
There'll be a map and you'll want to add in any locations you discover on your quests so that others can check them out too - or so you can go back. You are mapping the frontier. Anyone will be able to edit the map and add in notes etc.

The in game map was explained brilliantly by the guy that invented the system:

The other major way information was shared was the table map. When the expedition first started you heard a rumor that years ago when other adventurers had tried their luck exploring the West Marches, they had sat in the taproom of the Axe & Thistle to compare notes. While trying to describe an area of the wilds, a few thirsty patrons had scratched out a simple map on the top of the table (an X here, a line here). Over time others started adding bits, cleaning it up, and before long it had grown from some scratches to a detailed map carved into most of the surface of the table showing forests, creeks, caves, ominous warnings, etc. Where was that table now? Gone, but no one was sure where — maybe carried off as a souvenir, smashed in a brawl and used for kindling, or perhaps just thrown out after it was too scratched to rest a drink flatly.


Play Style
The frontier is deadly. Those that survive reap great rewards, but most don't survive. Many characters will die and will be remembered at the Axe &Thistle over an ale. Traditionally West Marches campaigns are played with all DM dice showing - there are NO FUDGED ROLLS. If the dice say you die, you die. In this story you aren't the heroes, you're the explorers - and explorers get eaten by bears.

tl:dr - you get to adventure on the frontier of a living, evolving world with a mixed group of people each time (or the same people every time) and then brag about your success to the poor saps that couldn't make that session.

Calendars are so old school, we prefer Discord - https://discord.gg/KJwP5hK
So who's keen?

[happywhisp]

I am in! Thx)

[Freedowl]

Count me in

[Koreapsu]

Jump in the Discord fellas (if you haven't already).

[Koreapsu]

We've got about 55. Still looking for more.

Come join the fun. There's plenty of room in the pool!

[Thozi]

Hey this sounds like an interesting concept im down if your still looking. Discord link didnt work

[ANerdNamedLomax]

I've sent you a PM

[Koreapsu]

Fixed the broken discord link. If its broken again just PM me and I'll add you.

[Koreapsu]

Character Creation Session 1 - UTC 2am - 4am Oct 12. USA Friendly Time.

https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/?qm=1...0-12&sln=15-17

This will be your first chance to roll dice and get you character going.

Still room for more people.

[Koreapsu]

Lots of characters rolled up but our first session is still 10 days away. Room for more fresh mea...brave adventurers!

https://discord.gg/R9wgdt