Hello, I'm running a group through a homebrew setting and they're just getting into the meat of the first story arc. Unfortunately one of the players had unexpected scheduling issues come up and can't commit to playing consistently anymore. He may join when possible, but we need a player that can play at least biweekly if not weekly. We are committed to developing a long-running campaign, so we are flexible with schedules. About the world - the setting is a little darker than the Forgotten Realms lore. I've build most of the world from scratch, though it's not all set in stone.  The pantheon of gods that are worshipped are archetypal, meaning they don't have specific names or personifications - they all have domains of reality that they control. I can give more specific information to characters whose backstories might allow for it or based on in-game study/rolls/conversation. Known history on the continent you'll start on goes back about 1000 years. Again, some of this would require proficiencies/rolls/etc. but in general most "civilized" folk know the jist. In the beginning, storms that lasted for years ravaged the land, making it impossible for humans to build settlements. Orcs did just fine. Dwarves began construction of a hold under the continent's largest mountain and provided refuge for various other races - humans, gnomes, halflings, and a small population of elves. After the storms subsided, humans were able to build settlements and spread across the continent. They built large cities made with stone walls and were able to fend off the orc tribes that had laid claim to most of the land. There was a time of peace before war erupted between humans and dwarves - the specifics are lost on most common folk but all know that the humans won and demanded reparations from the dwarven hold, which they still pay after 300 years. Not long afterwards, reports came of humans giving birth to horned children with evil eyes and frightening powers (Tieflings). No one is sure how or why these creatures are born to human parents but they are universally hated.  Up to this point, there have been three major human cities established on the continent all acting as independent city-states. At the time the campaign will start, these three cities will have just recently (in the last month) formed an actual nation. Most would know that one of the cities agreed to this without issue, the other put up some kind of a fight but lost. There are no limitations on race/class as far as character creation choices, however there will be implications for some choices. For instance, I have specific lore for warforged and will need to speak with players who want to play them about their backstory. Similarly, exotic races like Tabaxi and Aaracokra do exist and are playable but are unheard of - they come from a land that is thousands of miles away. That means that we need to come up with a reason why they've ended up on this continent. Civilization is young and no one in any of the cultures in the starting region has developed the means to explore into the oceans.  I have maps and things as well, information on specific regions etc. They are by no means at all professional quality but I do what I can with Inkarnate. I want to create an engaging and immersive world but I don't charge for games and have a real job to keep up with so I can't go full Tolkien.  The game is starting in a darker kind of setting - there will be racial issues, regulations on magic, etc. As a DM I am very narrative driven, meaning I want to create scenes with dramatic tension that tell a good story. I see the combat and all the mechanics as tools to use toward that end. This means challenging players to come up with ideas to make their characters dynamic and interesting. If you guys are looking for a pure dungeon-crawling experience where you just kill monsters, level up, and get loot - then I may not be the DM for you. Finally, I am allowing all published content, I'm ok with "reskinning" things that do not effect mechanics, but any homebrew rules/features/etc. will be developed throughout the game, not at character creation. I just find it way easier as a DM to stick to the written rules just from a game management perspective. You'll be starting at level 3 and we are hoping to play again this Friday, 10/8. Discord: Ajax War-Rocket#3524