DM LFP

I will begin running D&D games on roll20 in about a month. I have almost 20 years of experience running games. At this time, I'm looking for interested players for a published module. If you're interested in participating, please state which module you'd like to play and what particular roll20 perks you'd like to see. At this time, I'm using dynamic lightning only, but I will expand if there is enough interest in play. Play will occur about every 2 weeks. I can also send a copy of my house rules. I focus on story first and foremost. 

Hey there, MB.  I'm Matt.  Let me tell you a little about myself: I started playing D&D Basic back in the early 80's as a pre-teen and played more or less consistently until undergrad, a mix of D&D (up to Immortal!) and AD&D.  When the pandemic hit, I was convinced to get back into the game and so between lockdowns and some time off work, I've had lots of time in the last year and a half to get back into the swing of things; In this recent era, I've DM'd more than I've played.  I play 5e, both official content and one-shots over R20 and discord, and my narration style makes extensive (!) use of handouts, music, improv, and even offline research and tasks for my players; With respect to the combat/rp/exploration divide, I tend to be more rp and story-focused.  I've power-gamed with the best of them but honestly, it's not my bag.  If I want a 2D character (figuratively and literally) to just beat the hell out of things, I can play a video game on god mode.  My strong preference as far as D&D goes is to find something collaborative, character/story-forward, and party-minded; I'm a lawyer- but I don't rules-lawyer.  If I think the DM's gotten something wrong or if I need to double-check something, I ask once before shutting up and moving on.  Having done a lot of it , I know that DM'ing well  is more difficult and time consuming than most players know- that that DM's deserve to have slack cut for them as well, from time to time.  Moreover, I don't need to be right  to enjoy a game- I need to have fun, which I can absolutely still do even when the DM goofs, as do we all; I typically prefer martial characters but am happy to play most classes (I'm sorry but I just don't see the point of rangers); I'm currently running Curse of Strahd and have run Abyss, Lost Mines, Storm King's Thunder (what a piece of crap, do yourself a favour, save yourself some time and just go ahead and punch yourself in the face a couple times on credit if you decide to run it), along with a good dozen one-shots; I live in and am from Toronto, I flatter myself to think that I'm smart, funny (the Mrs. would undoubtedly disagree) and get along well with most others, am equality-minded (I have utterly no fucks to give for anti-vaxxers, the Q crowd, racists, misogynists, anti-LGTBQIA, etc.), zero drama (excepting and save for the utterly-no-fuck-drama I have to give for the anti-vaxxers, the Q crowd, racists, misogynists, anti-LGTBQIA, etc.), and frankly, I just want to play a dedicated, long-term campaign with other experienced, entertaining, fun, open-minded people. What would I like to play?  Any of the published games that I haven't played before, really.  Dungeon Heist with some fun homebrew would be excellent.  Some of the trickier Yawning Portals like Dead in Thay would be fun.  Open minded, really.   Looking forward to seeing if a group can be brought together.  Lmk!

Matt C, nice to meet you! Thanks for the input. Any advice you have once we begin would be great. I’m looking at Abyss, Strahd, or Avernus if I do a published campaign. If homebrew, I still use published locations a lot. Haven’t run Dragonheist but might be interesting. Yawning Portal or Candlekeep are great too. I’ve run YP stuff for my in-person group and it’s all good. 

What edd of dungeons and dragons will this be?

This would be 5e.

Hi, I don't have too much experience but I've been wanting to join a campaign. I've only done one-shots, so I'd like to do something longer. I don't do this often, but seeing as it's every 2 weeks, that sounds perfectly fine. I like to play magic classes and I'm open to any of the modules, I think they're all new to me. Narrative is what I prefer most, I'm not concerned with min-maxing or optimizing my character, I'd rather build a character with a focus on exploring their personality traits. It would be great to be a part of a group. I live in the PST time zone, will that conflict with any time planning? Weekends are easier for me. How long might this go on for? So, if this is all cool, I'm down to be apart of this campaign.

Hi, Conrad! Sounds good!  How would everyone feel about doing a session zero? That way we can go over my philosophy on running games, character stuff, and most importantly give you all a chance to ask me questions. 

Somebody asked about payment. This isn't a paid campaign. Tips are always appreciated to cover costs of adventurers if you feel inclined :)

Some quick follow up questions:  What days/times were you considering?  Yes I know, it depends, but if you’ve got two or three good times in mind, it’ll give a sense of what we’re looking at; ideal group size; thinking about the number of long campaigns I’ve started but never actually finished, are you set on a long module, worst case scenario, we get as far as we get; any chance you could be convinced to go weekly? Thanks again for volunteering to DM.  

Matt C, Let me see if I can answer these satisfactorily.  1. Definitely weekends, probably a Friday or Saturday evening for 3 hours, maybe 4 depending on family stuff 2. Ideal group size is 4-6 3. Not necessarily set on a long module. You never know what might happen to cease play between family, work, and health. I'm leaning toward Yawning Portal module(s) and see how many we can do with a loosely linked game. 4. Probably not at this time. I also run a game every 3 weeks in person for friends who live locally. Guess it depends on incentive? 

Appreciated! Given our provincial government’s incompetence I have little hope that Ontario isn’t going to go back into lockdown in the not too distant future, I’d like to keep my weekend nights free to, y’know, socialize with other humans for as long as humanly possible. Good luck finding your players!  Confident you’ll do great!

Hi, Those planned times sound good. I'm usually available during evening hours. I'm PST and a good time for me would be at or after 7:30pm weekday or weekend, though I can possibly adjust if it doesn't conflict. Glad you're considering work, family, and health. Yawning Portal sounds like fun, open to whatever. Doing a session zero sounds cool, that would help me consider my character creation choices.

Hi Monkey, Not sure if you've filled the roster already but I'd be interested in joining a game on Friday nights. Unfortunately, my better half requested I keep Saturdays free. I'm currently running a game of Rime of the Frostmaiden on Sundays, and am looking to be a player for a change. Yawning Portal sounds great, I haven't played any of those adventures except for White Plume Mountain way back in the AD&D days. The only qualifier I have is that I'm on the west coast so start times may have to take work and school hours into account, but as of now I don't have any obligations on fridays. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Hey, Peter. Yep, still have room. Up to three confirmed I believe. 

Fantastic. If you decide to run your games on Friday, please let me know when you'll be having your session zero, I'd love to be involved.

All, just spoke with the wife, and it looks like a Friday would be a go. I'll starting getting materials together and see if I can afford to buy YP on roll20. 

Friday what time? Are we meeting this friday for session 0? I should be good to go, just need the schedule details.

Conrad, sorry for the confusion. Just talking shop right now. Since there is desire for session 0, I’m totally cool with that. Will schedule soon!

No prob, you said a month from now but I thought session 0 was earlier. All good.

Have three (possibly four). Need 1 or 2 more players. Decided to do the Yawning Portal stuff starting with the first module and going up from there.

Yawning Portal post is about to go live. Setting a place holder date. Will do session 0 on November 19 at 7 PM

Alright, I think that can work. Timezone PST? Do I need to purchase YP? Let me know if there's anything else I should do before hand, otherwise it sounds like session 0 will address questions I might have.

Conrad, nope. I purchased already. We will characters and such, my game style, and questions.

Very cool, can you also confirm on timezone?

Yep. Eastern

Oh! Then 7PM your time is 4PM my time (PST). Not sure if that will work... Gotta think on it.

I'll try to make the session 0 to see how the time slot works for me, but I think I need to look for one that's later in the night for my timezone.

Would Saturday work better?

Hey, still got room for another? I've been wanting to play through YP for a while. Friday would work!

Sure do!

Awesome! What are your house rules?

It seems most everyone wants Friday, so please don't change it because of me. Saturday might be better, but hard to say. It might be rough on my end, but I'm still down to get this working for 4PM PST. 

I have two local friends who will join us. I’ll sent invites for session 0 as soon as I can.

Sounds great! I'm still down.

Would like to get one more to make 6. Any takers? Session 0 is this Friday at 7 EST.

i'm still down. i'll ask around see if anyone i know wants to join in!