Dungeons & Dragons 5E
en
English
Long-term, Warcraft-inspired homebrew campaign
Hi, everyone!
I (35M) am looking to start a weekly online or offline long-term homebrewed DnD (2014) campaign with three to five players that draws heavily from the Warcraft universe & lore. (No experience with any Warcraft games is required to join if you’re still interested!). I'm planning sessions to be on a weekday evening (specific day TBD based on player availability) in the 6:00-11:00pm EST range.
I value information & transparency, so I’ve written a mini-f*cking-dissertation that includes information about me, the campaign story/themes, what to expect if you join, and what I’d be looking for in players. Hoping to hear from some folks who’d be interested in playing!
About Me:
When I’m not working or spending time with family & friends, I’m pursuing any number of hobbies/interests (hockey, hiking, baking, bugging my fiancé, etc.). But one of my biggest loves is fantasy: books, movies, games (including the abovementioned Warcraft franchise), you name it. So, when I was introduced to DnD ~5 years ago by a friend who invited me to join their campaign, I was naturally smitten by pretty much all of it: the system, the lore, the gameplay, etc.
Since then, I’ve been DMing DnD (2014) for 2-3 years. During that time, I’ve DM’d several one shots & short-term campaigns with a group of friends from work & other areas of life. Unfortunately, everyone in the group has moved or has had life sh*t happen that limits their playing, and so I’ve turned to Reddit to hopefully connect with some other folks who have a similar interest in DnD.
With that out of the way, here’s a little bit about the campaign I have in mind.
Campaign Overview:
Welcome to Azeroth, a high fantasy setting with dark, epic, & steampunk fantasy flavorings.
Azeroth is a world of abundance, rich with peoples, materials, & magics. (Azeroth also happens to have the soul of a nascent deity slumbering at its core, but that’s a story for another day). Consequently, Azeroth has had the tremendous misfortune of encountering unremitting threats as local, global, & cosmic forces vie for control – or destruction – of its resources. Just in the last few years, Azeroth has seen:
A crime syndicate seize control of the Kingdom of Stormwind’s fertile farmlands to force restitution for an old injustice.
A faction of orc refugees invade the Ashenvale Forest, ancestral homeland of the night elves, to claim its resources to construct a homeland for themselves.
A dark titan unleash his legion of demonic followers across the planet to extinguish all life & hope.
Needless to say, the many peoples of Azeroth are traumatized. (I mean, how much of the above can any person really take?). But those peoples are also resilient. They’re strong. And they’re hopeful. Which is good, because – surprise! – another threat has surfaced that seeks destruction & domination.
Enter: The Lich King. The Prince of Darkness. The Lord of the Undead. Two decades ago, this embodiment of death arose from his throne on the frozen continent of Northrend and waged a vindictive war on the living in Azeroth. His plague of undeath transformed droves into creatures from nightmares. Zombies crowded the streets of Lordaeron City. Ghouls terrorized the farmfolk of the Hillsbrad Foothills. And the Lich King’s death knights, risen champions wielding necromantic magics, led his army across half of a continent, leaving naught but terror & sorrow in their wake.
The peoples of Azeroth rose to challenge this terrible enemy. New alliances were forged. New champions emerged. And, in the end, they drove the Lich King and the bulk of his forces back to the icy hell from which they came. The Lich King was not defeated, but Azeroth’s peoples had won a great victory.
And so, many of these peoples returned to their families, their work, their hopes, & their squabbles, eager to forget the memories of destruction that plagued their days & dreams. They turned their attention toward healing their wounds and preparing for the new threats that would inevitably materialize – or the old ones that would resurface. But others struggled to return. Others struggled to forget. Because they awoke each morning to their fractured kingdoms, their ravaged homes, and the remnants of the undead army that ravaged their lands. These others knew that their great victory was fleeting, that they would one day face anew the wrath of the Lich King. And they vowed to be ready.
It’s a good thing they did. Because a second plague has arrived. A second invasion has come. And these events have ignited the lingering fury of the survivors of that first war, who are taking up arms and preparing to take the fight to the Lich King’s unholy realm.
From his frozen throne, the Lich King watches. He waits. He plans. And gazing upon this imminent invasion, he laughs and says, “You seek to bring judgment upon the damned? Good. Come, then, you heroes. Come in all your power and glory! But know that, in the final hour, all will serve the one… true… king.”
Core Themes: good vs evil, hope vs doubt, power vs corruption, justice vs revenge, person vs society, person vs self, betrayal, heroism, etc.
What should you expect?
At this point, you may be sitting wherever you are – the couch, your office, the bathtub, I don’t judge – and thinking, “Okay, this setting & story sound pretty f*cking cool. [Or maybe you think it sounds terrible, in which case, life’s too short to keep reading this interminably long write-up, and I’ll wish you the best in finding the table you’re looking for!]. But what will it be like to actually play DnD in this campaign?” Great question! Here’s a little overview of how I typically DM.
Rules: I adhere to rules as written, although I’ll integrate minor homebrewed rule/mechanics systems that I think will be meaningful and enrich the game. I’m also happy to subscribe to the “rule of cool.”
Sandbox? Railroad?: Both! I have an outline of the story and its key elements (e.g., story arcs, BBEGs, locations, NPCs). However, it’s important for players to have agency, and so I’ll also emphasize providing choices & following players’ leads. See “Collaboration” below for more.
Encounters: I try to integrate all aspects of DnD into each campaign for a well-rounded game, including social encounters (e.g., helping out, aiding diplomacy), combat encounters, puzzle/trap encounters, exploration encounters, mystery-solving encounters, etc. This campaign will likely feature social & combat encounters the most, but other types will appear to varying degrees.
Dynamism: I adhere to the belief that encounters & games should be dynamic. Combat should be urgent & exigent. Social interactions should be engaging & meaningful. Mysteries should feel suspenseful, and exploration should involve wonder. I try my best to fulfill these ideals.
Choices Matter: I root for players and want them to win, but I won’t take failure off the table. Travel recklessly in the wilderness, and you might miss your destination. Act like an a** to that NPC, and they may be petty – or seek revenge – at a later date. Search every corner of every room for a desired object, and the dungeon denizens will probably find you. And, of course, death can happen. All choices have repercussions, and I try to structure my games with this axiom in mind.
Roleplaying: Many players love their characters and want to support their development. So, I try to create opportunities for players to do just that. I’ll especially emphasize opportunities for character development via dynamic encounters & conflicts, because it’s often the choices made in those circumstances that facilitate change & growth.
Collaboration: Although I do have an outline of the story & its elements, I value collaboration & player involvement. I’ll encourage opportunities for player choice & agency, and I’ll often invite – and honor – feedback to ensure players are enjoying the game. I’m also welcoming of player ideas for the game and/or story. Maybe a player wants to have a 1-on-1 session to explore a part of their background or undergo some sort of training. Maybe players want to have a session doing town mode, where they craft, carouse, etc. While I won’t guarantee that I’ll accommodate every idea/request, I’m happy to listen & discuss possibilities to support a collaborative experience.
Consistency: Players make time, change schedules, etc. for the game, and it’s important to honor that. I will do my absolute best to be consistent with scheduling, attendance, & communication. I do work a job that occasionally involves unexpected changes or crises, but I’ll do my best to be present, on time, & prepared every single week.
Flavor: Games are supposed to be fun, so I’ll integrate a lot of levity into campaigns I run (e.g., humor, voices, absurd personalities, etc.). However, I’ll balance that levity with gravity in the circumstances that demand it (e.g., instances of loss, betrayal, adversity). Also, a heads up (in case it isn’t clear already): I swear a lot.
Game Details:
System: DnD 5E (2014 rules)
Platform: If online, we’ll most likely use a combination of Roll20 and Discord or Zoom. If offline, I figure we can meet publicly (e.g., at a local library or coffee shop) a few times until everyone is comfortable/familiar with each other. After that, I’d be open to discussing options for hosting.
Schedule: A weekday evening (specific day TBD based on availability) & a start time at ~7:00pm EST, although I can be flexible in the 6:00pm-11:00pm EST range. I’d prefer to meet weekly if it’d be possible with everyone’s schedules, although bi-weekly is an option if needed.
Campaign Length: I’m hoping that this could be a long-term campaign. To give an idea based on my initial outline, the campaign could include: a) two overarching, intertwined stories; b) four to five main story arcs; and c) 50+ sessions (and can continue indefinitely).
What I’m looking for:
If you’ve made it this far through my mini-dissertation and are still interested in the game outlined above, here are a few of the things that I’m looking for in players.
1) Three to five players age 25+. (Pre-formed groups are a bonus!). Notes: All genders, sexualities, etc. are welcome (LGBTQIA+ friendly). All levels of experience (from veteran to brand new) are welcome. All levels of familiarity with the Warcraft games or universe (from player since Warcraft 1 to never having heard of it before) are welcome.
2) Players who are decent humans. I have NO patience for bigotry or disrespect of any kind (that sh*t isn’t welcome with me or at any table I run or join).
3) Folks who would be interested/invested in the story & game as outlined above.
4) People who are reliable. While I recognize that life can be wildly unpredictable and am happy to accommodate folks when it is, I’m hoping everyone will have the same respect for consistency that I’ll bring.
5) A party with chemistry. Since the goal is for this campaign to be long-term, players are going to be spending a whole lot of time together. Having players with similar game-related interests, playstyles, & priorities will be helpful, as will be players who support each other, show one another respect, and communicate effectively. Also, it’d be optimal if players actually f*cking like each other & want to spend time together. Pre-made groups are therefore welcome & a bonus!
Wrapping Up:
Phew! That was a wild amount of information, and I’m impressed by – and grateful for – anyone who was willing to read all of it.
If you’re interested in all of the above and feel like you’d be a good fit, please feel free to DM me directly. In that message, tell me a little bit about yourself:
1) Name/age/other identifying characteristics that you’d like to share
2) Your availability for sessions (e.g., days, times)
3) Your experience with TTRPGs (DnD specifically) and your playstyle (Note: new players are welcome!).
4) A little bit about what you look for in a DnD game.
5) A little bit about what you look for in other DnD players.
6) Any questions that you have for me!
I’m looking forward to hearing from you!