Tyrant's Grasp 5e

Hi!

Just recently I took part in this campaign as a player, but it ended after just one post from the GM, so I decided to run it myself and do it properly. We'll use the D&D 2024 (5.5e) ruleset, simply because I feel more comfortable with that system as a GM. If you're into survival horror, dark fantasy, intrigue, investigation, and battling undead evil, come along for the ride.

The Plot and Concept

We will begin the campaign with the second book, as the first one offers a rather dull dungeon crawl, while the real adventure truly kicks off with "Eulogy for Roslar's Coffer." The overall theme of Tyrant's Grasp is survival horror and fighting the undead. The player characters will often find themselves in desperate circumstances with limited resources, particularly during the first few adventures.

For the sake of character engagement, it would be best if the protagonists hailed from Lastwall or Ustalav. The characters have come to Roslar's Coffer for one reason or another, but they cannot be locals. One evening, as everyone is preparing for sleep, the night sky suddenly erupts in a blinding white light, followed by... darkness.

The characters die—yet, somehow, they return to life. As the adventure begins, the PCs wake up in a ruined barn with no idea what happened or why they were turned back from the River of Souls. They soon discover that the entire town has been destroyed, and they must do whatever it takes to escape (which will be no easy task).

I am looking for five players who will give their characters reasons to work together and care about the land of Lastwall i jego ludzi. Expect survival, investigation, negotiation, and combat. I will advance the party at major milestones.

Character Creation

Here is some basic info about the game:

• Rules: Dungeons & Dragons 5.5e (2024)

• 27 Point Buy.

• Level 5, 400gp, 1 common and 1 uncommon magic item

• Maximum HP at the first and second level, exact average afterward.

• All PHB races except Dragonborn are allowed. Additionally Aasimar and Orc.

• All official classes and subclasses from 2024 and 2014 are allowed.

Read Character Creation section for detailed character generation guidelines, equipment rules and source requirements.

Technical Details

• Leveling: Milestone-based.

• Posting Frequency: At least two posts per week.

• Post Length & Style: Please avoid single-sentence replies. Aim for at least a short paragraph to keep the story engaging and immersive. I prioritize roleplay over "rollplay."

• Content Warning (PG-16): Dark themes, including violence, death, blood and gore, body horror, mutation, religious fanaticism, mass casualties, grief, the destruction of communities, and more.

• Combat & Maps: We will use Google Drawings for tactical grid maps. During combat, please declare your actions within 24 hours of my post (48 hours on weekends). If a player fails to post in time, the GM will take control of their character to keep the game moving.

• Dungeon Crawling: To maintain momentum, exploration sequences that involve no significant choices or immediate danger will be automated.

• PvP: PvP is strictly prohibited. In-character verbal arguments and conflicting opinions are welcome, but hostile mechanical confrontations between player characters are not permitted.

• RAW vs. ROC: We will primarily follow Rules as Written (RAW), but if a player comes up with a clever idea or presents a particularly compelling argument, we may apply the Rule of Cool (ROC)—prioritizing logic, narrative impact, and common sense over rigid mechanical rules.

• Player Selection: Applications will be evaluated based on their completeness, the quality of the writing, and how well the character fits the tone and setting of the campaign.

• Optional Rules: Fear and Mental Stress (DMG ’24, p. 70), Morale (DMG ’14, p. 273), Hitting Cover (DMG ’14, p. 272), Action Options (DMG ’14, p. 271), Initiative Score (PHB ’24, p. 369).

• Use of AI: Permitted only for generating character/scenery artwork or checking text for language errors. Using AI to generate entire narrative posts is strictly prohibited.

The recruitment process will last for two weeks; however, I reserve the right to shorten it if I receive a sufficient number of high-quality applications sooner.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the designated thread.