u/ILightMyWay

Hello, hello!

First things first, allow me to introduce myself! I am Eric, and I have been playing Dungeons & Dragons for a little over five years now. I began playing during the pandemic, where my journey into this wonderful hobby had its genesis in the lovely city of Waterdeep, in the module Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Since then, I have fallen in love with almost every aspect of the game, but most especially the characters.

Not just my own, mind you, but the others at the table as well, be they PCs or NPCs. Character interaction, meaningful choices, personal history, strange little details, and the way a party slowly becomes something more than a collection of stat blocks have always been the parts of D&D that most captured my attention.

After these years of playing, as is so often the case, I have finally decided to step into the role of Dungeon Master. This is the second campaign within a TTRPG I have ever DMed, and to this point, I have enjoyed every aspect of it. 

The campaign I will be running is The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, a module that begins with the return of a magical carnival and soon opens into the Feywild itself. This is a campaign of lost things, old promises, strange bargains, forgotten memories, and the kind of wonder that can feel beautiful one moment and deeply unnerving the next.

While I will be using the module as the foundation of the campaign, I should note that I do intend to customize portions of it along the way. The story as written is already full of charm, whimsy, and memorable encounters, but I want to make sure the campaign feels personal to the characters at the table. Your backstory, your fears, your secrets, your lost things, and your relationship to wonder itself may all find their way into the story.

What You Can Expect

You can expect my interest in your character, their backstory, and the myriad makings of their person to continue throughout the game. I know many people say they will integrate your character into the story, including personalized NPCs, connections, secrets, and moments curated either openly with you or quietly behind the DM’s veil.

The key difference is, I mean it.

I am always telling people that rather than simply “tell,” I would much rather “show.” I want everyone to feel as if their investment in our game is a rewarding one, where the care and passion they put into their character is met with equal enthusiasm by me. I am open to many different ideas and character concepts, and I enjoy rewarding players who truly invest in what they are doing.

As for the style of the game, *The Wild Beyond the Witchlight* is a little different from many traditional D&D campaigns. It is not a straightforward war story, dungeon crawl, or grim march from one battlefield to the next. This is a campaign where conversation matters. Promises matter. Courtesy matters. The strange logic of the Feywild matters. You can be as creative, as subtle, as combative, or as diplomatic as you wish! There are many ways in which this story might unfold. 

That does not mean there will never be danger. There will be threats. There will be consequences. There will be moments of fear, tension, and moral uncertainty. But this is a campaign where creativity, roleplay, cleverness, and emotional investment are often just as important as combat prowess.

Rather than say this game is X% roleplay, X% exploration, and X% combat, I prefer to say that my game is 100% roleplay.

But, Eric, does that mean we’ll never fight? Will we never explore? Will there be nary a puzzle, danger, or terrible old crone waiting in the mist?

Potential player(s), I will say this: this is a TTRPG. A tabletop roleplaying game. It is right there in the title. Combat, exploration, social encounters, mysteries, bargains, and puzzles are all simply different vehicles by which a story can be told, relationships can be forged, and an enthralling tale can be spun.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking a player who prioritizes roleplaying and character development in the way they engage with D&D campaigns. This campaign is designed for someone who enjoys a rich, character-focused experience where they can engage with their personal story, interact with unusual NPCs, and become immersed in a world that is beautiful, strange, and not always safe.

The tone of this campaign is whimsical, but not frivolous. It is colorful, but not without darkness. The Feywild can be charming, funny, and absurd. So too can it be cruel, old, and deeply alien. I am looking for someone who appreciates that balance and is willing to lean into it.

Furthermore, we are looking for someone who is truly eager and willing to engage with the story each and every week as far as that is humanly possible. I am personally looking for someone who, once selected, is ready to hit the ground running. I will be as available as possible to help you craft your character, connect them to the themes of the campaign, and find a way to introduce them naturally into the party and the story at large.

This is a campaign where your character may have lost something. Perhaps something literal. Perhaps something emotional. Perhaps something they do not even fully remember. The best fit for this table will be someone excited by that kind of premise, someone who wants their character to be affected by the world, not simply pass through it.

In light of these expectations, we are looking for someone with at least a comfortable understanding of 5th Edition so the table can run smoothly. Furthermore, only those who are 18+ should apply.

The Details

This game is:

• A collaborative, story-focused campaign.
• A place for character development, secrets, strange bargains, and long-term choices.
• Whimsical, eerie, theatrical, and emotionally sincere.
• A modified experience that strengthens the personal stakes and fey atmosphere of The Wild Beyond the Witchlight.
• A campaign where combat can happen, but roleplay, creativity, and consequence will often be just as important.

System: D&D 5.5 (5e 2024) 

Module: *The Wild Beyond the Witchlight*

Platform: Roll20 + Theatre of the Mind + Discord

Frequency: Weekly

Session Length: Approximately four hours

Day & Time: Tuesdays from 10:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST

Starting Level: Level 3

Current Party Make-up: Artificer, Bard, Warlock, Wizard 

Character Creation Note: I do not allow multiclassing at character creation.

If you think this sounds like the campaign for you, please fill out this form.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a chat request! I will keep applications open until I find the best fit for our group and will close the post when that has been done.

Thus, if the post is still open, please feel free to apply.