Initial Meeting - 07-11-2023

Please find below some of the details we will go over during our first session, which I expect to last about 2 hours. This list is not exhaustive, but it will give us a place to start as a group.

• Discuss when, how often and where we are going to meet to play. This is always the hardest part of starting any group, but I have a couple of places in mind in Fayetteville around north college and the mall. I will have to reach out to see if they are good options. Does anyone have any suggestions on a location? Meeting once a week is normal, with the sessions running about 3 to 4 hours, but I am flexible and can work to produce a schedule that works for everyone.
• Go over the adventure summary, timeline and briefly review the Sword Coast map. I have all of our maps, including the main Sword Coast map printed and laminated so we can use them during the sessions. I do not have many miniatures, but we can use anything on the battle maps as markers. You will have ideas on how we want to do this.
• Determine each player’s character races/class - be thinking about what kind of character you want to play. There are pre-made characters provided in this entry level adventure, but I want you to play a character you are excited about, so do not feel like you are forced to play one you do not like. There is a whole section on this topic below. By the time we leave, we should have all of the basics created for our characters. Details like backgrounds, appearances, ideals, flaws, and others can be filled in as you see fit. This will also give you more time to think about how you want to develop and play your character.
• Exchange basic contact information - For the groups that I have played in, we usually exchanged cell phone numbers and then had one running group chat to communicate outside of the game sessions. If that does not work for us, then we can stay in touch via email or another method. The main thing is I do not want anyone to feel like they have to divulge any personal information with which they are not comfortable.
• While on the topic of communication, we need to respect each other’s time and not send out text messages at 3:00AM - this is a reminder for myself as I am awake with work pretty much 24/7 so I don’t think before I send things in the middle of the night. I do not want someone that is a light sleeper to get woke up unduly (it has happened twice this year due to me not thinking).
• Set limits and boundaries around sensitive subject matter that might come up within game play. For the adventure we are playing, I did not come across anything that jumped out at me that would be cause for concern, but we should talk about it. I was in a group with another player who actually lost her father in a violent event and that same scenario came up in the game, which was a trigger for her, and we did not know until afterwards.
• Speak up if you need a bathroom/food break - sometimes we are caught up in the action and forget.
• There is a 'Useful Resources' section on the home page that has some links that may be helpful. Included is a link to a set of short YouTube videos covering the basic topics in small bites if you are more of a visual learner. If you come across anything we need to add to the list, just send me a link.

Playing the Game

• You will need access to the Dungeons and Dragons Players Handbook, 5th Edition. It will be used to look up stuff during the game as well as studying up in between sessions to increase your understanding of some of the finer rules of the game. There are two format options listed below.
  • You can buy a hard copy, which has a high-quality design, layout, and printing - the graphics are stunning and pop off the page. I always have mine, so I will pass them around for those who have not seen one. If you decide you want a physical copy, they are in any local game shops or even places like Barns and Noble - these store fronts tend to sale at or near the listed prices. If you just want to spend the least amount for a hard copy, Amazon consistently has the lowest cost option at almost half of list price and next day delivery for prime members. Just for reference, the price as of today (06-28-2023) was $26.10 + tax.
  • You can use the online version of the players handbook for free on dndbeyond.com. Many new players prefer the online version, especially if they are playing their character from the site, as it integrates into the user experience seamlessly. In the past, players started out by purchasing a hardback book. With that said, the online version of the book (and all source books), is very nicely done and you can jump around quickly to find the content you are looking for. There are clickable links, mouse over definitions, notes, and others which prove especially useful. I will provide a link that you will use after you create your account that will unlock the full players handbook (PHB).
• You will need a set of seven different polyhedral dice, which you can find everywhere. The standard 7-piece set consists of a 20-sided, 12-sided, two 10-sided, 8-sided, 6-sided, and 4-sided dice. A cheap set of dice might only set you back 5 or 10 dollars, but if you want a distinctive design, material or even metal dice, the costs will be more accordingly.
• If you are planning to buy dice, you might consider getting more than one set as sometimes you need to roll the same dice multiple times. By having more than once set, you can roll the extra dice at the same time. Definitely not a requirement, but something to think about.
• You can also find eleven count dice sets in contrast of the standard seven set offerings. These are nice in that they include 3 extra 6-sided dice and 1 additional 20-sided dice, since there are times, you will be rolling these combinations more often.
• An optional accessory that proves to be valuable is a dice rolling tray. There are many variations, most fold up and have a felt interior surface. For sure not a deal breaker without one, but when we get into battles and everyone is rolling like crazy, there is a 100% chance of someone’s dice jumping off the table, which ends up under a couch, in a washing machine, toaster, or end the dog eats it. Regardless of where it went, you can rest assured that it will be hard to retrieve. Also, a dice tray can lessen the sometimes overly, loud rolling of the dice. When using metal dice, you need some type of tray to protect the surface you are rolling on. I have dice trays for us to use or feel free to bring your own. Finally, if your dice rolls are consistently coming up poorly, it could be time to shame them and use a different set :).
• Pencils, paper, and blank character sheets which I have plenty.
• Food and drink (please do not bring a 3-course steak dinner that you have to microwave and then proceed to eat it at the gaming table while we are playing)
• Depending on where we are going to meet some places get cold inside, even when it is really hot outside. Some people might want to bring a sweater or such if needed.

Lost Mine of Phandelver - An Overview...

Our adventure is true to the heart of what makes D&D great and beloved by those who choose to answer the call! The collections of adventures that make up the Lost Mine of Phandelver campaign, written by Wizards of the Coast, the official content creator, and publishers of D&D content. Lost Mine of Phandelver is an adventure for four to five characters of first level. During the course of the adventure, you can expect your characters to advance to at least fifth level. The adventure is set a short distance from the city of Neverwinter in the Sword Coast region of the Forgotten Realms setting. The Sword Coast is part of the North — a vast realm of free settlements surrounded by wilderness and adventure.

Pre-created Characters

The source adventure comes with several premade characters. If you have never played, choosing from one of them might be the best option to get you playing the game. Note that you do not have to use one of these and we can roll you the character you genuinely want to play. With that said, the game flow and rules lend to a similar set of character classes as each can take on a different role within the group. For example, it is common to have characters who are extraordinarily strong and deal a lot of damage (fighter, ranger), ones that provide aid and healing to other characters (cleric), some that focus heavily on magic and spells (wizards, sorcerers) and many others as described in the players handbook. At the end of the day, having a group of five players who are all human fighters may not provide for the best gaming experience. We will discuss classes and other details when we get together.

Overhead Map of Sword Coast

And finally, key take aways and steps before our first session

• Before our first in person meeting, please take a minute to read this short read overview of the game. It covers the concepts around how the game works and how to play your character.
• The number one goal when playing the game is to have fun and come away with not only a compelling urge to see where the story leads next, but also a lot of good memories.
• If you are not having fun or feel overwhelmed, let me know - while there are a lot of details in the rules of the game, we will cover everything you need to know to get you started. “Don't Panic” - It is normal to be confused at times and we all go through the same process.
• Once you have played a session or two and reading from the players handbook, things will start to click and become much easier.
• Even if you are playing with a hardcopy of the players handbook and a paper character sheet, please go ahead and create an account on dndbeyond.com. It is free to sign up and you will get access to a huge amount of official content that we will be referencing during the game. If you already have a Google or Apple account, you can use it to sign up. If not, you will need to create an account on the Wizards of the Coast site, which again is quick and free. The website walks you through this process. There is an app you can download as well, which is nice, and you can actually player you character on a mobile device if you desire.
• With that stated, I would suggest if you chose to use the website to create, manage, and play your character in game sessions, bring a laptop and charger to use. I will make sure we have any accessories needed, such as extension cords or power strips so we do not run out of juice in the middle of a battle! Additionally, I will make sure there is a wireless network we can all connect to for internet access. If this ends up being just a mobile hot spot, please refrain from downloading or watching streaming content when we take breaks, as we will be on metered bandwidth at that point, and it could get very expensive for me :(
• Please bookmark this home page we will be using for our adventures. I will be posting information on the site often. Do not feel like you have to check it every day or else you might miss something, but please try to view it at least once before our next session. Some of the things I will be using it for:
  • Previous session notes. This will include details on what happened, your interactions with important characters, additional plot details that we may not have had time to fully explore, etc... This is super important for those who might miss a session and need to catch up with the rest of the group - this is the main focus for the website.
  • The total amount of experience points (XP) you gained by killing monsters, clever or skilled use of your class, race and personality, and others way from the last session. You will want to add this XP value to your character sheet before the next session.
  • If you have enough XP points to gain a level, you need to make the associated changes to your character to gain access to the new skills, spells, abilities, and other enhancements for your character. If you are using the dndbeyond.com character builder, when you add your XP to your character, it will walk you through the choices, step by step, when gaining a new level. If you are using a regular paper character sheet and need help, just let me know. You should be excited when leveling up as it unlocks additional features for your character, and you become a more formattable player as the threats and challenges you face continue to grow!

Home - Next Session