A Sparkling Zombie
Once bitten, twice sparkling!
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Alexandrian Remix
You have found yourself in Waterdeep and are in need of work, so to the Yawning Portal you've come. You have established a contact there who may be able to point you to someone in need if you ask, or perhaps the contact has already notified you about a job very recently, withholding the details but telling you to meet them in the tavern that evening.
Famed explorer Volothamp Geddarm will ask you to take on a simple quest. Little do you know that Waterdeep's next Grand Game is brewing. You will compete against various factions within the city, but only time will tell if you will crack Neverember's Enigma and reap the reward.
That Social Contract
Obey the laws of this fair realm, known as RP Nation, lest ye incur the wrath of the gods.
Newbie friendly!
Be nice to everyone.
Understand the difference between IC and OOC. Try to keep metagaming to a minimum and also try not to take IC things personally. Also understand the difference between doing what your character would do and being a griefer. Let's steer clear of the latter, eh?
Fair disclaimer: I'm pretty new to DMing, hey, but bear with me and I'm 97.9995% certain we'll get through this intact.
Be able to spell and wield grammar well enough that people can understand you. Be comfortable writing at least a solid paragraph or two.
The expected posting rate is discussed in the next section.
Characters are expected to generally cooperate with each other. That doesn't mean there can't be conflicts or that they have to forfeit acting in self-interest, based on the group's comfort, just that they need to be willing to work with the party.
I'll try to keep railroading to a minimum. The intent is to give the characters opportunity for personal things within or around Waterdeep.
Any post formats are welcome as long as they are mobile-friendly.
Write in third-person, please!
Gameplay Guidelines
Some of this may change as we play! We'll discover what works for us and what doesn't and adapt accordingly.
How Posting Will Work
The plan is that roleplaying will be conducted in two-week rounds. This means that I, as the DM, will make a post, and all players will have at most two weeks to respond. Within reason, which player posts when doesn't matter so much. Character A may post first one round, and Character B may post first the next.
If all players respond earlier than the allotted two weeks, the next DM post may happen sooner.
If a player is silent within that time, they will be skipped and the next DM post will happen. The intent is to keep things moving, and being skipped should pose minimal consequence; the player can simply pick up from the most recent DM post. However, being skipped two or three times in a row will be grounds for being kicked from the game, though that player may be welcomed back if they are certain they can spare the time.
If a player knows they lack the time or creative energy to post before those two weeks, that's okay! They can summarize to the group what their character does and we can account for it accordingly. It's also okay to ask to be skipped if you feel there isn't much your character can do/provide within a given round.
Leveling
We'll be using milestones.
Players may roll for their increased HP, and if the result is lower than the static increase, they may take the static one instead.
Combat
Initiative is just going to be the order in which people post within a two-week round.
If a player is silent through the allotted time, their character will take the Dodge action.
To speed up combat, drinking any potion can be a bonus action.
Instead of two dice rolls, critical damage will instead be one dice roll plus the max damage of the weapon/spell. This might not apply to enemies, at least not until the characters are sturdier.
To hopefully lessen the clunkiness, I will make the enemy's AC and HP public. Feel free to write in your character's hit/kill/miss once you've rolled for your attack. When an enemy is required to make a saving throw, you may roll for them, or I can roll it for you so that you can finish your post.
Other
I as the DM will make all death saving throws in secret. Gotta make things thrilling! Understandably, this requires trust, and when it's over, I'm happy to reveal the dice rolls to the affected player.
Otherwise, DM combat rolls will be public. Come whatever may.
Track yer shit in your inventory. Arrows and spell components should be accounted for. Rations and waterskins won't be as scrutinized since you're in a city. You can spend money to keep yourself nourished.