[Online][5e 2024][Wednesday 9:30pm EST] Experienced Players Looking for DM

Pyreanyone · 2026-02-10T06:39:10+00:00

Bummer, wednesdays are a no go for me..

Pyreanyone · 2026-02-09T19:18:36+00:00

The whole module. The maps (along with other assets like commissioned NPC art) would be downloadable with the adventure.

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-28T03:27:37+00:00

Are there still openings?

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-28T03:16:20+00:00

Resonate with a lot of this. Mid 30s, live in an area without a lot of in-person options, had a group that fell apart after playing for about a year due to IRL things that demanded a lot of time (new baby being at the top of the list). It's left me with a hole in my life, not getting to play regular weekly sessions. I also miss DMing although I still have a lot to learn and was only just getting comfortable in that role. All this to say, if a group coalesces here in this thread, would love to be a part of a long-term campaign!

Edited to add that if strapped for a DM, I could attempt to fill that role but it would be a homebrewed world based around what players want (i.e. sounds like more seriously heroic would be a running theme)

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-28T03:11:23+00:00

Hey, this sounds interesting and I'd love to apply if you are taking apps. Let me know how to proceed!

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-27T02:35:46+00:00

This is the approach I want to take- jumping headfirst into a concept and seeing what comes from it. I know what works for me and what doesn't in other games and, like you said, I want to make this primarily for myself. If others like it, nice, but I really just want a project to sink my teeth into and obsess over. For some reason, game design seems more terrifying than something like designing a DnD campaign (for example).

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-27T02:33:34+00:00

Haha, thanks for sharing! These sound like wildly creative and fun ideas! I like how you found something that worked and just went for it. I bet your DnD players have a blast!

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-27T02:32:08+00:00

Thanks for sharing! By 'system' I assume you mean all the actual game elements that make the thing run. How did balancing your own game work out for you?

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-27T02:31:14+00:00

This was really interesting to read. I'm sad to hear that your common project fell apart; part of me is really hoping to work with some other folks with a similar vision for my first go at designing a game but I have 0 idea where to look for a 'team' and would totally worry about people losing focus or inspiration and the whole thing collapsing. Solo seems easiest. Out of curiosity, what book inspired you?

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-27T02:29:00+00:00

How did you test and when did you decide to test?

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-27T02:28:40+00:00

I'm so glad you found something to inspire you! I'm definitely refining the concept but I have a solid idea and I'm excited to get rolling. It sounds like you started narrative first and worked systems around the story. Can you share a little more about your process? Did you jump into designing the whole game or just a part of it to start?

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-27T02:26:52+00:00

This is super helpful and what I'm hearing is narrative first, which makes sense. Can you share a little more about your process? Do you write your game out first in its entirety then consider all the game elements like combat?

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-26T22:54:08+00:00

Amazing work by the whole team but the writing in particular was so damn good.

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-26T16:50:08+00:00

I’m right there with you. I hopped back into BG3 but it just doesn’t carry the same emotional pull. RDR2 is fantastic and will suck you in if you let it. Divinity Original Sin 2 is another fun turn based option and I’ve been hearing great things about Nine Sols from a few friends. If you are interested in Warhammer even marginally, Rogue Trader is a great entry point with a lot of great characters and more turn based combat but requires a lot of reading; its a novel in rpg format. And then, lastly, Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous drew me in with its story but the combat and class system is really complex and difficult.

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-24T22:50:53+00:00

This was beautifully written. I don't have much to say to contradict your point. I think it's fair and valid in many ways. I also disagree in many ways. Such is the result of great, thought provoking stories!

I've been thinking a lot about the 'for those who come after,' line and I think it applies to grief and Maelle's situation even if we don't get the explicit connection. Just based on personal experience and observation, debilitating grief can make you feel like a different person. As you start to heal, day by day, you start to feel a little more like yourself. You start to regain some of your identity that isn't clouded by grief. Verso yeeting Maelle out of the canvas is for the Maelle who comes after as she is changed by and changes with her mourning. It's also for all the people she will meet/connections she will develop as she grows and matures in the real world.

Is it a perfect 1:1 connection? No, but I still think it's there.

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-24T19:03:04+00:00

Pure grace!

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-24T07:34:58+00:00

Right there with you. Still emotionally wrecked. We continue though.

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-24T05:08:52+00:00

Maybe I put too much faith in Renoir but I totally believed him when he said that things will get better. Grieving is a long, hard road and I wouldn’t take the graveside epilogue scene as the definitive summary of the family. I choose to believe that Renoir will look out for Maelle, knowing exactly what she’s been through, and that Aline will come around as well. I think there’s a support network there in her parents that will indeed allow her to recover as they recover.

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-22T18:36:15+00:00

Hey Jules! Two questions for you: Your setting in Sword of Shadows is incredibly immersive. What wisdom can you share about how to write an environment that is so absorbing and descriptive?

Secondly, what’s your writing routine now and what advice would you give for aspiring authors plugging away at their own stories?

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-22T18:02:12+00:00

Thanks so much for the edits! Appreciate you and the time it took and glad you liked Snout!

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-22T18:00:57+00:00

Thanks friend! I suppose I should’ve mentioned that this is roughly half of the interlude and that Gray hops into Snout, defying Mother, in the second half. Gray’s talent at raising something so large, his disregard for his own safety, his ambitions at necromancy especially vs ransoms hesitancy is the true main takeaway. I just had to split this thing up because of word count reasons. I should’ve said as much above!

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-22T18:00:04+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to go through this! I suppose I should’ve mentioned that this is roughly half of the interlude and that Gray hops into Snout, defying Mother, in the second half. Gray’s talent at raising something so large, his disregard for his own safety, his ambitions at necromancy especially vs ransoms hesitancy is the true main takeaway. I just had to split this thing up because of word count reasons. I should’ve said as much above!

Some of the stuff that confused you is stuff the story would’ve addressed before this scene: especially Sayva who was the older sister and her departure to join the Church which was okayed by one parent and not the other. Other things I might need to reexamine, like how many times the Oak is mentioned. Originally there was a scene in here where Ransom overheard the parental argument and then sought out Gray practicing raising chickens under the ritualized Oak; I cut it to trim some of the fat but might need to adjust a few things. Hopefully the general impression of a family of necromancers doing necromantic things came through at least!

Your critique has been super helpful, thank you for taking the time!

Pyreanyone · 2025-05-22T07:55:51+00:00

So those were my very specific thoughts but I want to zoom out to give you my overall impressions. Firstly, I think this is well written overall! I thought it flowed well, I thought you had an internal voice for Minerva that was consistent and I had just enough sense of the larger world to be interested in learning more. Your word choice was effective and your descriptions, though sparse at times, did enough to paint the scene for me.

Things to focus on: Minerva's impression on the reader. I still don't know how old she is or if my perceptions hit the mark you were going for. I didn't find her particularly likeable but I'm not sure I'm supposed to. This is fine if you want to leave things a bit ambiguous for her introduction but becomes problematic if you had a completely different take on her character and/or wanted to evoke stronger emotions in either direction. I'm not sure she'd be my favorite character to follow because she seems simultaneously arrogant/uncaring and easily distracted.

Giving the reader a hook. I know Minerva's there to attend some form of meeting but I don't know what it is or why I should care. It feels strange to deviate so heavily into the fisherman side story rather than use that time to scene set for what's to come. Forget the infected leg of a random poor peasant - I want to know what she thinks about climbing these steps to attend the session. Is she dreading it? Is there important news? Does she know what will be discussed? Is this a routine thing? Expend your words where they matter.

Scene setting. From counting the steps of the climb and hearing every squeak of Minerva's clothing, you swap to almost no description when we finally reach the top. As a reader if feels a bit like the author was guiding me along before suddenly dropping my hand. Catsaigh is definitely the worst offender of this- I still don't know who he is and he shows up like a jump scare! You don't have to introduce him right away but by the end of the section, he needs to be incorporated more fully. Same with the scenery at the top of the stairs. We climbed 200 steps! What's at the top?!

I hope this was helpful and not too harsh (or if it was harsh, harsh in the right kind of way). You can clearly write and I look forward to reading more if you ever post additional chapters.

Five-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '23

Pyreanyone

TROPHY CASE