So, you're looking to get started as a member of the East Marches? This guide will lay out exactly what you need to do to get set up and ready to start adventuring (or running adventures, if that's your things). For the East Marches campaign, we will be using this website in conjunction with Roll20 and Discord.
Kanka will be the site we use to create and join adventures as well as what we use to keep track of the world and any relevant campaign info. All important guides pertaining to the campaign can be found in the Notes tab.
We will use Roll20 to actually play the games. All your relevant character info will need to be uploaded onto a character sheet using that app.
Discord will be our main communication hub outside of games. We will also use Discord's voice chat during sessions in lieu of Roll20's voice options.
Step 1: Create an account on Kanka
Hey, you're already on the damn thing, so create an account for it, or link up and log in using your google account. Do note that if you choose the latter option, we may be able to see your real name (if it is listed on that account).
If you didn't reach this campaign using an invite link, use this link to officially join the campaign. If the link doesn't work, reach out to Ratbrother for a new one.
Step 2: Create a character page for yourself on Kanka
Go to the Characters tab on Kanka. Once there, click on the blue "+ New Character" button in the top right corner. You only need to fill out two fields - Name and Type. Your name should be whatever you, the player, are known as or wish to be known as (e.g. Ratbrother). For type, enter in either "Player," "Dungeon Master," or "Player, Dungeon Master" depending on what you intend to do in this campaign.
You do not need to fill in any other field, but if you want to include basic info about yourself or your D&D experience in the Entry field, feel free. It is recommended that you provide some sort of contact info (Discord name, etc.) so that other players and DMs can get in touch with you for scheduling purposes.
Step 3: Create character pages for your actual characters
Players are allowed to create up to two characters, according to the limitations in the Character Creation Guide. You will eventually use these pages to add your characters to prospective adventures. Once again, go to the Characters tab on Kanka and click on the click on the blue "+ New Character" button in the top right corner. You will need to fill out the following fields:
- Name - Your character name or a temporary placeholder (e.g. Ratbrother #1 Ratbrother #2, etc.)
- Title - Your class and level (e.g. Rogue 3)
- Race - Your character's race. This section will autocomplete when you type into it.
- Location - Should always be [airship, guild hq]. This too will autocomplete.
- Image - Once you have a picture of your character, upload it or attach it via a url using the box provided.
Beyond those essentials, any information you choose to include (bio, age, etc.) is up to you.
Step 4: Join the East Marches Roll20 Game
Once you have your character(s) fleshed out, make sure to update the basic info your character page(s) in Kanka to match what info you provided in Roll20.
Step 5: Join an Adventure and Play
To see a list of East Marches adventures, click on the Quests tab in Kanka. This list will show both current and previously completed adventures, but you can use the sort function to move all uncompleted adventures to the top.
If an adventure catches your eye and you meet the requirements of it (and there's an open spot), click on the characters tab under the quest info (not the main Characters tab on the main sidebar), hit the "+Add a character" button, and enter in your character's name. You may also add your availability/limitations/time zone into the description box to help with scheduling.
Once the adventure is full and the DM is ready to run it, they will reach out to you and the other prospective players to schedule the session and provide any additional details you may need.
OPTIONAL Step 6: Becoming a Dungeon Master
If you joined to run an adventure as well as play one (or if you solely want to DM), reach out to any of the current DMs for the necessary info on Roll20 to get set up as a DM.
All DMs will run adventures from the same Roll20 account. This allows us to have all possible characters in one Roll20 game. We will set up folders to keep each DM's information/maps/etc. separate. Please do not look at or alter another DM's materials (unless they allow you to).
In Kanka, you will need to refer to the following guides:
- DM's Adventure-Making Guide - A basic rundown of what an adventure should look like and how it should operate.
- DM Info - Creating an Adventure - A guide with how to properly create and manage an adventure using the Quests tab in Kanka.
- DM's Loot Guide - A guide that explains how to award loot in an East Marches adventure.
Help and Support
If at any time you need help with any of the above or any of the intricacies of either Kanka or Roll20, reach out to Ratbrother or any of the other regular DMs. Many of us are also more than willing to help with items like character creation or the D&D 5e rule system.