Interest check - Hellrider: Descent into Avernus

This is a remix of WotC's Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus, but the Baldur's Gate bit has been replaced with the story being told from the perspective of Elturian Hellriders.

I'd like to play this game with people who can consistently post daily. Sure, sometimes we'll be taking breaks, real-life happens, and families are a thing too - but I'd like daily posting from everyone to be the goal. This is also a longish campaign (level 2 to 13). I estimate it'll take about 18 months, so it's quite a commitment.

Please don't express an interest in joining if you're not confident that you can keep up with this pace.

Also, characters sometimes die and TPKs are a possibility. If that's a problem, then it's probably best to miss this one out.

The characters are Hellrider knights and because of the setting, not all classes/archetypes would be available.
* Paladin (Oaths of Crown, Devotion or Watcher)
* Fighter
* Ranger
* Cleric
* Wizard
* Rogue (Scout)
* Maybe monk?

---

For people who've never played with me before, Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden is a public game. Maybe take a look at that to see if that's the sort of game that might interest you.

---

This is still only an interest check at the moment. I haven't entirely decided to run this yet, but I'd like to know who's interested.

This sounds interesting and I'd be able to keep up with the pace. I've not played Avernus, and am just getting back into playing after a few years off (kids are a little older meaning I have a little free time lol).

Holy shit this sounds amazing. I got chills reading the part about it being dark and going to hell. I'm absolutely stoked and would definitely be able to keep the pace and make the commitment. I mean who would leave their brothers in arms behind. 🤷 anyway count me in brother Adam.

I would be thrilled to play a PbP as player where posts-per-day is not a DM's promise but player's commitment. (I'm trying to DM two games in such a way right now).
My personal opinion: it is not theme, DM style or PC class/race restrictions that dictates if DnD game will last more than few months. You need players to match: if player investment into the game differ, that is the problem. If player style mismatch - that will cause issues.
P.S. Sorry for editing. Wanted to make it clear this is my personal opinion.

Oh, you know I'm going to apply for this. I have a few concepts rattling away in the old thinker, but a Dragonrider or even a noble barbarian (Rashemi) would be fun. You know my posting schedule and style, and I am a fan of yours!

(And yes, I see the restrictions, not a problem!)

A Rashemi warrior could work (given their history with demons) - we'd need to work out how they became a Hellrider. The point is that there's an archetype to fit.

One of the games I was in just died this weekend...
I'd be willing to join if you run this

Saddle up, riders!
I'm considering a Watcher paladin.... that sounds pervy, let me rephrase, a Paladin who took the Oath of the Watchers
or a bladesinger wizard

I am in quite a few games but not all of them are very active. So I got room for one more good one :)

I have an idea for a fighter if you still need people.

You'd know my posting style from the Waterdeep tabloids :)

Ranger for such sounds interesting to me for play. Do you have space for that?

I'll throw my hat into the ring. I'd love a consistent daily game.
I'm thinking of a Grave or Death Cleric, race undetermined at the moment.

I've been waiting for the next @Adam game™️ to drop. Perfect timing too, as I just had a few games either slow to a crawl or fizzle out entirely. I'm usually not big on multiclassing but for this I'm envisioning a sorc-pally or lock-pally. If @runekyndig goes through with his Watcher paladin idea maybe his PC might even be something of a mentor.

Let me add my 2 cents on class choice: 1. Cavalier (fighter) 2. Monster slayer (ranger) 3. Twilight domain (cleric)

Oooh that's good! I was also looking at Cavalier for the same reason. Otherwise, if I go the Sorcerer or Warlock route I feel like Mounted Combatant feat at earliest opportunity will be a must!

Seems like this game is already full. But in case it's not, I'd like to express my interest. I've wanted to play Avernus for a while, and the Hellriders angle sounds extra fun. For a character, I'm thinking a rogue/scout with expertise in animal handling and a focus on archery.

Cheers. This was an interest check. Replacing the Baldur's Gate bit with an Elturel bit will take thought and work. I'm not keen on either thought or work, so I wanted to see whether it would be worth the effort before I bothered.

It certainly looks like there would be interest. I'll let people know when I'm ready.

Thanks again.

Hey Adam you know I am always interested in games you are running.

I am sure I can come up with some dodgy character with an impediment ;)

Sorry man - it's been ages since we played in the same game too. When it became clear there was enough interest in Descent into Avernus, I rounded up some people from this thread and started a game.

I have been kicking around the idea of doing a Descent into Avernus game irl for awhile but I don't think I can do a daily game. Looks really cool though

Do you ever wonder what happens to the games advertised in the Tavern? Did they end or fizzle out? This one was a TPK at level 8.

It was a hell of a ride! 🤘

8 levels of awesome!

This was an epic adventure. Truly!

Is it now that we learn that the hole adventure was a magic mushrooms hallucination?

If you ever reboot I am so down!

Nooooo! Did Sir Michael Knight run out of head shots and the game self-destructed?

The end began when it was discovered Sir Varrak "Finehair" Volosen couldn't pass an Int save to save his life... literally!

I tried this again, and it wasn't a TPK.

In the year 1492DR, four Hellriders journeyed across Avernus, the first of the nine hells. Their quest, to free the holy city of Elturel from its infernal contract. Four sallied forth. Victorious, two returned, although neither returned unchanged.

Hellriders, from this day to the ending of Toril, you in it shall be rememberèd, my brothers-in-adventure, @SJoyner72, @KoldikSteelskin, @Antiproduct, @Edmund_Balworth - I salute your victory.

Super cool! Glad to see another game reaching conclusion on the site! And I'm a little jealous that they made it further than our group had.

Glad to see a band of Hellrider brothers that succeeded where we fell.

Glad to hear they survived

Congrats on a successful campaign!

Congrats! Did characters really go from level 2 to 13? That sounds so epic.

Cheers!

Yes, levels 2 to 13, and yes, the word "eipc" was used a lot in that campaign. In any other game, that speed of progression would break immersion, but when the characters are travelling through literal hell, then you kinda expect them to be pretty badass by the end.

The dice were pretty epic too. I think my favourite dice moment was when SJ's paladin flew his steed 120' foot straight up, leapt from its back, plummeting down sword first to try to transfer all the fall damage to the BBEG....

...and rolled two nat 20s on the attack.

I'm so used to the dice bathos, where the player narrates a big action, only for the d20 to chuckle at the hubris and display twos and threes.

That sounds so amazing. How long did it take from start to finish? I've always wondered how realistic it is to think that doing pbp can go for 10 levels, but apparently it's possible! I've been debating running an adventure, but sticking to a one-shot because it seems impossible to do a prolonged campaign, but this is very inspring to see.

We started Oct 8th 2022, and finished yesterday. So that's a smidge over six months. There were multiple posts per day (an average of about 13 per day), so if it were a normal 1 post/person/day game, then it would have taken eighteen months.

The GP discord integration was brilliant for keeping engagement. Everyone in the game was also active in the game's discord, so we could react to the GP posts and keep the excitement level high.

Thanks CW. You'll be pleased to know that, despite my best efforts, the players managed to squeeze a love story in there too.

Like a do-or-die stealth roll, and rolled a 1?
RIP Hellrider Swan

Lol, exactly like that. Your party's dice were thematically hellish.

What were you thinking hellriders aren't made for stealth...

I must say the plan was good I was following along with your game at that point, but I still stand by hellriders not being made for stealth, we fought everything adam threw at us, maybe it was only for 1 or 2 rounds but we fought valiantly and then escaped valiantly.

That's really amazing that the whole party was so invested. What do you mean by the GP Discord integration? I can't find any links on the site about a Discord integration.

It's explained here.

I thought GP discord integration was a bit of a gimmick, and its main purpose was to provide mobile notifications that someone had posted in the main game. But this game proved me wrong. Everyone was active on the discord, and it was full of the sort of reactions, energy and banter you get at an IRL table. I think the discord activity was the main reason this campaign succeeded. Definitely check it out.

Congrats everyone, sounds like table full of excellence!

We had a Hell of a time!
Great interactions with fellow players. "Yes and" was the aspiration. Whenever someone (probably me if I’m being honest) said "no but" a brief bit of introspection and an apology smoothed it over back to "yes and"

There was a lot of world building, teeny nuggets from backstories became entire character arcs.

Everyone worked together (even if our characters were having some … difficulties from literally being in Hell) and Discord really helped there.

It helped us get to know each other better and develop friendships.

The adventure was epic. *

High stakes, engaging and captivating.

Adam's DMing was epic. *

Maps, animated overlays, use of mood-setting music, beautifully and smart formatted posts - you name it. The ol' bloke did it all and then some.

My fellow players were epic. *
Don't get me started on those dudes' RPing. Being the least experienced of the bunch, I was never left out of the loop.

Their tolerance while I was struggling to keep up exceeded my expectations.

Same goes for my gif/meme addiction over the discord.

@Edmund_Balworth , @KoldikSteelskin , @SJoyner72 , Wings fly together.

---

I've had some good experiences around, but this has been EPIC! There were times we were simultaneously biting our nails over on discord.

@Adam , I'm SOOOO glad I nagged myself into the campaign. You're bloody great mate.*

I think what everyone's dying to know is... what's next?! Two campaigns down must make for a very bored Adam!

Congrats everyone! It's great to see all the friendship, fun and enthusiasm!

I need to find a way for ChatGPT to auto-reply for me the next time Adam posts a campaign.

I believe he is taking a well earned break form the GM chair unfortunately

Arr. I've been feeling burnt out for months now, but I couldn't leave without a game with my coding buddies, Antiproduct and Koldiksteelskin.

My only remaining game is as a player in a one shot, and once that's over I'm taking a long rest.

Well, you've definitely earned a break, for so many reasons.