This server is a D&D 5e server where all games take place in a shared persistent world set in the Forgotten Realms and broader D&D multiverse. Player characters are adventurers in the Hawthorne Guild, an adventurer’s guild based out of the Sword Coast, and head out on various adventures as ran by DMs. Adventure events and characters are persistent, with characters accruing XP, wealth, and loot between games, and starting at either level 3 or level 5.
While not exactly that, it is similar to what some folks call a “Westmarches server.” In essence, you can create characters that participate in adventures ran by various DMs, with character progression and adventure events persisting between games. You can think of it as akin to an MMO, adventuring alongside various fellow players under various DMs, and able to participate in varying storylines DMs tell here.
Most games are oneshots set in the same shared, connected game world, though there are also open multisessions, open campaigns, and traditional closed campaigns as well. We typically average around 6 games a day across various time zones, with games posted in our #game-advertisement and #game-listings channel.
They are one in the same, and the single most helpful document on the server. The AC has basically all of the information as to what is allowed on the server, mechanics-wise. Link to Allowed Content
The DM is checking to see if you have completed your first 10 games in Hawthorne. As long as you are on your first 10 games, you’re a new hire. Bear in mind, any session that goes longer than 6 hours will count as multiple games.
You can manage your ping subscriptions in #role-select
There are semi-regular New Player Workshops, run by the Community Guides team. Those frequently go over basic D&D stuff. Additionally, you can ask in #Rules Discussion if you have a couple of specific questions. Aside from that, reading the Free Rules for the version you intend to play is a fantastic start.
If there is no 2024 version of it you may use the 2014 version, otherwise you must use the 2024 version. For example:
No, we operate on the honor system here! But you can post it in the #Character-Discussion channel to get it double checked if you’d like!
No, here we use point buy (27 points). Point Buy Calculator
Yes, you can buy anything listed under the Equipment Tab of the Allowed Content.
Characters start at level 3 or level 5. There is no limit to the number of characters you create, so you can create a level 3 and a level 5 character (or more…). See Player’s Guide for character creation.
In the pins in the #Character Discussion channel are several links. Bear in mind that all campaigns have some amount of homebrew that is of the creator’s own making and is not server allowed. Before grabbing a homebrew thing from any of these areas, check on the Allowed Content to ensure it is permitted.
The community as a whole is very helpful here, you can ask in #Character Discussion channel.
Master Adventure Log, you may count it as a diary for the players in Hawthorne. It records your sessions, items, and downtime activities. See Your MAL
You will be sent your MAL through email once you get your adventurer tag. If you can not find it in your inbox then check your spam folder. If it is not in your spam folder contact PR and they will resolve it.
Depending on the issue, you can ask either the Auditors in Auditors Corner or the Player Relations team in #PR Couch.
There’s a number of DMs that run 2014 games and there’s a fair amount of older 2014 PCs among more tenured server members here. However, folks typically are curious and interested to try out the new options, so 2024 games are statistically more prevalent overall. To clarify and bear in mind as well, 2014 PCs can play without issue in either 2014 or 2024 games.
We have DMs from around the world! There is a large population of North American-based DMs, but also DMs in Asia and Europe. Games are typically advertised using a timestamp that automatically is converted to your own timezone.
You can find many throughout the internet. You can use any you like, but here are a couple of the more common ones: Heroic Token or Roll Advantage
Primarily, Voice games use Roll20, Foundry, and AboveVTT. Play-by-Post games are typically run using Avrae.
Getting into a game includes putting up an application in a game listing which can be found in Game Listing Channel. Your best bet is to find games in game advertisements however as not all listings are open games (i.e games that are open to everyone, as there are prefilled games for story purposes and etc.)
Tiers are mostly used to categorise games and decide rewards and difficulty of quests. Here are the character tiers:
There are methods of revival, and you may also make a new character. If you are worried about character loss, do ask the DM before playing, as they will know whether losing your character will be likely or otherwise in their session.
They are indeed! But they are rare and you might need to establish a rapport with DMs to get into one, reason being that losing players in a westmarch server isnt a issue with 1 shots but losing a established PC in a campaign is quite a problem, furthermore having a rapport with the DM and other players will make the game fun for a long time, after all you will be seeing each other regularly!
The community has a ratio of more active players to active DMs, as a result, being picked for games isn’t guaranteed. In the meantime, although this doesn’t guarantee getting a game, interacting with the community outside of games can help establish a positive relationship for both your PC and yourself, which certainly does not hurt your chances!
There are a few methods for this. The best method is to let DMs who you have played with learn about your character’s motivations and why you want that session run. Should they be convinced or inspired will be the biggest factors to having such a session come to life.
Softlock = Can play in other games, however what you applied with into the session will not change, ie your lvl 6 character will be a lvl 6 character even if you hit lvl 13 outside of the sessions where they are softlocked. Hardlock = Cannot play in any game apart from these sessions.
Play by post. Its done by text channels on our server, you would play it like a voice game except you now express your character’s actions in text!
No, until the session log is posted and you’ve logged it in your MAL, the XP, GP, DTP and loot gain is not official, and does not carry over to your next game.
Most games on the server are open to spectators, if they aren’t the DM will list it in multiple places (including the lobby header.) Typically, spectators observe the following courtesies for the DM and the game:
You can buy items from NPCs if the item is on the Equipment tab of the AC and doesn’t say you can’t. Items on the Loot Tab exclusively are only able to be obtained 3 ways: Drops from playing in or running a session; Trade from another player; Crafting the item.
The full Crafting rules are here, but the basics are that you must have a bastion with the right facility, the required tool proficiency, proficiency in the Arcana skill, and the ability to cast any spells yourself that the item can cast.
You can apply to be a DM without having played a game yet, you just have to make a request in #player-requests to PR and Auditors to check in with you after submitting the form. However, playing a few games first if possible is recommended to get to know folks and the server.
Fill in a DM Registration form
The server takes no official stance on AI generated images. Players and DMs are allowed to use it in their own games and for their characters. Some players and DMs prefer not to play in games where AI generated images are present, which is typically indicated in a game ad. We do also have and promote several active Artists in our community, the nature of whose work is obviously entangled with the existence of AI generated images.
We would suggest heading to the rules team and asking what needs to be done to get this mechanical change or quirk. Do remember that cosmetics changes for flavor is totally fine!
No
Ping the Player Relations team either in the thread where you are currently or in the #PR Couch channel to get in contact with us right away. Alternatively, you can submit an Incident Report, found here. Depending on your situation and comfort level, you are welcome to do either, or both, as you feel necessary.
If something makes you uncomfortable on the server, then it is more than enough to be a reason to reach out to PR. All genuine concerns are taken seriously and addressed accordingly. When in doubt, let us make the call on how to handle it.
Hawthorne Guild
