Welcome to the Horizon

Beyond the portal lies Valloren: an unfamiliar world of ancient forests, forgotten civilisations, strange magic, and untold mysteries.

The Juggernauts Adventuring Guild has discovered a portal leading to this unknown realm. The first scouting party sent through has not returned, and there is no guarantee that the portal will allow anyone to return home.

Despite the risks, an expedition is being assembled. Adventurers, explorers, scholars, warriors, and wanderers have volunteered to cross the threshold and discover what lies beyond.

You are one of those volunteers.

Your character is already an established member of the Juggernauts Guild. You've had adventures before, developed your abilities, and earned your place among its ranks. But nothing you've experienced has prepared you for what awaits on the other side.

Project Horizon is a shared-world campaign built around exploration, discovery, and player-driven adventures. Your character's choices will help shape the world that every other player explores.

1. Character Creation Rules

Starting Level: 3

Ruleset: Dungeons & Dragons 2024 (5.5e)

Character Platform: D&D Beyond

You may use official character creation options from the 2024 Player's Handbook and compatible official expansions available on D&D Beyond, including additional classes, subclasses, species, backgrounds, feats, and spells.

Use the 2024 version of a rule where one exists. Older official material may be used where compatible with the 2024 ruleset.

All characters should be created at Level 3, with their chosen subclass where applicable.

Standard starting equipment and gold rules apply unless otherwise agreed with a DM.

Specialists — Free Expertise

Every character gains one additional Expertise in a skill of their choice.

Choose one skill in which you are proficient. Your Proficiency Bonus is doubled for ability checks using that skill.

This is granted to all characters regardless of class and is in addition to any Expertise normally provided by their class or features.

Brave New World — Ability Scores

Characters may use the standard array, point buy, or roll for their ability scores.

For those choosing to roll:

• Roll 4d6 and discard the lowest die, six times.
• Rolling takes place together at Session 0.
• The minimum score from a roll is 6, and the maximum is 17, before species/background bonuses or other character creation increases.
• Gentleman's Roll: If the sum of your six rolled scores is below 70, you may discard the entire set and roll again.

Rolled scores can be assigned to your abilities in any order.

Big Swings — Risk and Reward

You may voluntarily reduce your lowest ability score from 8 to 6, in exchange for a +1 bonus to another ability score that is already above 14.

This is an optional character creation choice, intended for players who want a more pronounced strength and weakness.

The normal ability score maximums still apply.

2. Class Adjustments

All classes otherwise follow their official 2024 rules, with the following Project Horizon modifications.

Ranger

Expanded Favored Enemy

At Ranger Level 3, The Hunter's Mark spell granted by Favored Enemy no longer requires Concentration.

All other rules for the spell and feature remain unchanged.

Rogue

Expanded Critical Hits

As Rogues advance through the campaign tiers, their weapon attacks become increasingly deadly.

• Tier 1 (Levels 3–4): Critical hit on a natural 20.
• Tier 2 (Levels 5–10): Critical hit on a natural 19–20.
• Tier 3 (Levels 11+): Critical hit on a natural 18–20.

This applies to the Rogue's attack rolls, not to attacks made by other characters.

Expanded Cunning Strike

Two additional options for the Cunning Strike feature gained at level 7 & level 9.

Level 7: The Blade Itself - Cost 1d6

You can activate the Slow, Sap, or Push mastery property, in addition to the mastery property you’re using with your weapon.

Level 9: The Sound of Silence - Cost 1d6

If the target makes a concentration saving throw due to this sneak attack it makes it at disadvantage. Also the target must succeed on a constitution saving throw or cannot speak until the start of your next turn.

3. Who Are You?

Your character is more than their class, species, or ability scores.

Every adventurer entering Valloren has a history with the Juggernauts Guild, a reason for volunteering, and something they are leaving behind.

During Session 0, we'll explore the following questions together.

Your Place in the Guild

What role did your character play in the Juggernauts Adventuring Guild?

Were you a seasoned adventurer, an expedition scout, a researcher, a healer, a quartermaster, a specialist, or something entirely different?

Consider how you know the other members of the expedition. Perhaps you've fought alongside them before, worked together on previous assignments, or only know them by reputation.

The Decision to Leave

What made your character volunteer for a one-way journey into an unknown world?

Were you driven by curiosity, ambition, duty, desperation, loyalty, or the promise of a fresh start?

Whatever your reason, you understood that you might never come home.

Hopes and Fears

What does your character hope to find in this new world? And what do they fear they might find?

Perhaps you're searching for knowledge, wealth, purpose, redemption, or a place to belong.

Perhaps you're afraid of being forgotten, of failing those who depend on you, or of discovering something that changes everything you believe.

Something to Remember

What does your character carry to remind them of the loved ones they left behind?

It might be a letter, a small keepsake, a piece of jewellery, an old photograph, a lucky charm, or something that seems utterly ordinary to everyone else.

Think about who gave it to you, what it means, and why you couldn't leave it behind.

4. Preparing for Session 0

Before Session 0, please:

1. Have a character concept in mind, including a class and possible species or background.
2. Join the Project Horizon campaign on D&D Beyond.
3. Join our WestMarches.games community and Discord.
4. Think about the four character questions above. You don't need fully written answers yet.
5. If you want to roll ability scores, wait until Session 0 so we can do this together.

We'll use Session 0 to finish character creation, establish connections between our characters, explain how expeditions and the shared world operate, and prepare everyone for the journey ahead.

The portal is open. The frontier is waiting. What will you bring through?