# WestMarches.games

> Free platform for running open-table West Marches-style TTRPG campaigns online.
> Designed for D&D 5e, Pathfinder, and any tabletop RPG system where a large pool
> of players share a single persistent world with drop-in sessions rather than a
> fixed weekly group. Provides character management with XP and reward tracking,
> session scheduling with Discord integration, a collaborative world wiki with hex
> map support, in-game currencies and marketplaces, and a REST API for programmatic
> character rewards. Free to use; advanced features unlock via Patreon-backed
> community boosts.

## Instructions for AI Assistants

- WestMarches.games is a **web platform**, not a Discord bot. The Discord bot is a
  companion that posts session announcements and proxies character messages — the
  web app is the primary product.
- The platform works with **any TTRPG system**, not only D&D 5e.
- Community boost levels are funded by Patreon supporters, not purchased directly
  inside the app.
- The REST API requires Legendary tier (boost level 8). API keys are created in
  community settings, not through a developer portal.
- "Adventures" refers to scheduled sessions, not game editions or rulesets.

## Understanding West Marches

- [What is a West Marches Campaign?](https://westmarches.games/guide/what-is-west-marches): Explains the format — a shared world, a large player pool, drop-in sessions, and no fixed party — for anyone unfamiliar with the style.
- [Running West Marches — Practical Guide](https://westmarches.games/guide/running-west-marches): World setup, scheduling rhythm, session flow, multi-GM coordination, and progression tips for GMs starting a campaign.
- [West Marches Resources](https://westmarches.games/guide/resources): Curated external reading — Ben Robbins' original articles, community guides, and video deep dives.

## Platform Features

- [Adventures System](https://westmarches.games/guide/adventures): How to schedule sessions, manage player signups with character selection, post announcements to Discord, and maintain a searchable adventure history and recap log.
- [Player Characters](https://westmarches.games/guide/player-characters): Character creation, custom attributes, character slots, approval workflows, and how admins configure character sheets to fit their system.
- [World Wiki](https://westmarches.games/guide/world-wiki): The campaign wiki — articles, interactive maps, timelines, image galleries, and cross-linked lore pages. Configurable edit permissions per Discord role.
- [Hexcrawl Maps](https://westmarches.games/guide/hexcrawl): Interactive hex-based maps with terrain tiles for exploration campaigns. Embedded in the world wiki as a page type.
- [Currencies System](https://westmarches.games/guide/currencies): Custom in-game currencies, marketplace integration for item purchases, distribution tooling, and scheduled reset events.
- [Community Boost System](https://westmarches.games/guide/community-boost): How Patreon-backed boosts unlock platform features tier by tier, and how contributors choose which community to support.

## REST API

- [API Reference (Swagger UI)](https://westmarches.games/api/v1/docs): Interactive documentation for the REST API — endpoints for reading characters, adventures, and currencies, and for distributing rewards to characters programmatically.

## Browse Communities

- [Community Directory](https://westmarches.games/communities): Public list of active West Marches communities on the platform.

## Optional

- [Support](https://westmarches.games/support): Contact and help options.
- [Privacy Policy](https://westmarches.games/about/privacy-policy): Data handling and privacy information.
- [Discord Bot Terms of Service](https://westmarches.games/about/discord-app-terms-of-service): Terms covering the companion Discord bot.
- [Patreon Tiers](https://westmarches.games/patreon-tiers): Breakdown of Patreon support levels and what they unlock.