Dragon Delves: A Short Campaign for Learning D&D!
Perfect for new adventurers! Delve into ten mysterious dungeons and face legendary dragons of every metal and color in this thrilling epic campaign.
TYPE
SYSTEM
LEVELS
EXPERIENCE
Details
Weekly / Mon, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (UTC)
$25 / Session
Ages 13 to 14
0 / 5 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
Designed for an adventuring party of beginner players, DRAGON DELVES is a campaign of interconnected dragon-centric adventures. Delve into mysterious dungeons, explore captivating fantasy locations, and come face to face with all the chromatic and metallic dragons, each with unique temperaments, alignments, and magic. In this ten-part interconnected campaign, players will journey across wild landscapes to uncover ancient dungeons and confront the most iconic creatures in fantasy. Designed specifically for beginners and 13-to-14-year-olds, this adventure is built to teach the rules of the game naturally while plunging players into a thrilling, high-stakes story where their choices truly matter. Every session brings a new discovery. As the party travels from glittering subterranean caverns to volcanic peaks, they will come face-to-face with every type of chromatic and metallic dragon in the realm. But this isn't just about fighting monsters; it is about learning how to negotiate with a proud silver dragon, outsmart a cunning green dragon, and work together as a team to solve ancient puzzles. The core themes are heroic discovery, empowerment, solving problems creatively, and forging friendships at the table. As a DM, my goal is to make the fantasy world feel incredibly real and immersive. I love focusing on deep worldbuilding and rich environment design, bringing locations to life with carefully planned layouts and illustrations so players can vividly picture every dungeon room and NPC they encounter. Whether we are tracking our journey across a highly detailedworld or exploring the crumbling structural ruins of a lost civilization, my table is all about collaborative storytelling in a welcoming space.
More details
Ages 13 to 14
The party will be made up of only kids ages 13 to 14, led by a vetted professional Dungeon Master. This game will be recorded for quality & safety purposes and saved securely for 90 days. To review the content allowed in this age band see our FAQ.
Themes
Content warnings
Game style
Schedule
Ongoing campaign
Weekly on Monday
2 hours
Once 4 players have joined, DM_Alex | Zoological Gardens will start posting upcoming sessions and they'll show up right here. Join now to save your spot, and we'll send you a heads up when everything's set.
Meet the Dungeon Master
1 year on Young Heroes
Highly rated for: Beginner Friendly, Creativity, Knows the Rules
About me
I’m a children's librarian, actor, musician, and lifelong Dungeon Master. But of all my ever-multiplying hobbies, I love running TTRPGs the most! One of the greatest joys of my career has been building an ongoing D&D program for kids and teens in grades K-9 at my local library, where over 60 children play and DM every month. I’ve seen firsthand how D&D acts as a powerful, constructive sandbox for young people. It naturally nurtures socioemotional development, sharpens creative and critical thinking, boosts problem-solving skills, and fosters deep empathy by bringing kids together from all backgrounds. Whether your young hero is brand-new to the hobby or ready to flex their storytelling muscles, I provide an encouraging, imaginative space where every player gets to shine.
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Reviews from parents and guardians
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Zoom Access: A device with a reliable internet connection to join our video call on Zoom. Microphone & Audio: A working mic and speakers/headphones so everyone can easily talk and hear the action. D&D Beyond Account: A free account on D&D Beyond so you can access your character sheet (pre-made characters will be provided by the DM unless you submit your own custom 1st-level sheet ahead of time). No Prior Reading Needed: You do not need to read the rules or buy any rulebooks ahead of time. I will guide you step-by-step through everything as we play!
What DM_Alex | Zoological Gardens brings to the table
I prioritize fast-paced, cinematic action and the "Rule of Cool", meaning clever, imaginative stunts always take priority over dry math. Every participant receives tailored guidance, steady pacing, and a dynamic space built entirely around collaborative storytelling.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
D&D Beyond
D&D Beyond is the official digital companion platform for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. It offers character building and management tools, content collection, navigation, and organization, and a suite of virtual tabletop tools like encounter builders, and maps in both 2D and 3D.
Zoom
Zoom is a videoconferencing software used for video and telecommunications around the world by businesses, governments, and of course, RPG groups! It's a simple, functional, and ubiquitous program for reliable video chat.
Safety
StartPlaying is committed to providing a safe and fun space for kids to break into roleplaying games with our team of professional Dungeon Masters.
Vetted Dungeon Masters
We review every Dungeon Master's application and require background checks for them to work with kids.
Reviews from parents
We require Dungeon Masters to submit at least 3 reviews from previous games they have run.
Recorded sessions
We record kids' sessions for safety and review. You can access recordings for up to 90 days after the session has run.
Identity Verification
Your Dungeon Master will verify each player's identity at the start of each session before letting you into the call.
Secure Payments
All payments are done through Stripe, one of the most secure payment processors in the world.
Dedicated Trust & Safety
Our team works to ensure that every player has a welcoming, safe, and fun experience. We are ready to assist if needed.
How DM_Alex | Zoological Gardens creates a safe table
Pre-Session Questionnaire Before the dice even roll, I provide a brief, confidential questionnaire for parents to fill out via StartPlaying's messaging system. This allows families to privately communicate any specific boundaries, phobias (like spiders or claustrophobia), or off-limit topics, ensuring the adventure is perfectly tailored and completely comfortable for your child from the very beginning. X, N, and O System During the game, we use the X, N, and O safety system via Zoom chat or hand signals to guarantee real-time comfort. An "X" means we immediately stop and change the current scene without question, an "N" means we fast-forward or pivot away from a situation, and an "O" is a quick check-in to confirm everyone is having a great time and ready to keep going. Stars & Wishes To wrap up every session on a positive note, we use a cooldown exercise called "Stars and Wishes." Players award a "Star" to celebrate a teammate's clever idea or epic moment, and make a "Wish" for something they hope to encounter in a future game. It acts as a great transition out of the game, builds camaraderie, and lets me know exactly what the players are enjoying most!
Safety tools used
Additional tables
0 available
Frequently asked questions
$25.00
/ Session