Episode Format

The Host will first welcome the audience/viewers and make any necessary announcements. After this, each player will have two minutes to introduce themselves as players (not their characters) in as much or little detail as they would like. After all of the player introductions are complete, the Crucible of Fate intro video will play.

Once the video is finished, the in-character part of the show begins.

The environment will be described and the names of the contestants for the evening will be called out as they are summoned into the competition and gathered together within the Fate’s Hand Tavern, a sort of home base for the contestants during the competition. The Fate’s Hand Tavern contains several amenities that the contestants can use such as the Gift Shop, Parlay Circle, Archives, and rest area. It is important to note that contestants are not permitted to inflict damage or kill another contestant while in the environs of the Fate’s Hand Tavern.

After some initial exposition, the Host will allow the contestant to introduce themselves. Each contestant will be provided two minutes to describe their character, focussing on anything that would be apparent to the other contestants and Eyes of Truth. They may use any remaining to address the Host, the audience, or their fellow contestants, roleplaying in character.

Contestants can describe/introduce their character as they see fit, but are not required to provide any details about their character other than the descriptive details that would be obvious to the other contestants. However, they may provide as much detail, in character, as they would like. Depending on the character, it may be more advantageous to provide or withhold information about their character's class, motivations, inventory, abilities, etc. In some cases hiding your abilities may be more strategic, while for others, plainly stating their motivations and capabilities may solicit potential partnerships or deals.

After all the contestants have introduced themselves, the group will have five minutes to openly role play amongst themselves. At this point and provided with some time to role play and interact in character for a few minutes before being summoned into the Crucible.

Next, the Host will pick a contestant to roll to select the "room" the contestants will be competing in. This room might be a lair, escape room or battleground, depending on the episode. The Host will then explain the rules of the game that was selected.

Before the game begins, players will be provided the opportunity to do one of the following things (all of which are explained in detail below in the section called Intermission Actions):

• Visit the Gift Shop
• Parlay
• Cast Spells, including rituals

Once all contestants have completed their single intermission action, the group will enter the first game zone of the night. The first game will then be played until a Game End Condition is met or time expires, at which point time will stop and a portal that can transport the surviving contestants back to the Fate’s Hand Tavern will open.

During an Intermission, surviving contestants are granted one level to be applied to any class for which they meet the Multiclassing Prerequisites as stated in the 5E Player’s Hand Book.  Characters receive the max number of hit points for the new class that was added.

After Leveling up, contestants will be allowed to take two Intermission Actions. The Intermission Actions are explained in detail in the next section.

Once all contestants have completed their Intermission Actions, the group will select the game zone for the second game of the night by rolling a d20. The second game will then be played until a Game End Condition is met or time expires, at which point time will stop and a portal that can transport the surviving contestants back to the Fate’s Hand Tavern will open.

Surviving contestants are once again granted one level to be applied to any class for which they meet the Multiclassing Prerequisites as stated in the 5E Player’s Hand Book.  Characters receive the max number of hit points for the new class that was added.

After Leveling up, contestants will be allowed to take two Intermission Actions. The Intermission Actions are explained in detail in the next section.

Once all contestants have completed their Intermission Actions, the group will select the arena zone for the third and final game of the night by rolling a d10. Split the Party will then be played until only three contestants remain, at which point time will stop and a portal that can transport the surviving contestants back to the Fate’s Hand Tavern will open.

Surviving contestants are once again granted one level to be applied to any class for which they meet the Multiclassing Prerequisites as stated in the 5E Player’s Hand Book.  Characters receive the max number of hit points for the new class that was added.

At the end of each episode, the three survivors will gain the benefits of a long rest before advancing to the next round.

In the time between episodes (estimated to be 3 weeks currently), the audience is able to reward one of the survivors of the most recent episode by voting in a YouTube Community poll for the survivor that role-played the best, meta-gamed the least, or had the biggest impact on the episode.

I define “best role-playing” as the player that sticks to their character’s back story, acts according to their alignment, and ignores information gained as a player, that their character would not be privy to.