The Shifting Vault — Sarasota's Competitive 5E-Compatible Tournament

Three Things To Know

No prep. No optimized builds. No 20-page backstory. Walk in, pick a character, play.

The Format

Every table runs the same dungeon at the same time. Six party members at each table, one DM per table. You'll have 8 characters to choose from — this month every table has a cleric in the pool. No one plays their home character here. Everyone is level 3.

The Fold

Phase one: your team picks Room A or Room B at every junction on the way in. The choices feel safe. Phase two: the moment you grab the relic, the vault folds. The rooms you skipped become the only way out. You built this dungeon. Now survive it.

The Scoreboard

200 points across three pillars. No penalties. No multipliers. One winning team. Scores are announced at the end. Everyone else leaves with pride, a story, and first-access to Season 1's next event.

80 pts

How You Interact

The first table to engage the world a new way scores highest. Novelty pays. Repeats earn less.

80 pts

What You Do

Speed, combat, boss rounds, extraction — tracked and visible.

40 pts

Why The Dungeon Exists

Five questions after the run. What did you notice? What did you piece together?

Lock In Your Seat

24 seats. First come, first served.
We'll email you May 15 with check-in details and everything else you need.

* required

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

5E Experience *

Returning (it's been a while) Casual Regular Player Veteran / DM

Party Situation — optional

Anything We Should Know? — optional

How Did You Hear About Us? — optional

I understand photos and video may be taken at the event and used by House Murdock for promotional purposes. (required)

I'm attending voluntarily and release House Murdock LLC and Dreaming City Games from liability for any incidental risks of attendance. (required)

You'll be sent to Square to complete your $25 payment. Seat is locked in the moment payment clears. Square accepts all major cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Cash App.

What Happens After You Reserve

Pay at checkout · right now

After you submit this form, we'll send you to Square to complete your $25 payment. The moment it clears, your seat is locked in. You'll get a Square receipt and a confirmation from us.

Pre-event email · May 15

Parking info, check-in time, what to bring, and answers to anything you asked on the form.

Event day · May 16 · 12:45 PM

Arrive at Dreaming City Games. Check in with your name at the door — you're already paid. Pick your character from the pool. Meet your party. The Keeper opens the vault at 1:00 sharp.

Can't make it? All entries 100% refundable.

Email hello@housemurdock.com and we'll refund your $25. Life happens. Hope to see you next time.

Questions

I've never played fifth edition. Can I still come?

Honest answer: probably not the best fit. The Shifting Vault is built for people who already know the basics of fifth edition and want a new way to play it — the pace, the scoring, and the competitive stakes all assume you're comfortable with the game already. We're working on a casual co-op track (Cave of Dungeons) designed for first-timers. Reserve a seat here anyway if you want — you'll be first to hear when the beginner track is ready.

Can I bring my own character?

No. Pregens only. Every table runs the same dungeon with the same set of 8 characters — that's what makes it a fair competition. You'll pick yours at the door.

Can I bring my party?

Yes — and we'll keep you together. Playing with your normal group is encouraged. List your friends in the "party situation" field when you sign up so we know who came together. The only time we'd have to split a party is if we hit capacity and multiple groups register for the same remaining seats — in that case it's first come first served, groups who reserved earlier stay together.

What does "competitive" actually mean here?

Every table plays the same dungeon at the same time. At the end, we tally scores across three pillars — how you interact with the world, what you do at the table, and why the dungeon exists. 200 points total. One team wins. Everyone else gets a story worth telling.

Is there a prize?

Yes. Announced at the door. No participation trophies — this is a real tournament with one winning team. First Season · Event One is about setting the format. Prize pool scales as the seasons continue.

What if I need to cancel?

All entries are 100% refundable. Life happens. Email hello@housemurdock.com and we'll refund your $25. Hope to see you next time.

And if you don't make it and can't reach us: if we're able to seat a walk-in in your spot the day of the event, we'll refund you anyway. You're not losing your $25 just because life got in the way.

Can I just show up and pay at the door?

Reserving online is how you lock in a seat. Seats sell in advance, and once the 24 are gone, they're gone. If any remain the morning of May 16, walk-ins are welcome — $25, cash or card — but don't count on it. The safe move is reserving now. Either way, every entry is 100% refundable — online or at the door.

Will there be a miniature giant space hamster?

Come and find out.

When's the next event?

Each month features a different guaranteed character class at every table — this month it's the cleric, next month it'll be something else. Next event's date and featured class will be announced soon. Reserve a seat here to hear about it first.

◆ Disclaimer ◆

House Murdock LLC assumes no liability for: critical failures on diplomacy · tactical disputes with your party · friendships newly tested over optimal play · the emotional consequences of an unplanned TPK · attempted extraplanar diplomacy with the Keeper · any sighting, accidental petting, or successful recruitment of a miniature giant space hamster.