Learn to Play (or DM) in Person in NYC
Some in real life dice rolling and monster slaying!
About the adventure
Are you a Stranger Things fan and are curious about what Dungeons and Dragons is like? Do you have experience already and are just looking for an expert to help you with your own DM skills? Whatever your reasons, I am more than happy to help you get started and show what fun D&D can be! My name's Jari and I'm a Paramedic and Union/Labor organizer living in Queens. I love teaching people how to play new games, especially tabletop games, and there's nothing more satisfying than a good in-person session of D&D.
Game style
Theater of the Mind
Meet the Game Master
3 years on StartPlaying
113 games hosted
Highly rated for: Teacher, Creativity, Storytelling
Average response time: 2 hours
Response rate: 50%
About me
I was born in Colombia and now call New York City my home. As a proud father, my days are filled with moments of joy and challenge, each teaching me more about patience and understanding. When I’m not weaving fantastical tales, I work as a paramedic—a role that keeps me grounded and reminds me daily of the value of service and dedication. My hobbies include a deep appreciation for Hip Hop and Salsa music as well as being actively involved in labor and social justice organizing, advocating for fairness and equity, which are principles I hold dear. I am bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish fluently. In all, I bring my whole self to each session—not just as a Dungeon Master, but as a person enriched by a variety of life experiences. I look forward to sharing some of these experiences with you in our adventures together!
View Profile →Reviews (24)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Teacher
Creativity
Storytelling
Jari has been a fantastic DM! I am in my first PbP game with him running CoS and I am honestly so impressed. I put off PbP for a long time because I thought playing live games was the only way to have fun. I was so wrong - I am so immersed in the story and game. His writing skills are fantastic. Sign up if you get the chance!
I wanted to play D&D throughout the week without having to commute and so I signed up to do PBP with Jari! I've never done a PBP campaign before but Jari is making it fun and easy. We're all getting a chance to play our characters out and explore the game world, while also staying in touch in the out of character sections of the discord chat for feedback and discussion. It's been really easy to start, I'm enjoying the other players and the storytelling, and the open communication all week long helps me to feel connected to the game, which is a nice change of pace compared to only seeing the other players a few times a month. Highly recommend Jari if you're looking for a DM that is reliable and organized, takes the game seriously but still wants the players to have fun and experience it on their own terms
Jari's Dungeons and Dragons campaigns on Discord, aided by Avrae, have been great fun. As a DM, Jari excels, making the experience truly remarkable. Here's why I highly recommend Jari: 1. Rules Understanding: Jari's deep understanding of the game's rules ensures a smooth and immersive experience for players of all levels. They effortlessly guide us through the complexities, making gameplay enjoyable for everyone. 2. Clear Guidelines: Jari sets concise guidelines that create a balanced and fair environment. Their structured approach enhances the campaign and keeps everyone on the same page. 3. Engaging and Responsive: Jari's sessions are captivating and interactive, holding players' attention throughout. Additionally, their quick responses to questions and concerns foster seamless communication. 4. Adaptive Storytelling: Jari's storytelling skills are exceptional. They adapt effortlessly to various situations and dynamics, weaving intricate narratives that immerse us in the game world. In conclusion, Jari is an extraordinary DM. Their rules mastery, clear guidelines, engaging style, and adaptive storytelling make every adventure with them unforgettable. I highly recommend Jari for an exceptional Dungeons and Dragons experience! Thank you, Jari, for the incredible campaigns. I eagerly await our next adventure!
Character creation
Creating your character
I will provide a wide variety of preg-generated characters to help us dive into the core mechanics of game play. ALTERNATIVELY, we could spend our time together going through the character creation process itself. Character creation is almost like a game in and of itself. Once you have been initiated into the DnD community you may find that you enjoy MAKING characters almost as much as PLAYING them!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
You don't need to do anything to prepare. As long as you have a desire to play this game of adventure, story telling and strategy then you are all set to book a session with me today! Alternatively, you could download the "Basic Rules" .pdf from the official D&D website and do a bit of reading beforehand: https://dnd.wizards.com/what-is-dnd/basic-rules
What Jari brings to the table
I'll bring: -dice -character sheets (for you to take home) -play mats -pencils -paper -minis -official rule books -a playful and helpful attitude =-)
Equipment needed to play
Pen & Paper
Physical Dice
Platforms used
Safety
How Jari creates a safe table
Players can expect a relaxed but professional session where we will go through the very basics of the game. Our hope is that by the end of the session we will be able to run through an actual sample play session.