Mirth and Mayhem
Slay beasts, dodge death, and maybe outdrink a duck—welcome to Dragonbane, where chaos and comedy rule the Misty Vale!
About the adventure
Welcome to a land of steel and sorcery, laughter and loss, where chaos reigns and fate is a cruel jester. In this Dragonbane campaign, you'll brave the cursed wilds of the Misty Vale, uncover ancient secrets, and clash with monstrous foes—all while trying not to get eaten by ducks or lost in a drinking contest. This is a gritty fantasy tale fueled by mirth and mayhem, where heroics and hilarity go hand-in-hand. Whether you're a veteran delver or new to the tabletop, you'll find a seat at the fire and a sword at your side. We begin with the Misty Vale adventure and plan to venture into Path to Glory, with a possible voyage to the legendary city of Arkand—City of Waves and Flame—on the horizon. What to Expect: A 3–6 hour session (aiming for ~4 hours) Open table for new and experienced players “Rule of Cool” playstyle—player choices drive the story Gritty fantasy with unpredictable twists, laughs, and deadly consequences Supportive, welcoming, and flexible GMing Grab your gear, say a prayer to the gods (or not), and prepare for glory, disaster, and maybe a little of both.
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
1 year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Voices, Rule of Cool
About me
Hey there! I’m Gareth, and I’ve been rolling dice and building worlds for most of my life. My first brush with TTRPGs came through Dragon Dice by TSR—I didn’t know the rules, but the magic of it hooked me. That fascination turned into dungeon-crafting with Hero Quest, and eventually led to a lifelong love of storytelling and tabletop adventures. Over the years, I’ve played and explored a wide variety of games: Pathfinder 1e, D&D 3.5, Vampire, Werewolf, and more. I’ve been actively DMing since 2015 with the release of 5e, and I haven’t looked back. I see myself as both narrator and fellow player—we’re building the story together, not just playing through a script. I love improvising when the players go off the rails (which they always do), creating immersive environments with music and narration, and making sure everyone at the table is engaged—whether they love combat, RP, exploration, or just rolling shiny math rocks. I primarily run 5e, but I’m not bound to just one system. I pull from a wide range of 5e-compatible content, especially third-party publishers like Kobold Press. I also run Shadowdark, Vampire, Werewolf 5e, and dabble in Numenera, Blackbirds, Wrath & Glory, and Coyote & Crow. If it has cool mechanics and a great setting, I want to bring it to the table. Let’s roll some dice and tell a story worth remembering.
View Profile →Reviews (12)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Voices
Rule of Cool
Gareth is a fantastic GM for players of all experience. He's patient and helpful when explaining to new players how everything works but also great with experienced players! All of Gareth's campaigns are entertaining and fun to play through! He's fantastic at adapting to when things go drastically unexpected and keeps the flow moving. I'd recommend Gareth as a GM for any level of group or player because you're guaranteed to have a great adventure!
Character creation
Creating your character
Character creation will happen during session 0. All characters will start at level 1.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Players will need a Webcam and microphone. Alchemy and discord will also be needed for play. Reading the rules ahead of time is not required, but I strongly encourage players to familiarize themselves with the basic rules. I can provide a quick start guide upon request. If you want to create characters before session 0, that is fine as well, and I can provide any help you may need.
What Gareth brings to the table
As your GM, I provide a fun, immersive, and flexible experience where player choices shape the world and story. I fully embrace the Rule of Cool—if it sounds awesome or hilarious, we’ll find a way to make it happen. I’m not a rules lawyer; I focus on the story, the fun, and keeping things moving. Expect a mix of gritty fantasy, chaotic moments, and meaningful choices. You’ll get dynamic character voices, atmospheric music and sound effects, and a GM who’s skilled at improvising and rolling with player decisions—no railroad tracks here. Combat will be engaging and tactical when needed but always in service of the story, not crunch for crunch’s sake. Whether you're brand new or a veteran of the table, you'll find a game that welcomes your creativity, rewards bold choices, and always leaves room for mirth and mayhem.
Homebrew rules
There are no homebrew rules for this campaign as of yet, but that can certainly change.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Gareth creates a safe table
Player safety and comfort are important to me, and I aim to create a space where everyone feels respected and welcome. We’ll start with a Session 0 to go over the setting, game tone, basic rules, and character creation. This is also a chance to set expectations and ensure everyone’s on the same page about the style of play. While I don’t use formal safety tools like Lines and Veils or X/N/O cards, I maintain an open-door policy—players are always welcome to message me privately before, during, or after sessions if something makes them uncomfortable or if they have concerns. I take those conversations seriously and will always work with you to make sure the game stays fun and enjoyable for everyone at the table. My goal is to foster trust, encourage communication, and build a collaborative game where everyone feels like they belong.