Valiant Heroes IN DRAGONLANCE (Shadow of the Dragon Queen)

I wish I could pick every tag for James! Seriously, he deserves them all! He’s not just inclusive, creative, and super knowledgeable about so many TTRPG systems (and how to mix them together in the *coolest* ways), he’s also built this gorgeous, deeply detailed world that’s perfect for both seasoned players and total newbies. James was actually my very first DM, and I couldn’t have dreamed up a better one. He’s been endlessly patient, kind, and understanding, always ready with answers to my many (many!) questions as I learned the ropes. He balances everything so well- RP, combat, character arcs- and makes so much room for player creativity, meeting our ideas with genuine excitement and joy, as well as providing his own ideas to more easily incorporate our own into the campaign! One of my absolute favorite things about James is his confidence. He believes in his game, and it shows! But at the same time, he’s always asking what we liked, what could improve, and how to make the next session even better. His combo of creativity and openness is unmatched in the creative space. Truly, this is the best. James is the best. If you get a chance to be in one of his games, take it!

I've played with him in many campaigns in the past, both premade modules and homebrew campaigns. He has a knack for world building. He skillfully incorporates your backstory (brutally so, and I mean that as a compliment!), and places you in difficult positions, making your character question their motives and beliefs. If you want a complex narrative and to have your character take part in grand plots and fierce and deadly combat, this could be the GM for you!

James is a thoughtful and creative GM who excels at weaving player backstories into the narrative in a way that feels organic. When we played Icewind Dale, I had a generic local backstory that made me feel more like an NPC more than a character. He helped me develop the character throughout the campaign to feel more like an individual with a story to tell. He did this again for this game after my first character died in the first session and I got to make a new one. While James can be a stickler for rules, he prioritizes player enjoyment. If something isn’t fun or is disruptive, he’s open to finding creative, story-driven solutions—whether that means bringing a character back in a satisfying way or helping craft a new one that fits smoothly into the ongoing narrative. He really enjoys running homebrew items and has fun balancing encounters with them. One of my favorites that was used in this campaign was a sword of summoning ducks that provided many chances for distractions and an unlimited supply of food.

There is a lot so bear with me, and also forgive my grammatical errors. There is a lot to cover. First James is a very good world builder and is happy to tie your character into the world. And this is only one part of how he is with characters. I would say his strength is long, narratively rich campaigns. As long as you are clear about where you would like your character's story to go he will do his best to help you get there and make that goal feel earned. He treats backstories and NPC with respect and is happy to keep to certain boundaries with your backstory. Anytime I was anxious about a story beat he was quick to assure me about things and give those assurances without spoilers which takes great skill. So if you are clear about your wants and your boundaries they will be listened to within reason. The reason being that they don't inhibit other player's fun or other player's feeling of safety. He is happy to homebrew with you and try to make things work to again work in world and also not step on other player's toes. It is OKAY to power game with him. Give him your most broken build and he'll still make you sweat in combat. I would say that if you want rp heavy with very light or easy combat this isn't the DM for you. He will challenge you but if you know your stuff or think well on your feet you'll get my favorite reaction which is. ..."There goes my plans, well done guys." Talking about thinking well on the spot he is very adaptable and thinks well on his feet and tries to keep choices open for players, even if it ruins plans, while also balancing keeping us engaged with the plot. Here is some things you need to know. Advocate for yourself. If you think the ruling was a little harsh or the combat a little hard tell him, respectfully, don't just insult him of course. But anytime I've had a concern it was handled quickly with direct communication. He will be an advocate for you if you don't know how to approach another player. I would say that he is inclusive and safe place. I am a Bi woman, and he has been respectful of both my gender and sexuality, same with my fiancé who is a Bi man. In conclusion: RP rich, narratively rich, tough combat, flexible World building, be direct in communication. I've played with him for about 3 ish years now, and I've been happy with the stories I've been able to experience.