Mae
they/them
4.9
(71)
Timezone
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Identity
About Mae
Welcome all! My name is Mae (they/them) and I love creating memorable tabletop experiences. D&D was love at first sight for me. I watched a single episode of a stream and by the end of the week I had a DMG. Another week later and I was attacking my friends' characters with goblins as they tried to take some trade goods to Phandalin. That adventure and many more since then have helped me to learn about myself, support myself and follow my dreams. It brings me great joy to inspire creativity in others as our journeys cross paths above the board. Many of the aspects I now know about myself were learned through gaming. The freedom my initial DM provided allowed me to explore my identity. I embraced my queerness, gained confidence in my storytelling skills, came to understand the importance of safe spaces in fostering inner growth, and discovered that I love teamwork so long as proper boundaries are communicated. It is my goal to create a safe table so players can enjoy the very freedom that helped me to grow so much.
At a glance
4 years on StartPlaying
1030 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Storytelling
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
2020 saw me go from a small business owner to being houseless with (then) undiagnosed autoimmune diseases. I decided then that I would focus on what I love to build myself back up. GMing is something I have loved since learning the craft.
My favorite books are
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin uses science fiction to craft convey political theory. Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie uses fantasy to show the power of story and free speech. The Blue Between Sky and Water by Susan Abulhawa uses magical realism to show the humanity in Gaza.
When I'm not running games I'm...
taking care of my seven cats along with some neighborhood strays. From oldest to youngest, my cats names are Lucy, Gerard, Loki, Nico, Skinnymane, Critter and Cheddar Biscuit. Lucy came from a small pet store while the rest were born on the streets. My partner and I are happy to house them.
How Mae runs games
My primary goal when running games is creating a space where each player feels safe and free to embrace their creativity. I use direct communication to create boundaries each group can agree upon. These boundaries provide the foundation upon which the story will be built. I then try to fill in any gaps as each player adds new pieces to the story structure. This allows players to take the lead and create whatever they wish with the confidence that it will all come together in the end. I run both homebrew adventures and printed modules. My homebrew adventures start at level five where I can throw players directly into a sandbox. They are fully player driven with character decisions creating ripple effects that emanate throughout the adventure. Players in my module campaigns are able to experience a similar feeling and power over their environment should they wish. Modules often come with a smaller and more regional scope as well as some linear objectives. I am happy to follow this if that's what the party is looking for. I am also happy to toss out the module if players decide to take their characters away from the module objective. I will fill in whatever gaps are needed. A game altering decision like that would first require consent from the entire party. All of my games share my general DM style. Besides player agency, I also focus on brining NPCs to life using voices, art and personality quirks. I use maps and scenes from Cze and Peku and supplement those with some maps of my own creation. Sound effects from Syrinscape also aid in the immersion. I try to keep the story momentum going with a steady game tempo and generously reward characters throughout their journeys. The "Rule of Cool" is used at my tables. An rulings developed that way become house rules for the campaign to maintain consistency. Players can expect high stakes combat in most sessions. I don't enjoy killing characters, but I love trying to get as close as I can. Intimidating or persuading enemies mid-combat is encouraged if a party wants to lean into some chaos. Thank you for reading my ramble if you've made it this far. I hope you find the right table for you and have a great day!
Featured Prompts
My games focus on...
Ensuring players feel confident that their actions are meaningful is my primary focus. I view the rules and modules as guidelines there to support player choices. I am not afraid of writing additional scenes in modules or venturing into unprepped territory mid-session.
I deal with rules issues by...
First referring to any pertinent text that may influence the rule. If that doesn't provide a clear answer then I offer an option to the party. The party is given a chance to approve of the ruling. Once approved, said ruling becomes a standard rule for the campaign. My rulings tend to favor players.
When it comes to voices
I do my best to bring unique voices to NPCs that will be featured in more than one session. Voices for single encounter NPCs often fall into my more generic voices that are based on the species, class and societal position of the NPC.
Mae's ideal table
Featured Prompts
I am for a vibe that's...
prepared to take the actions seriously while willing to laugh at circumstances. I don't want the story to be a comedy but I do want my players to laugh regularly during a session. My goal for combat balancing is to be as difficult as possible without killing off multiple characters. Death is rare.
My table is not the place for...
evil characters, edgy characters that aren't trying to play it up as a bit, or those that prefer survival style games. I am very generous with resources because I hope to see players overcome daunting evils.
If you're into ___, you're going to love my table
... sessions driven by lively roleplay leading to dynamic combat scenarios then you may love my table. If you also enjoy entering worlds populated by powerful NPCs both helping and hindering your party as you travel across vast distances with powerful items in your inventory...
Mae's Preferences
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