Apshai

he/him

5.0

(6)

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

Identity

Teacher/Educator

About Apshai

I’m a 50+year-old teacher with a PhD in Literature & Game Studies. My dissertation focused on how we build worlds through role-playing games. I’ve just spent a lot of time thinking about how to make imaginary places feel real, dangerous, and worth exploring. I’ve been behind the screen since 1983. I grew up in the "Metal" years of the hobby—the era of lethal dungeons, weird monsters, and high-stakes adventure. I’ve seen it all, from the rise of the first editions to the newest 2024 rules, and I still love every minute of it. My DM Style: 50/50 Role and Roll I believe the best games happen when we balance a great story with a great challenge: Role-Playing: I love creating fantastic worlds that encourage you to inhabit your character. I want your choices to matter and your narrative to feel epic. Roll-Playing: I’m a fan of tactical skirmishes. I love moving miniatures (virtual or real) and watching players use strategy, cunning, and a bit of luck to overcome impossible odds. New Players are Always Welcome Whether you’re a veteran or this is your first time picking up a d20, you have a seat at my table. I take pride in being a "Newbie-Friendly" GM. I love teaching the mechanics and helping people find their footing in the hobby. I’ll guide you through the rules so you can focus on the fun. The "Old School" Edge Even though I’m welcoming to new players, I still have that OSR soul. I believe a win feels better when you’ve earned it. Expect adventures that present real risks and genuine challenges. I’m not here for a "power fantasy" where success is guaranteed—I’m here to help you tell a story of survival and glory. If you’re looking for a professional, inclusive table run by someone who knows the history and the heart of the game, I’d love to have you. Just remember: the dice have no masters.

At a glance

4 years on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Inclusive, Storytelling, Rule of Cool

Featured Prompts

My 3 systems I'd bring to a desert island would be

D&D Shadowdark Fiasco

My favorite books are

Raise High the Roofbeams, Carpenter and Seymour - An Introduction Ready Player One I Sing the Body Electric

When I'm not running games I'm...

Watching baseball or hockey, reading, making barbecue, playing Morrowind

How Apshai runs games

My Dungeon Master style is a 50/50 blend of role and roll-playing. I love creating fantastic worlds which encourage players to create compelling narratives and have fun playing within them. I also love moving miniatures (virtual and real) around tabletops in tactical skirmishes that require thoughtful strategy, cunning, and creativity. I definitely come from the old-school, so expect adventures that will present real and challenging risks for your PCs, but I am most interested in my groups having a good time. I have DMed for every level of experience in a wide array of games - but Dungeons & Dragons (and its offspring) have always been closest to my heart.

Featured Prompts

If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...

Milos Forman

Apshai's ideal table

My table is a place for the inventive and the curious. I tend to lean away from high-powered builds and min/maxing because I’m far more interested in what’s in your head than what’s on your character sheet. I run dark, high-stakes games rooted in the OSR tradition—which means the choices are hard, the consequences are heavy, and sometimes, a character simply doesn't make it to the next room. We don't mourn them too long; we just say "so it goes" and see who else is waiting at the tavern with a better plan. As a teacher and a veteran of the game since 1983, I pride myself on being a fair arbiter. I always put the table's collective fun first. The world we're playing in might be grim, but the atmosphere at the table is engaged, fast-paced, and genuinely funny. If you enjoy creative problem-solving and a world where your decisions actually change the map, you’ll find a home here. We aren't playing against each other; we're just seeing how long we can keep the torches lit.