Adam (Is Up To Something) (he/him)
5.0
(11)
2 years on StartPlaying
66 games hosted
Highly rated for: Voices, Storytelling, Creativity
About me
I'm Adam (he/him, π³οΈβπ), and I'm the kind of DM who'll take that intriguing little detail in your character's backstory and turn it into the next phase of the campaign. I play the long game and I'm all about the little details, leaving both clues and little jokes for observant players to notice. I try to run the sort of games I want to play in. I also know to check my privilege because I'm white and cisgender-male. I'm a cat dad, and you may see my Purrtato's tail on-cam from time to time. I moved to the west coast years ago, where I found my community through running D&D games. I didn't know I had a talent for voices until I started playing D&D 3.5 and felt emboldened by another shameless roleplayer at the table. I'd love to give other people a platform for finding their voices.
GM Style
I've got a number of voices in my pocket, and I'm always working to develop new ones. I'm a big fan of player-character secrets and doling out unique campaign-relevant lore to each player. I lean heavily toward maps and top-down minis for combat, but I also use maps for other scenes so they don't always imply imminent violence. I try to make battle a challenge, but I'm rooting for the players to win. (Rhetorically, however, I'm absolutely trying to murder your PCs.) I'll either play straight with or subvert genre tropes depending on the game I'm running and the vibe my players are into. If I'm running a comedic story, I'll lampshade some of the weirder narrative elements of the fantasy TTRPG genre. In a more serious campaign, though, I work to let my players immerse themselves in the setting. Tonal variation is my jam. Did anyone else catch their first episode of Critical Role or Dimension 20 and think, "Man, I'd love to (DM/play in) a game like that?" I honestly think it's possible with thorough enough session zero agreements and a group interested in trying. TTRPGs are a perfect place to let your inner actor out to play.
Game platforms used
Adam (Is Up To Something)'s Games
Game Master Reviews (11)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Voices
Storytelling
Creativity
Adam's a story-first GM, by which I mean he's is right there with you in the moment as a player, experiencing the twists and turns of the session. As a latecomer to the campaign, he was most kind and welcoming to me, and constructed a fantastic introduction for my character. As a GM he is funny, whimsical, and creative, while still anticipating how players will interact with the rules - strongly recommended for beginners and experienced players.
Adam is great at creating dynamic combat encounters and fun roleplaying experiences. Some of the tactical puzzles in particular make really interesting use of the space and force you to think about things in new ways. Adam is part of the Weird Voices school of DMing, of which I am also a member, and I find even just a little bit of putting yourself out there as the DM goes a long way toward making the players feel comfortable with role playing and encourages a safe environment. There are lots of little things to discover in Adam's games. Everything has a little more going on than meets the eye. I would definitely recommend you check out one of his games.
Adam makes it all fun. I have been a DM for 40+ years and my bar is high for many elements...Adam ticks all the boxes and more. He keeps his players on their toes, creates fun encounters, goes above and beyond on set up, rolls with the punches and shenanigans and ensures a safe environment. No DM can contain all the things players throw at them, but being flexible is one of the most valued skills and Adam is the right combination of firm and flexible...prepared yet able to go off script. Highly recommend.
I've been in both short games and long D&D campaigns with Adam as DM, and the thing I always expect is wonderful humor, amazing detail, great characterizations and voices, and an appreciation for the world he's creatingβAdam is never shy at leaning into the setting, whether its canon material from existing books or his own. The stories he's created have lots of rich story for the player who wants to find it, but he's not afraid of a fun dungeon walk or lighter fare, all for the love of the game and for what makes a good story. I'd recommend him for beginners as well as more established players not just because he's patient and respectful, but because he'd show them where the joy is in our hobby.
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