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AoiNoSakura

AoiNoSakura (she/they)

4.9

(13)

Asian
Published Writer
Teacher/Educator
Multi-lingual

1 year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Sets the Mood

About me

Hi! I’m Aoi, a storyphile who accidentally became a player back in 2017. I’ve fell in love with TTRPGs immediately, but found myself in a position where no one was offering (enough) games at the opportune time. So, I thought, why not step up and create the opportunity myself? Being able to meet new people who were also curious about the hobby was also a plus. I love the idea of playing and experiencing the story together, creating moments that we’ll never forget. And, over time, I realized that GMing was its own kind of magic—watching the world unfold and seeing players make characters come alive in ways I never imagined. Since then, I’ve been GMing for 7 years across various systems. My go-to has been Pathfinder 2e lately, but I’ve also dipped into quirky indie games like Golden Sky Stories, Mausritter, and Fabula Ultima. These systems have a special place in my heart for their unique storytelling, whether it’s a cozy, slice-of-life tale or a wild, laugh-out-loud adventure. I’m always eager to learn more systems, so if you’ve got one in mind, I’m all ears! As a GM, I’m all about balance. I lean into roleplay while respecting the rules-as-written, I’m also flexible enough to suit the vibe at the table. Strategy talks? Absolutely. Metagaming? Not so much. Safety’s a big deal for me too—I use tools like X-Cards and Lines & Veils to keep things comfortable for everyone, and I check in regularly to make sure we’re all on the same page. I want everyone to leave the table feeling like they’ve shared something meaningful, whether that’s a laugh, a powerful moment, or a character’s growth. I run my games on FoundryVTT, which I’ve set up with all the mods and QoL features to make gameplay as smooth as possible. Right now, I’m focusing on one-shots, as they work best with my schedule, and they also give me the opportunity to introduce players to new systems in bite-sized pieces. Plus, I love how one-shots let me explore different styles and setups that might not fit into a long campaign. One of the best parts of GMing, for me, is the players. It’s amazing to see how a simple moment of roleplay can lead to something meaningful—like the time a player’s character was struggling with a difficult choice, and in the middle of the session, they had this realization that mirrored something in their own life. Moments like those are why I love what I do. It’s not just about dice rolls or stat blocks; it’s about connection and seeing people discover something new about themselves or their characters. If that sounds like your kind of game, let’s roll some dice and create stories that stick long after the session ends. See you at the table!

GM Style

I focus on roleplay while respecting the rules-as-written, balancing flexibility to suit the table's vibe. I encourage strategy talks but keep metagaming to a minimum. My priority is creating a safe, collaborative space where players feel heard and leave the table with memorable, meaningful experiences.

Game platforms used
Game Master Reviews (13)

Proficiencies

Players say this GM is great at:

Creativity

Teacher

Sets the Mood

nicolaas kaashoek avatar

nicolaas kaashoek

Aoi was a wonderful GM, guiding us through a fantastic Pathfinder 2e scenario that she and others ended up publishing. Everything about the session was smooth, and it was a joy to play with her. She did a fantastic job making the world feel alive, even going so far as to give us some of the real-life cultural history behind the setting she helped create. Our group was able to seamlessly make our way through the scenario without feeling pushed or pulled in any direction by her. I can't recommend her enough!

DM Quadra avatar

DM Quadra

Great host, good guidance, and open for creative ideas to be happened in the game

Panji Adam Gautama avatar

Panji Adam Gautama

Aoi dm'ed me on two-shot mausritter game. She was a very fun DM andvery nice to me who was a complete beginner in mausritter/osr in general. Her storytelling and worldbuilding were so vivid that they helped me sense the world or the danger that i'm in. Would love to play with her as my dm again for sure!

Myrren avatar

Myrren

I've played many games with the Aoi, and she never disappoints. I love how she approaches the stories with a cooperative yet compelling build-up, which I find really encourages collaborative play between the players and the DM. On the other hand, she has a good sense of humor, so you would not get bored along the way, and she always finds themselves with a well-paced story-telling. I hope people who play with her also have fond memories of her games, just like me.

Farcil avatar

Farcil

Aoi is as a GM is nothing less than superb. The preparation is always meticulous but the session will flow with flexible ease depending on player's choices. As such, the session definitely has that feel of being run by a seasoned GM.

xxPaulxx avatar

xxPaulxx

I have worked with Aoi from multiple campaigns. I recommend her for both new and veteran players as she has a lot of experience and creative ways to tackle the group's actions and decisions. In addition, Aoi gives everyone an opportunity to shine on a given event so it feels very fun and immersive to play with the group. Aoi is a teamplayer but she is also good in being firm if the scenario/campaign demands for some serious interaction and will guide you with the rules if there is any questions and/or forgotten rules that needs to be applied. Please give them a try and I hope you all have the same amazing experience as I did. Take care

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