Philip

he/him

5.0

(2)

Timezone

America/los Angeles

Language

English

Identity

Game Designer

About Philip

I have been playing TTRPGS just about my entire life and GM-ing for just as long. I have a passion for world building and story-craft and like to help my players tell the most interesting stories we possibly can. I am a bit of a home-brew nut, I never do pre-written modules (nothing against them they just aren't my thing), and every campaign I run has some amount of home-brew mechanics to flesh out the vibe of the setting. I have played and ran in many styles ranging from neo-gilded age space cowboy shenanigans, to pirates playing pirates playing pirates, to post-apocalyptic dark fantasy. My main goal as a dungeon master is to help my players tell the story that THEY want to tell, while exploring the themes that make a setting most interesting. I am always looking for feedback as a DM and like nothing more than to receive criticism so that I can make the game as fun as possible for everyone involved.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, World Builder

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I love to tell stories. Actually it's because no one else knew how, but I do still love to tell stories.

I got started GMing...

As an elementary-schooler on the 4th grade teacher's room's carpet. I would carry my dnd books to school and teach my friends how to play the game and we'd do short sessions during lunch.

My favorite books are

The Stormlight Archive, Mistborn Era 1, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Dracula, Blood Meridian, and House of Leaves.

How Philip runs games

I love when my campaigns are role-play heavy. I want to be invested in a lovingly crafted cast of characters, and I want my players to be just as invested in each other. This doesn't mean I sleep on combat, however. I love when combat challenges not just the stats of each character, but also the players themselves. I treat combat as a puzzle to be solved, where insurmountable odds become more and more manageable as you learn about your foes.

Featured Prompts

My games focus on...

Dynamic characters! I love it when a party ends the campaign as completely different people. Of course not much is going to change in a person by the end of, say, Lost Mines of Phandelver, but I want your characters to be faced with difficult choices that test who they are.

Rules are...

Tools. They are meant to aid in telling a story, not impede it. Every rule in every rule book is but a suggestion to the GM, and can/will be altered to better fit a setting or story. This should be done with caution in mind, of course.

When it comes to voices

Do what works for you. I try my best do give characters distinct voices but very few of us are voice actors, so don't worry about it. Though if you aren't going to do a character voice, I do suggest you use some other indicator of when you are speaking as opposed to your character.

Philip's ideal table

I love players who want to tell interesting stories about interesting people. My campaigns are heavy on role play and focus on the interpersonal relationships of the party and their connection to the world around them. I ultimately want a player who can get immersed into a session. Even if a player is new to ttrpgs and role play, that's okay as long as they have a desire for story telling.

Featured Prompts

I think metagaming...

Can be interesting if done right. I am a sucker for dramatic irony, and I love the look on a players face as they do something that they know will have massive consequences as their character is none the wiser. Though, I think if done regularly, it can detract from the experience of the table.

My perfect party mix is

A group of characters who can bounce off of each other naturally. Party comp is a non-issue in terms of combat; I'm building encounters for the party, with the idea of them being challenging but possible. I am much more invested in who the characters are as people rather than stat blocks.

My table is not the place for...

Romance. Don't get me wrong, I love a good romance story, and I'm perfectly fine with characters having significant others, but I am not going to role play that. If you wish to play that stereotypical roguish bard, you are welcome to, but don't expect more than a fade to black when flirting starts.