game master profile header image

Cost Per Player

$20.00
Duncan

Duncan (he/him)

5.0

(10)

Teacher/Educator
Game Designer

1 year on StartPlaying

9 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Rule of Cool, Sets the Mood

Average response time: 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

About me

I've been playing & GMing TTRPGs since the late 90s with D&D 3.5. There's something incredibly special to me about a group of 4-6 people coming together at a table to tell a story with ups and downs, party members discussing combat strategy amongst each other, and figuring out the right path to go forward. As a Game Master I believe my gamemastering style could best be described as a "beer and pretzels" kind of game; A casual environment with a strong emphasis on player fun. I take two different approaches to make sure that you have the best experience possible at the table: 1) Full Transparency. Whenever I make a ruling, I will give my reasoning along with the ruling. Any hidden dice rolls that are made during the session will be made available to view after the session (via dice stats). Additionally, I try to give out DCs before rolls are made to ensure that the stakes are properly set. I want to foster a safe play environment of trust and I believe that trust is something that should be earned. 2) I like to take a "Fun First" approach when it comes to rules. If the game's rules would require you to spend a ridiculous amount of time to do a simple action (i.e. drink a potion), I'll do some research into what the game has that mitigates it, or come up with houserules to mitigate any "feel bad" moments that these rules incorporate. Obviously there's enjoyment to be found in working within any rules constraints, so this is usually on a case-by-case basis on items that are persistent pain points. Overall, I strongly believe that my role is as a facilitator for the group to tell the story they want to tell. If the group wants to get up to whacky antics it's my job to hold a straight face and introduce respective consequences, and if the group wants to tell a serious story about overcoming difficulties it's my job to introduce road blocks along the way.

GM Style

I try to bring a laid-back and casual roleplaying experience to the table. I do what I can to ensure that the automation of the game works as smoothly and correctly as it can, as well as my knowledge of web development to ensure that players get an experience tailored directly to them. I try to be as transparent as I can in everything that happens, from dice rolls to DCs to monsters. If I adjust an encounter from the adventure path, I will let you know. If I change a monster's stat block, I will let you know my reasoning. Overall, I am very much for empowering players at the table and ensuring that players get as much freedom as possible to tell the story they want.

Game platforms used
What's StartPlaying?

Tabletop Roleplaying Games Run by Game Masters

  • Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.

  • Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.

  • If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.