Brian

he/him

5.0

(56)

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

Identity

Streamer

About Brian

I remember being invited to play in my first game of D&D several years ago. I immediately fell in love with the magic of tabletop RPG's. I had always wanted to try playing, but had struggled to do so for the longest time. When I finally found a group with which to play, I was blessed with a truly outstanding dungeon master. He intricately wove the storytelling and gameplay elements of Dungeons & Dragons in a way that was nothing short of beautiful. In no time at all, I was hooked. That group eventually broke up when the dungeon master moved away. But I'll never forget that truly fantastic experience I was treated to. Since then, I've taken it on myself to try to perfect the art of dungeon mastering and to bring that experience to as many prospective adventures as possible. Now I've taken the next step and brought my Dungeon Mastering skills to StartPlaying. It is my goal to share my vision of what D&D can really be with as many of you as I possibly can.

At a glance

5 years on StartPlaying

107 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Storytelling

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I find tabletop games to be a wonderful way to bring people together and to give them something to look forward to. I became a DM because I felt some sense of inspiration to open the hobby and community to as many people as possible.

My favorite system of all Time is

Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition. While there are other systems that do certain things better, 5e is very good about making games accessable for players. I believe that TTRPGs are at their best when as many people as possible are able to play and I make it my mission to facilitate that.

The three words my players would use to describe me are...

knowledgable, patient, and fun!

How Brian runs games

I prefer to take on the mantle of the "Chaotic-good" dungeon master. By the I mean that I see the rules as a set of guidelines aimed at creating a standardized play environment. I do not believe, however, that they are a universal solution to every group's needs. I believe in tailoring them to the situation to suit the needs of the players and the narrative. Though, I take the greatest of care not to alter them to the detriment of players of their characters. I also believe that they should never interfere with player agency. In terms of content, I tend to run my games with a little bit of everything. I feel that combat, roleplay, and exploration are all integral pillars of D&D. So I make every effort to ensure that they're all properly represented. Every single session of every single campaign may not feature all three, but they will average out to be approximately equal in the long run.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

I believe in tailoring them to the situation to suit the needs of the players and the narrative; I take the greatest of care not to alter them to the detriment of players or their characters, though.

My games focus on...

giving the players the highest possible amount of agency while giving the players a grounded experience. My goal is to give players stories they can brag about to players that have run similar games.

Rules are...

focused on making the game easy to understand while also making the game run efficiently. My tables are for everyone and I make it my mission to give players as much content as possible for their time and money.

Brian's ideal table

My games are run in a way that emphasizes the value of combat, exploration, and roleplay. I work to make sure that my games are as accessible to all levels and styles of players. I feel that my tables are good for any players that don't have ultra-specific needs or expectations. The vibe I try to cultivate is casual, light, and fun. I want everyone to feel comfortable but also excited and invested. To that end, I also try to run a very lean, efficient game so that players get the most possible content with the least possible frustration.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

has an experience at the table that genuinely makes them feel something! I want my players to feel like they are a part of the world and like they are involved in it. TTRPGs are at their best when players are truly invested in the world and characters.

I think min/maxing...

is perfectly fine as long as it does not rob other players of spotlight and as long as it does not trivialize any of the content.

My perfect party mix is

one where everyone is playing one of their top choices of characters. I know there are expectations for what a party has to have, but I disagree with that. Exploration and encounters can be adjusted to fit any combination of characters. Players should not feel they must fill a specific role.