David (he/him)
5.0
(44)
1 year on StartPlaying
582 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Knows the Rules, Storytelling
Average response time: 4 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hi there, my name is David, and I wear many hats: nerd, nurse, father and more, but on this website the crown I wear is that of a Dungeon Master! I specialize in running 1:1 duets play-by-post games, as well as high level tier 3-4+ play. I’m based in the UK and am broadly available to talk 8 pm- 12 pm UK time, which is 3 pm - 7pm EST. This is the time window that I write most my daily posts. My pricing varies by the amount of skill and time that go into a game, where simpler games such as starter adventures cost $40 a week, and more complex games like my level 20+ games cost $60 a week.
GM Style
In my games, I give each of the three pillars of DnD love and attention but usually prioritize roleplay first, then combat, then exploration. 🗣️ Roleplay first! All characters in my games have their own motivations, personalities and backgrounds. How deep these go depends on the role they play in the story we are collectively telling, and some of my most memorable characters have been improvised on the spot! I am not a professional voice actor, but I utilize a range of accents and verbal tics to ensure characters that feature in gameplay are distinct and interesting. ⚔️ Combat second! After the roleplay, I like to throw in some spectacular fights at least every couple of sessions, with the mentality that quality beats quantity. I am an absolute addict for battle maps and tactical combat, and I love wowing my players with new battle map art, I have a whole hard drive filled with it! I also own all the official and kobold press bestiaries, and an assortment of other content online. I’m also fully capable of creating a monster from scratch using the rules in the official Dungeon Master’s Guide for the 5th edition, for special occasions. 🔭 Exploration is last but not least! The third pillar is the one that most often evokes feelings of wonder and awe, and can be a challenge to do justice. It's where the world-building comes to life and where I love to evoke those feelings in my players. I use a few techniques to make traveling and exploration engaging, such as group roles like “the tracker”, “the quartermaster”, and “monster bait.” I sprinkle in memorable landmarks and non-combat encounters to immerse players in the world by painting a picture with words.
Games played
Game platforms used
David's Games
Game Master Reviews (44)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Knows the Rules
Storytelling
James/Fallen
New review
Played 8 sessions
Great DM, storyteller, and writer; had never done PbP before playing with Dave, glad it was with him because it's been a blast.
Lassimst
Played 1 sessions
Cool and easy. I had fun!
BarefootYeti
Played 13 sessions
David is an awesome DM!
Helene
Played 38 sessions
I've been running a couple of Play-by-Post (PbP) games with David for a few months now and diving into the Big Bad Battles (BBBs) whenever I can—and let me tell you, I'm hooked! David is an amazing storyteller and a mastermind at crafting mechanics that go way beyond the usual "bash the door down" gameplay. His PbPs are consistent, super engaging, and occasionally just challenging enough to keep you on your toes (I've come dangerously close to getting offed a couple of times—no joke!). If you're looking for a fantastic DM and an awesome group to roll dice with, stop searching. You've found the best! 🎲✨
Moss
Played 46 sessions
Well, what can I say about playing with David other than he is hands down my favorite PbP DM and I am a fussy pants. I have never come across a DM who is so willing to get to know my beloved characters I've been playing at tables now in group settings for years and do so in a more intimate way expanding and fleshing out their backstories going back to their younger days that I simply didn't think any DM would have the patience for with someone like me. What sort of player am I? A veteran player who suffers from, well, Main Character Energy Syndrome and who is itching for some special one-on-one attention. He really has taken the time to give me things that make me light up, giggle, and gasp as I play cat-and-mouse with my closeted evil chaotic teifling Devil-of-a-gal Bard in an evil campaign doing things I would not DARE do in the group game with any other DM that I've had her in for well over a year now. And then in another game, I get such rich beautiful Underdark story and the encounters that have convinced my hands-off Druid to truly care about learning about the Underdark's nature and how it ties in with the surface and piece together a mystery spun together all the while piecing together her backstory in a way that both the dice rolls support randomly and that he spins together like a masterful storyteller that he is. He has a knack for surprising me in ways that I think about days after they have happened -- thought provoking ideas. And to top that all off, David is simply a great all-around person who is easy to talk to and get to know and he expresses care for his players as people, which is the most important thing of all. If you have been hesitating at all to give PbP a try, do give David a try. I have a feeling I'll be playing with him for many years to come.
jheiman
Played 16 sessions
I am enjoying my first campaign with David. We just started. David is extremely responsive and is really good about bringing the story alive.
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