Michael

I got started GMing...

When I was 12 years old. I started with the red box re-release for 4th edition, but quickly moved onto 5th edition when I found 4e too complicated. I've been an enthusiastic Forever DM ever since!

My favorite books are

I love fantasy, so so much. I know that's likely why we're all here, but I just love books that take my to wonderful and strange places, and meet people who overcome impossible situations. I vibe with most things I read, but I've been on a huge Dune kick recently since the movies came out.

My favorite shows/movies are

I love the Princess Bride, and I'm a huge 80s movies guy, despite the fact that I wasn't alive anywhere close to the 80s. I love movies with great characters, lots of drama, mystery, adventure, and really just anything I can tell the writers/directors/actors had fun putting into their creative work.

I deal with rules issues by...

Looking it up if possible, but most of the time just doing what makes the most sense to me. As a GM, I want my players to win. So expect my games to have hard and sometimes difficult choices, but know that if you tell me what you're *trying* to accomplish, I will try to guide you there via the rules

My games focus on...

YOUR story. We can all read a book, watch a movie, or play a game. But we play TTRPGs because we want to make a story together, and have the direct input we can't make on those other mediums.

Rules are...

Rules are rules. Especially when things can easily be found on Google, I always wanna play by the rules. If a particular situation needs a call made, I usually just air on the side of the players and try to move on, using the actual rule from then onwards.

If you're into ___, you're going to love my table

Most Actual Play shows. I'm a huge fan of emulating the pros to learn how to do it, so my game will likely rest very well with fans of Brennan Lee Mulligan, Matthew Mercer, Chris Perkins, etc., etc. I don't try to mimic their mannerisms or anything, but I try to make my games cinematic and unique.

I love it when a player

Meets me in the middle. I love my story, my characters, my world, my interpretation of the rules, etc. But I also love YOUR story, your character, and your interpretations of the world and rules. If you're willing to take the initiative and make my game your own without steamrolling me, I'm so happy

My table is not the place for...

Any sort of bigotry, that goes without saying. I'm okay with exploring the lightest or the darkest subject matter in my games, but it has to be handled with tact by everyone at the table. I do not want to babysit my players or manage their conflicts, and I want to cultivate an atmosphere of respect.