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Andrew Bowler

Andrew Bowler

5.0

(5)

Published Writer
Artist

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, World Builder

Average response time: 24+ hours

Response rate: 100%

About me

I am a professional filmmaker taking some time off to be with family. So while my son is at school, let's play some D&D! I find getting a game going is (usually) easier than getting a film made so being a Dungeon Master is great way to build worlds, create characters and then actually see it all come to life. I love to home-brew my games and I get such a thrill from presenting a moment or character to the players and watching them react and then start building on the story I started. RPGs are also the only medium I know where the audience and the collaborators are one and the same.

GM Style

I prepare as much as I can before a session and then just try to disappear into game as the players steer the ship. I think the best campaigns are the ones where the players feel free to turn around any corner, at any moment and discover something that feels real. I like to laugh a lot when I play and DM, so I try to make sure my games are a good time. But I also like tension and mystery and I find a little fear can be fun too. I love the moments when these imaginary characters we've created generate real emotions in player. I'm a fan of good action scene so my battles are often challenging and, I think, exciting. I am fan of the "rule of cool" and I never feel like I am "against" the players in any way. But hopefully a tough battle can have you on the edge of your seat, so when one of you saves the day in the final round, everyone will cheer... and breathe a sigh of relief. I love introducing brand new players to the game and I'm quick to remind my experienced players that you don't have to know the rules cold. I've been DMing 5e for eight years and I still have to look up the "incapacitated" condition. I've run a few games where kids and parents play together and they've been great fun. I am happy to create a campaign your whole family can do together. Finally, as the folks in my weekly game will tell you, I don't do accents. Sorry. I work to create interesting and fun NPCs with unique personalities that act in accordance with the story and their personal motivations. But I spare myself the embarrassment of launching into a British accent that floats over to Scotland and then ends up traveling to Brazil by the end of the encounter. I hope this isn't a deal breaker. ;)

Game Master Reviews (5)

Proficiencies

Players say this GM is great at:

Storytelling

Creativity

World Builder

eoristim avatar

eoristim

I've been playing with Andrew for 9 years. He is an experienced, and talented GM. His homebrews are unconventional, often set in interesting lands with well-developed world-building, morality or religious systems, and characters. He is great at encouraging role-playing as well as strategic combat. He utilizes unconventional monsters which always present a challenge. And if you're not careful, he'll fucking kill your character, which adds actual stakes to the game. He is funny as a GM and a person. An absolute delight to talk to and play with. As a published screenwriter/film director, he knows dramaturgy, character, and narrative structure. You feel oftentimes as if you're playing the game version of a hollywood feature film. If you were to choose Andrew to GM your weekly game or a party event, you'll have a great time. He really takes it seriously and puts a lot of effort and attention into his preparation and game night execution.

Jilae avatar

Jilae

I've played in 3 campaigns run by Andrew and they were all awesome! In my experience he has only ever created his own settings and stories, sometimes leaning towards traditional 5e D&D, sometimes infusing them with modern pop culture/real world elements and always with bespoke magic items and interesting themes. His stories are very balanced in terms of giving room for roleplay, exploration, and combat. I get a Dr. Who/Neverending Story vibe from much of his stuff. His NPCs, monsters, and set pieces can be a little whacky and off-kilter, but always memorable. He tells a great story, inspires players to play their characters to the fullest, and knows his stuff.

Sithastith avatar

Sithastith

Andrew is a truly gifted story-teller and game master. He excels with kids and other beginners and is equally at home with folks who've played for years. With a background as a writer and filmmaker, his world building is as exceptional as his scene work - funny, scary, and often poignant at the same time. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll slay some orcs and you might just accidentally learn something about the human condition.

Russ Jones avatar

Russ Jones

By far the most amazingly creative, knowledgable, and fun DMs I've had the pleasure to play with. Andrew knows the rules inside and out, but he's not strict about it. He can speak to the rules and he allows for players to "roll" creatively. This makes him supremely fun to play with. His storytelling is unmatched. You have to experience it to truly understand. He creates worlds that are complex, fun, and exciting. I'm always excited when he introduces a new homebrewed game into our group. He has a lot of fun role playing the characters that we come across on the campaign which makes for an immersive gameplay experience. And the fighting is a perfect combination of exciting and scary - because there's always a possibility that we are in over our head. He's brilliant at creating battles that toe the line of "too much." I personally love having to think a little about how I'm going to survive each encounter! I cannot recommend Andrew enough as a DM. His sessions are always memorable.

Adam Fleischhacker avatar

Adam Fleischhacker

Andrew is a master storyteller and a master improvisor - those are the two biggest attributes that make him a superb GM. He knows what's fun, and he's excellent at building worlds, creating intriguing characters that keep the story moving while simultaneously giving you the space to savour the details. His action is exciting, his dialogue and voices are engaging and he effortlessly sets the perfect mood for any given scene. We played recently with my son, who is 10 and brand new to D&D - Andrew was an amazing guide, teaching us both how to play, and drawing Jr. into a world of imagination and play. I could not recommend him highly enough - and neither could my boy!

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