Matt
he/him
5.0
(5)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Matt
Welcome to Vow & Void, where myth and horror entwine — and the only way out is through! My name is Matthew and I run theater-of-the-mind campaigns for players who crave story over stats, consequence over combat, and meaning over min-maxing. Whether it’s a dying knight’s last quest in Mythic Bastionland, a desperate heist under the gaslights in Blades in the Dark, or the final hours aboard a haunted starship in Mothership, every session is designed to leave a mark — on your character and on you.
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Voices
Featured Prompts
My favorite books are
I'm a huge fan of Joe Abercrombie (essentially everything he's written) and it has rekindled my love for fantasy novels - especially the more grounded "grim-dark" style of tales. Beyond that I'm a huge science fiction nerd and love reading as much as I can!
When I'm not running games I'm...
spending time with family, watching films, reading books, or designing my own game! (I'm working on a tabletop skirmish game which combines cards with physical models - let me know if you'd like to learn more!) Beyond that I work in tech and take care of our many chickens, ducks, cats, and dog!
How Matt runs games
My games are theater-of-the-mind — no grids, no clutter, just evocative narration, cinematic pacing, and space for your imagination to bloom. I focus on: 🕯️ Immersive Roleplay: Characters with depth. Dialogues that matter. Scenes with weight. ⚖️ Player-Driven Choices: Your choices matter. Every decision you make has consequence — good or bad, you’ll live with it. 🌌 Moody, Mythic Settings: From dying chivalric orders to haunted deep-space stations, tone is everything. You won’t find overbalanced loot tables or endless stat optimization here. My tables are built for collaborative storytelling, emotional stakes, and the kind of slow-burn tension that lingers long after the session ends. If you’re drawn to narrative-first experiences with haunting beauty and heavy themes — welcome to Vow & Void.
Featured Prompts
My games focus on...
Story-first, emotionally resonant experiences. I run narrative-heavy campaigns where player choices matter, consequences are real, and the atmosphere is everything.
Rules are...
Rules are tools, not chains. I follow system mechanics faithfully, but I prioritize pacing, story, and mood above mechanical minutiae. If a rule serves tension, drama, or player agency — we use it. If it slows the moment or derails the fiction — we find a cleaner way forward.
When it comes to voices
When it comes to voices, I aim for tone, rhythm, and emotion over full-on character acting — though I do enjoy slipping into accents when the moment calls for it. You’ll hear distinctions in speech patterns, cadence, and energy to bring NPCs to life. I encourage voices from you as well!
Matt's ideal table
My table is for players who crave atmosphere, consequence, and collaborative storytelling. Whether we’re exploring a forgotten bastion, creeping through haunted corridors, or pulling off a doomed heist, the goal is the same: to tell a story that sticks with you long after the session ends. Very often we'll laugh a lot as well - after all, it can't always be so serious!
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
Is a fan of their companion players. I also really love it when they think dynamically about their character's experience and relationships, rather than their own relationships with the party.
Matt's Preferences
Systems
Game Mechanics