Eric

he/him

5.0

(5)

Timezone

America/new York

Language

English

About Eric

Welcome to the table! I’ve been rolling dice since high school—nearly 40 years of adventuring that started with the original Basic and Expert D&D boxed sets. Since then, my journey has spanned systems from the neon streets of Cyberpunk and the weird west of Deadlands to the shadows of the World of Darkness. As a Game Master, I don't just run encounters; I build living, breathing worlds. Whether we are navigating the arcane industry of Eberron, uncovering the rich lore of Exandria, or charting a completely original realm, I bring a highly creative, problem-solving mindset to the narrative. I firmly believe in a cinematic approach to the rules—if an idea makes the scene spectacular and fits the narrative, that "Rule of Cool" guides my adjudication. I know how to play the long game. I have run campaigns that spanned actual decades of real-world play. I know exactly how to weave your character's backstory into a sweeping, epic narrative where your choices permanently shape the world around you, and where challenges require quick thinking just as much as a sharp blade. Above all, I believe in the power of shared storytelling. A great game isn't just entertainment; it's about building community, broadening understanding, and forging lasting friendships. Whether you're a new player learning the ropes or a veteran seeking deep immersion, there's a seat for you here. Grab your dice, and let's roll.

At a glance

1 year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, World Builder, Beginner Friendly

$25 per session

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I think in cinema, and I adore stories. Telling stories with my players is such an essential human endeavor that I can't imagine not doing it.

My favorite system of all Time is

Cyberpunk 2020 is my all time favorite system. The interlock engine is pretty easy to learn, yet there's enough complexity to keep it interesting. The setting is very interesting. I've also been lucky enough to play with Mike Pondsmith himself, and that was formative and fun.

People are always surprised when I tell them

Because of D&D and the Princess Bride, I spent 20 years learning to "Fence, fight, pretty much anything anyone would teach me". I'm a classically trained rapier fencer, though I've done knife fighting, longsword, and a smattering of other western and eastern swords.

How Eric runs games

Game Mastering is an art of balance. It requires seamlessly blending deep, immersive roleplay with the satisfying clatter of crunchy math rocks to deliver joy and excitement to everyone at the table. Here is what you can expect when you sit at my virtual table: Living, Grounded Worlds: I build NPCs driven by clear motives and reason, making the world feel real and reactive. My scenarios rarely offer a simple, straightforward path to an easy victory. I design encounters that encourage tactical thinking, fallback plans, and clever problem-solving. Challenge is a vital spice, but I never lose sight of the fact that heroes ultimately strive for success. Meaningful Character Arcs: I deeply embrace the Hero’s Journey. While everyone loves a victorious finale, I recognize that not every story needs a traditionally "happy" ending to be profound and memorable. I collaborate closely with my players to craft meaningful, lasting arcs for their characters. Sharing the Spotlight: A great campaign is an ensemble cast. I ensure every player gets their moment to shine as the central hero, alongside plenty of opportunities to support their fellow adventurers when the spotlight shifts. Dynamic Pacing & "Yes, And": I keep the story alive and vibrant by balancing pure improvisation with a strong guiding narrative momentum. I am fundamentally a "yes, and..." GM who rewards creativity. But fair warning: my worlds are living ecosystems, and smart NPCs will absolutely learn from your tactics!

Featured Prompts

If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...

This is a tough choice. Sometimes I'd go to James Cameron, other times Dino De Laurentiis, and others Luc Besson, and sometimes even Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam...

My games focus on...

My games focus on fun, excitement, and a cinematic feel. If it would look good in a movie, its in. We can figure out the how/why/what rules to make it happen.

Rules are...

Rules are a good starting point. My job as a GM is adjudication. I want my players to try the heroic, foolish, and unusual. Its my job to find out how to test the success of those actions. Sometimes the rules handle it, sometimes you have to make stuff up, but with consistency.

Eric's ideal table

I'd like to think my tables are relaxed and fun. I try to move things along, mix in stupid 'thugs' with 'mini-bosses' who think. If it would look cool, I'm flexible on the rules. But I do believe that it cuts both ways; sometimes I need a little rule of cool too.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

I love it when a player catches me flat-footed, and I need to DM 'off the cuff'. It's exciting, gets the blood pumping.

I think min/maxing...

Min/Maxing has its place. One-shots make a great time to see what you can do. A sandbox game, there isn't a right/wrong way to build your character, but as a GM, I need to balance moments to shine so Min/Maxing becomes a point of adjudication.

My table is not the place for...

bullying, stealing other people's moments in the spotlight, trampling other people's fun to earn attention.