Snakes

he/him

5.0

(5)

Timezone

America/new York

Language

English

Identity

Teacher/Educator

About Snakes

My name is Ryan, and I am an expat that lived overseas for six years before returning to the States and restarting at 30. I got into D&D about six months after returning as I was in need of a social hobby and came across StartPlaying. From there, I joined my first campaign knowing next to nothing. Since then, I have gone from staring at a tavernkeeper clueless about what to say to a player of multiple personas including ones that I would never have dreamed of role playing due to sheer difference in personality. From my love of the game, I game DMing a shot with my family and had a full party of six running Dragons of Stormwreck Isle. It was utterly nerve-wracking moments before starting, but once it was time to start, I ran the campaign as best I could, learning more about running a table along several weeks. I always received great feedback from my sessions, and even months later, my table still vividly recalls specific moments from the campaign that I had completely forgotten about. Although I was an amateur DM, that was an indication that I did my job well. Now I run games here on StartPlaying!

At a glance

1 year on StartPlaying

1 games hosted

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Inclusive, Visual Aid

$15 per session

Featured Prompts

When I'm not running games I'm...

Making my own battle maps on Dungeondraft or working on digital illustrations. It's amazing what you can learn designing natural scenery or interiors of buildings, and it gives me something to look forward to before and after my day job outside of D&D.

How Snakes runs games

For game mechanics that are explicitly stated, I prefer RAW (Rules as Written) to maintain expectations for play itself. If something is not explicitly stated in a rule or weapon/spell block, then the Rule of Cool applies. And I am all for plays that can be flavored to a certain extent. Dancing Lights may only cast light as written, but it does not state that an enemy cannot be temporarily blinded for one turn with a good enough Arcana check. Creative and novel ideas will always spark some excitement, so I encourage it!

Featured Prompts

I once ran a session...

Where my sorcerer was hell bent on using a crowbar to whack everything...but he kept missing. So, in a narrow cave tunnel with goblins lined up, he rolled to throw the crowbar. He rolled low and missed, but it bounced off the wall and hit the goblin in the back. My sorcerer finally had his moment.

Snakes's ideal table

There are two things I absolutely love at a table: beautiful storytelling and shenanigans. I have done my best to bring these to my tables and enhance them at other tables where I get to be a player. When my bards use vicious mockery, they don't need to deal the psychic damage; you bet they got some juicy lines to drop. Use Conjure Animals to summon a sabretooth tiger for a showdown against a drunken barbarian as a spectacle for the lovely town of Phandalin to see? Absolutely. All part of the journey.