Gary

he/him

Timezone

Etc/gmt

Identity

Game Designer

About Gary

Hi! I’m Gary (Honest Rogue), a lifelong storyteller with a creative mind and a passion for RPGs. For me, running a game isn't just about rolling dice and balancing encounters. It’s about building a world that comes alive in the minds of the players, then watching it unfold and grow based on the choices they make. I started out GMing at home, running homebrew campaigns for my family—four kids included—a true baptism of fire. It taught me so many things; how to be adaptable, flexible and break down the game to make it accessible for everyone. Most importantly of all, it taught me that kids are brutal and will tell you exactly what they think! I tend to stray from convention when running a campaign, not content with building a single story and expecting players to follow it. I build fully formed open worlds, where players' free will is truly at the forefront. Multiple factions, varied lands to explore, interactions, choices and consequences that are much further reaching than you might expect from an average campaign. Changing the plan on the fly is something I've come to relish, taking player choices and rolling with them to see where the story takes us rather than rail-roading player options. Knowing that literally anything can happen is what DnD is all about!

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Featured Prompts

My favorite books are

May Contain Traces of Magic - Tom Holt Earth, Air, Fire and Custard - Tom Holt You Don't Have To Be Evil To Work Here, But It Helps - Tom Holt (I really like Tom Holt's books)

The three words my players would use to describe me are...

Cece (Age 11): - "Like mysterious, curious, so you get lured in" (Beguiling?) - "Enjoyable for like all types of campaigns, because there's different types" (Adaptable?) - "Loads of plot twists" (Unpredictable?)

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

Creating board games!

How Gary runs games

You can expect immersive gameplay, collaborative storytelling, character development and choices that really matter. Character backstories are there to be delved into and incorporated into the story, not to be mentioned once and forgotten about. As a DM I try to use all of the tools at my disposal to make sessions fun, interactive and involving. Music, images, maps, sound effects, voices, bespoke items, trinkets, weapons and armour, characters... if it's going to make the session a little more interesting I'm willing to put in the work to make memorable experiences. Whilst everyone enjoys bashing goblins and defeating the big bad, I ensure a balanced blend of combat and narrative in my sessions. Battles are fast-paced, cinematic, and often tied to character arcs and choices. I use homebrew and rule-of-cool to keep the story flowing, but always aim for fairness and consistency. Player agency, emotional safety, and a welcoming table are all things that I aim for. Tools like Lines & Veils, open communication, and support for all experience levels are all commonplace when I run campaigns. Whether you have a hankering for drama, discovery, or dragons, helping you feel seen, engaged and excited for what comes next is my aim in every session.

Featured Prompts

I once ran a session...

Called 'Dexter Super Farty Pants'. My four children's bed time was my origin story. They would each pick 5 characters at bed time, and their bed time story would be made up on the fly each night, incorporating each of their characters. This 'campaign' lasted the better part of 10 years.

I prep by

Creating a fully formed open world, with various factions, NPC encounters, places to visit and big bad baddies to defeat. Player agency is at the very forefront of my campaigns. Allowing players to make every meaningful decision in their adventure is what I strive for.

When it comes to voices

I've been told I have a talented tongue. I genuinely cannot help giving voice to the characters I create. I am a thespian at heart, so performing each character, with their own unique voice and quirks is something you can absolutely expect in any campaign I run.

Gary's ideal table

My ideal table is made up of open-minded players—people who are in it for the adventure, the fun, and a good story. I love playing with those who aren’t afraid to be a little silly, get into character, and not take every moment too seriously. For me, D&D is first and foremost about having fun. If you're not enjoying yourself, what’s the point of playing? I make sure everyone is truly welcome and strive for inclusivity at all stages, for all backgrounds, skill levels, and experience.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

Dives headfirst into roleplay, even when it gets messy or weird. When they throw me a wild backstory hook I can build the world around. When they make choices based on character, not stats, or genuinely surprises me with a clever solution I hadn’t thought of.