Maddie
she/her
5.0
(3)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Maddie
Hi, I'm Maddie, your resident spooky-goth-GM! I've been playing TTRPGs for a number of years now, starting off with D&D 4e, then moving up and now running 5e as well as the new 2024/2025 rules. In that time I've also branched out into other systems, one of my standout favorites being Blades in the Dark! I have a lifetime of experience with acting and improv, even currently working with an improv and sketch group, performing standup comedy, and am working on a degree in creative writing and film. These aspects really inform the way I GM, helping me find joy and fulfillment in giving my players things like mentally challenging puzzles and combat encounters while also bringing professional roleplay experience! I totally understand that TTRPGs can feel intimidating and inaccessible for new players, even with all the D&D media that has become so prevalent lately! I actually thoroughly enjoy getting to curate fun and engaging experiences for new players and help guide them through their first times playing! Whether you're a brand new player or an experienced one looking for more game time, let's play!
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
7 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Inclusive
Featured Prompts
My favorite shows/movies are
Some of my favorite shows include Superstore, New Girl, The X-Files, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. My favorite movies include When Harry Met Sally, Kingsmen: The Secret Service, 10 Things I Hate About You, and The Theory of Everything.
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
Dedicated, mindful, and flexible!
When I'm not running games I'm...
Performing and writing! I'm an actor and standup comic, but also am involved in other aspects of "behind the scenes" work including costuming, audio, lighting, writing, and more! If I'm not writing stuff for games, I'm writing scripts and sketches and jokes.
How Maddie runs games
My performance background has made me an avid roleplayer! I try to incorporate it into every aspect, from interactions with NPCs, playing monsters, combat and more. It's also made me very comfortable thinking on the fly and running with my players while still subtly trying to redirect when things get too far from the task at hand. This also factors greatly into how I build the environment for sessions. I involve music, sound effects, even sometimes subtly dressing according to the game for the first session just to set the vibe. Between having ADHD and an improv background I love to create combat encounters that always have at least a little curve ball for both fun and the mental challenge. Things like multiple levels, traps, tweaking monsters/NPCs or homebrewing, and more. This means I also love coming up with my own puzzles and mysteries for my players to get invested in. I find that keeping people mentally engaged in the game makes it fun for everyone! My writing background also informs the way I craft a story around my players. I try to form connections both within the game as well as connect with my players on a personal level. The human aspect of GMing is incredibly sacred to me, and I try to bring that to every game I run. And don't let the aesthetic fool you! I love the darker vibes for sure, but whimsy and fun come first for me! Although I won't let the game get too sidetracked by the "oops all jokers" trope unless everyone agrees to that vibe.
Featured Prompts
I prep by
Creating music playlists for the session and location, and listening to those non-stop for the days leading up to the session as I write and prep. In prepping I come up with outlines as well as having notes for random encounters and locations to keep the session moving.
My favorite trope is...
Having the token "jester" character somehow come into their own and have their own "genius" or "hero" moments! I love this for entertainment as well as building a multidimensional character.
When it comes to voices
I try to draw on my experience between growing up in NYC as well as consuming media and making mental notes of voices to imitate. I learned in acting school that it helps to have a line or two to refer to to "drop" you into a voice, so I put those lines or character references in my personal notes.
Maddie's ideal table
Because of my performing background I do tend to enjoy players who bring levity and fun to the table. However I do also love getting to work with my players on exploring the world and story, whether it be one I've written myself or a pre-written one, as it helps the game feel like something more than a group of friends sitting around just joking and talking. So I appreciate players who still remain present, engaged and on-task. Of course there's always room for editorializing, and I like to think I'm good at balancing letting my players drive the story and being able to subtly redirect. I do also try to guide my players to be proactive in telling me things they specifically would like to get to do/accomplish with their character so that we can work together to keep them involved and use that to drive the story as well! It's all well and good to be the support player who just goes along with everything, but when everyone is involved in driving the story it means a better experience for everyone! So to summarize, I prefer to work with players who are willing to collaborate and have fun and bring some humor and levity when it fits, but who know how to balance that with still remaining focused on what the party is working toward at that moment. Additionally, proactive players who are willing to take initiative are a plus, or at the very least being willing to have conversations about what they would like to get out of a game.
Featured Prompts
If you're into ___, you're going to love my table
madcap, humorous, and fun encounters, dark and spooky, creative and in-depth world building and aesthetics, or all three!
I think metagaming...
Takes away a lot of the fun for all players. It takes the metagamer out of the story mentally, making them less present and engaged with the party and the GM. But it also takes away the fun and experimental aspect of the experience from the metagamer themselves.
My table is not the place for...
Taking advantage of my love of creativity within the game. I try to extend this freedom to players in allowing them to ask to make changes to some aspects from the source material, re-skin and re-flavor, however creating too stacked or objectively busted characters is abusing this privilege.
Maddie's Preferences
Systems