Jesse
he/him
5.0
(6)
Timezone
Language
About Jesse
Hello! You can call me Jesse or Owl (Discord). I've been the 'forever dm' the last eight or so years, but honestly I have the most fun this way. I love running homebrew settings and worlds, crafting monsters and items, and shaping worlds around player actions and backstories. My favorite things are creating scenes, locales, and distracting dungeons with loot. I also like writing NPCs that range from normal quest-givers, to recurring oddballs, and potentially adventure-altering villain-to-be-or-not-to-be's. What's kept me going in running D&D games is the ability for me to let my creative flag shine. I've dabbled in several creative hobbies. From music, to school theater, to writing, drawing... But I always end up back in D&D worldbuilding and storytelling.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, World Builder
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
I love creating homebrew stuff like monsters, magic items, and settings! Especially when I get to share them with players and learn/craft stuff from inspiration I take from their characters.
My favorite books are
The Inheritance Cycle - Christopher Paolini The Immortal Nicholas Flamel - Michael Scott The Kane Chronicles - Rick Riordan
When I'm not running games I'm...
- Watching anime (favorites include Frieren, Mushoku Tensei, and I'm a sucker for a good soul-healing rom-com like Ore Monogatari) - Getting mauled by my kitten - Gaming with friends on discord
How Jesse runs games
I'd say my games are a mix of combat, exploration, and casual role play with NPCs. I'm not an expert on textbook rules, but I'm always trying to improve my games by drawing inspiration from my favorite media and watching a LOT of guides on youtube. I like walking the line of sandbox-style, party-driven storytelling, with helpful rails giving it structure. Unless it's a one-two-three shot adventure, I believe in giving an overarching 'Main Goal' to my players that drives the campaign. How we get there is up to fate and whimsy! Typically a lot of my encounters will be inspired by a seed of worldbuilding, especially when it comes to dungeons and 'curated' encounters that i have planned ahead of time. But often I'll find something from players during sessions that inspires quests, mini-adventures, and even whole arcs. Few of my adventures within a campaign are one-offs that have no relevance later on, but those can also be fun to sprinkle in. At the end of the day, the players are central at the table, and if I feel that they don't get excited by a certain plot thread I'm not afraid to adapt.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
A quick google, and if I don't see a good answer right away, I make a judgement call and we move on. I'll research the rule later on after the session and post an update. My goal is to keep the game flowing!
I prep by
Several things but mainly Obsidian Notes, because it's handy to organize everything and world-build. Often, I come up with ideas for encounters based on one of several monster books I've collected, or if a character mentions something in-game, or I'll base them on magic items players wish-list.
When it comes to voices
I do my best, but I'm no expert, and I don't expect you to be one either. But let's all give it our best go
Jesse's ideal table
I tend to try and keep things light-hearted, but not too silly. I focus on trying to keep things moving and getting all players involved in the scene. However, there are moments when I'll dial up the intensity, and try and draw everyone into the roleplay. These moments happen when we encounter powerful monsters, potential clashes with villains, etc. Anyone willing to try and get into their character and encourage their fellow players to do the same is welcome. I like playing with folks who consider their backstories, write up a paragraph or more, and get excited about magic items and loot. I also encourage players to contribute some lore that's tied to their characters, and I'm willing to help incorporate that stuff into my own world. Players who may want to consider other tables include; highly-tactical war-gamers, players who want deep and philosophical voice-acted social encounters, or those who get most excited about political intrigue or complex mysteries.
Featured Prompts
I am for a vibe that's...
Flexible, but mostly chill and fun. I want our table to feel relaxed, but also to slide into those intense, heart-pounding moments, with the occasional silly story that becomes a character's inside joke.
I love it when a player
Has a cool and inspiring backstory that makes me want to develop more lore in my world around it!
My table is not the place for...
Players who want to PvP or run extra-crunchy dark gritty campaigns.
Jesse's Preferences
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