Nicholas Perkowski
he/him
5.0
(6)
Timezone
Language
About Nicholas Perkowski
Hello!! 👋 I’m Nicholas. You can call me Nicholas or Nick, I go by either name. I am a DM for D&D 5e (2014, not 2024). I have been playing D&D off and on since I was a kid. I remember sitting at the top of the steps when I was supposed to be sleeping, listening to my parent's D&D group laughing downstairs and wondering to myself what they were doing. Pretty soon, I was drawing maps and traps for my dad to use with the group (he was DM). A few years ago, I finally started to DM too. I DMed first for friends. Then strangers as my friends started to recommend their friends to play with me. I think my games make simple stories feel special with a comfy, laidback vibe that makes the table fun. In total I have about 5 years experience as a full time DM. It’s become something I really enjoy! :)
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Beginner Friendly
$20 per session
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
My D&D group needed a new DM. Honestly, I already had the itch to try it out though. So I jumped at the chance. I really felt I could run a table, deliver fun sessions and give my players interesting choices with the agency for those choices to matter. My players agree. Hopefully, you will too! :)
My favorite shows/movies are
A mix of different things. I'd say I have broad, eclectic tastes. I watch everything from cable tv shows to art house movies. And I love cartoons! :) :) One, that I watched back in October, that I really loved was called Over the Garden Wall. Speaking of October, I watch Hocus Pocus every Halloween.
When I'm not running games I'm...
Doing things away from games. I like to go for walks, watch hockey (my favorite team is the Detroit Red Wings), draw, paint and something I really love to do is go to art museums. I'm also a pretty good cook, or so people tell me. I love to travel too. I once took a summer long trip touring the US.
How Nicholas Perkowski runs games
I love a lower powered game set in a village troubled by monsters like goblins, hags, young dragons or evil wizards. In the nearby creepy cave or catacombs, I run dungeon crawls. Those ooze-infested corridors are filled with hard, deadly combat encounters to keep you on the edge-of-your seat. Those challenges give my games an open-ended feel where even I don’t really know what will ultimately happen. The focus is on your choices and transforming simple stories into memorable, emergent adventures. But, it's not all combat! My dungeons have variety. At times, you will find yourself sneakily slipping past a grumpy town guard. Other times, you will try to pry the secrets out of a hiccuping goblin as the smell of a fine feast wafts through the air. You be able to explore, roleplay and get creative. And while I prefer you to take the lead on things like humor I join in on the fun by giving my creatures and characters different voices. I think it leads my games to have a classic beer-and-pretzels style.
Featured Prompts
My favorite trope is...
Dungeon delving for gold. I think there's something so fun about a treasure hunt ending with the glint and glitter of a golden reward reflecting off your face as you throw open a chest. So I like to stock old treasure chests for you to find as you make your way on classic adventures of your own.
My games focus on...
Collaboration and emergent storytelling. The story is shared by the DM and the players. You won't be playing through a plot prepared in my notes. And while I will often say "yes" to the things you want to do, I like to follow my "no" with a "but" and give you options.
Rules are...
A good way to keep things fair, consistent and pose limits that challenge players and get them to think creatively. But rules work best when they feel natural and when there is trust. So at my table, while I have final say, I make it a point to openly explain and discuss my rulings with you.
Nicholas Perkowski's ideal table
My table has a laidback, lighthearted vibe. I have mostly run games with friends, so I love a friendly, game-night feel. You should fit the kind, relaxed feel of my games well if you like to roleplay, but also want to share the spotlight, like to get creative, but also want time to just sit back and roll the dice and if you like to get silly, but also want a grounded game. I also run challenging combat. So you would need to be prepared for character death because, while rare, players have lost characters in my games. I think character death is a good way to highlight something important to know about my style: I feel that trust makes everything at the table easier. Even though I knew my players were okay with deadly fights and didn’t see it as a failure, each time I still made sure to take a moment and see how everyone felt. I prioritize building trust with you so that we can have those kind of discussions. So we'll talk about expectations. We'll take breathers after hard fights. You'll even hear me admit when I make a mistake.
Featured Prompts
If you're into ___, you're going to love my table
"Playing in a game that feels like game night at the table back home."
I think min/maxing...
Is not necessary for my games. I've mentioned a few times that I run hard combat. Despite that, you really don't need to be a war gamer or great at tactics. I emphasis challenge to establish stakes so that the fun can feel really rewarding, not to force you to have an optimized character.
My perfect party mix is
I like Chex squares, pretzels, and cheese crackers tossed in worcestershire sauce for my party mix. I love to have snacks at my irl games. D&D doesn’t feel the same to me without snacks. But this probably meant party like an adventuring party :p For that I’ll say a wizard, rogue, fighter and cleric.
Nicholas Perkowski's Preferences
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