Ryan Smith
he/him
5.0
(5)
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Identity
About Ryan Smith
Your next Dungeon Master! Join a campaign that is as fun as it is rewarding. My players always leave the table with smiles and more than a few laughs. I am proud to say I have had the pleasure of sharing my campaign setting dozens of times with friends and strangers over the last 25+ years. I truly believe in letting players run wild in my settings, each campaign enriches the worlds lore. I encourage players both new and experienced to apply, all are welcome. I host games for beginners and veterans alike and am currently running several campaigns that run at different paces.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
5 games hosted
Highly rated for: Storytelling, World Builder, Creativity
Average response time: 24+ hours
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
Sometimes people need a release from reality and a place where they can feel successful and mighty or even face their fears. I love being a DM and have since the day I picked it up as a teenager. It has brought me happiness and I've made many lasting friendships on the way. Give it a try.
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
That depends on who you ask and on the most recent session haha. Most would say I am a story teller, fair and fun. Other days they might be more inclined to use less happy words but always in jest. Challenging, Engaging, Entertaining. I believe D&D has something for everyone so dive in :).
When I'm not running games I'm...
Prepping for the next one of course! I spend a lot of my free time learning about anything that makes my games better. I study languages, go camping/hiking in different environments (recently I succeeded at one of my bucket list hikes in BC Canada) and am an avid cyclist.
How Ryan Smith runs games
Realism, Fantasy and attention to detail. Every aspect of the game we all love is absolutely on the table in this campaign setting. travel the planes, bargain with demons, ally with angels, create your own private sanctuaries and sanctums, topple a religious order, defeat a cult (or start own you cheeky devil). It's all part of a great experience. Naturally the group you are with dictates what elements become important. Tactical gameplay with full colour maps (for most encounters), fully developed towns and varied questlines, or run around and make it your own. Deviate, have fun, start a pub, open a restaurant, seek out treasures, hunt dragons or spend your time researching and seeking out hidden places where long lost relics lay dormant, waiting to alter the destinies of those lucky enough (or unlucky enough) to claim them.
Featured Prompts
I prep by
having a full developed world. The towns, NPC's, quest lines and villains already exist in the world. Players actions shape my world setting and that is often a rewarding experience. Creating on the fly when players prompt take unexpected turns is always fun and my experience as a 20+ year DM shines
My games focus on...
Freedom, Fun, Adventure. Combat and roleplay take equal importance in almost every session but may lean one way or another depending on the whims of the party. Characters help develop their own stories and the campaign with interesting backstories that help shape the available quests and adventures.
Rules are...
important but not absolute. The focus is on fun and while I won't allow game breaking mechanics into my settings it is sometimes fun to bend a rule for the "rule of cool". Everyone deserves to shine and it is my pleasure to make sure you have a story to tell your friends the next day at work.
Ryan Smith's ideal table
Laugh, be merry and have fun. My world has a sense of realism and is open to explore. Players will not be led by the nose (unless they prefer it) and are free to enjoy the game world as they see fit. Bring a sense of humour, a positive attitude, respect for one another and be ready to say yes to adventure. My tables almost never have issues. The players at them are always treated fairly and as an experienced DM I make sure everyone gets the best experience. All players are welcome, vet and new. My table is a great experience for any player and the vibe will adjust depending on the players at the table, but will never stray from keeping the focus on fun.
Featured Prompts
If you're into ___, you're going to love my table
full colour custom battle-maps. I create all of my own battle-maps as well as world/town and area maps. Also if you enjoy a fully created campaign setting with NPC's and as many voices as I can muster then my table is the place for you.
I love it when a player
puts in the work between sessions. Taking the time to learn the relevant mechanics and understanding your character sheet helps move the game forward and makes each session more fun than the last. No one is expected to know everything but the effort is always appreciated and rewarded.
I think metagaming...
at the table is a no no. It takes away from the roleplay in the moment and leads to discussions that would not happen in real time. Be the character, be in their shoes. Don't discuss strategy in front of the villain because I promise you, they are listening :)
Ryan Smith's Preferences
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