Moth
they/them
5.0
(3)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Moth
Hi! I'm Moth! I have been a GM for eight years. I started in high school with a group of three friends, and since then I have run more campaigns than I can count, both in person and online. I love bringing new players into the fold, as well as running games for veterans. My main system is D&D 5.5e, particularly spooky games in the Ravenloft setting! Outside of TTRPGs, I work at a public library, and have occasionally done work on the side as a drag queen and scare actor. Horror is a great passion of mine, and all of my games will probably involve horror in some capacity or another. Creepypasta was my first introduction to horror (my brother kept me awake all night reading me scary stories), and since then, from H.P. Lovecraft to Junji Ito to Bram Stoker, my obsession with all things creepy and macabre has only grown more insatiable! When I discovered D&D's Ravenloft setting, it was the perfect marriage of two things I loved: tactical fantasy combat and atmospheric, character-driven horror. Now I hope to share these dreadful imaginary worlds with as many people as I can!
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Sets the Mood, Storytelling, Voices
Average response time: 8 hours
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
Stories are more fun when we tell them together! I've always wanted to build my own worlds and write my own stories, but collaborating with others is the spark that makes ideas into living, breathing tales.
My favorite shows/movies are
any vampire horror movie and anything by Guillermo del Toro.
When I'm not running games I'm...
often prepping for more games or consuming horror media as inspiration for those games. Unless it's October, then I'm out in the corn maze, wearing a costume and making people piss themselves.
How Moth runs games
As a GM, my focus is on emphasis on storytelling, exploration, and immersive atmosphere! Using ambience, sound effects, and vivid descriptions, I will make you feel like you are reading a page-turning horror novel full of thrills and chills whenever you are at my table! I love to build elaborate worlds for my players, then let their characters' actions guide the course of the story. I will throw out plot hooks all the time so that there is always something to do, but I like to hand the driver's seat to my players. I like finding ways to let your character's origins and goals influence the direction of the campaign, even with written adventures. When it comes to combat, I don't fudge rolls. Most of my campaigns are not scaled to level, so it's up to you to decide which challenges you are ready to face, and which might be better saved for later. Sometimes, fleeing or negotiating a truce is smarter than fighting to the bitter end. That being said, I welcome my players to test each challenge I present! Some of the most memorable moments in my games have been when a player trivialized a challenge I thought would be impossible to overcome with quick thinking and a bit of luck. I draw a hard line against AI-generated images, text, and music in my games, so rest assured that everything you get is authentic and made by people. As for character portraits, I know it can sometimes be difficult to find the perfect image that represents your character, and AI-art can be tempting. That is why I WILL SPLIT THE COST ON CHARACTER ART COMMISSIONS UNDER $30. Prerequisite: you must have played 3 sessions with this character already. Any transfer of money between you and me for these purposes will go through Startplaying.games's built-in payment function.
Featured Prompts
I prep by
Writing down every horror technique I observe in the media I consume and tucking it away for possible future use.
My favorite trope is...
A big creepy haunted castle with far too many rooms.
My games focus on...
Putting the characters into grim and dire circumstances, but never without hope. The darker the night and the more terrifying the monsters, the brighter the heroes shine when they emerge victorious!
Moth's ideal table
I love when players completely immerse themselves in a horror setting and let themselves be scared! As a scare actor, I know that when it comes to scaring someone, roughly 30% of the responsibility is on the actor, and 70% is on the audience. Are they suspending disbelief? Are they trying to act tough? Are they cracking jokes all the time, or distracted by their phone? I will do my best to create a spooky atmosphere, but in order for the horror to work, I need players who are down to tell some scary stories!
Featured Prompts
I am for a vibe that's...
Tense and creepy, but not without moments of levity. Too many jokes can spoil the horror, but don't think I'm going to be the comedy police! TTRPGs naturally lend themselves to funny moments, and I embrace that. Sometimes (not always), horror and comedy complement each other surprisingly well!
I love it when a player
gives their character fears for me to exploit
I think metagaming...
is fine in small doses. If one character is dying and the cleric technically doesn't know how many fails they are at but the player does, then yes, go heal your party member. If you know the solution to a puzzle or mystery, maybe take a step back and let the others figure it out.