Daniel Spinks

he/him

5.0

(10)

TOP GM

Timezone

Europe/london

Language

English

Identity

Educator

Game Designer

About Daniel Spinks

I have been a Dungeon Master (or Game Master if you prefer) for over a decade. Alongside writing and a lot of games, D&D is a huge passion of mine. I enjoy helping others have a great experience and a place to build amazing stories, characters, and worlds together. I'm from the UK and use Talespire to run my games (I have the pleasure of knowing the creator, and he is a great guy who has made a fantastic VTT). I decided to get involved with SP.G when my chosen career (Game QA) fell apart with the gaming industry. I now run multiple proffesional games a week and love every second of it. Thanks for checking out my profile, and good luck finding games you love!

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

84 games hosted

Highly rated for: Visual Aid, Storytelling, Inclusive

$10 per session

Average response time: 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Top Game Master

One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I love telling stories and having others help to make those stories unique. I love to see people being creative and helping them to explore worlds and characters they make.

I got started GMing...

I started when my friends and I heard about DnD and I thought "How hard could it be", which was when I realised it was actually quite hard. 10 years later and it's a little easier, but still not easy, luckily I am obsessed so it always feels fun.

The three words my players would use to describe me are...

Fair, accommodating, and immersive...and I always go the extra mile

How Daniel Spinks runs games

In my games players can expect to take part in varied stories that cover a range of areas. From high stakes tactical combat to espionage, puzzles and role play. I like to tailor player experience from character creation to a session by session basis so all feel a part of the experience. This involves a session 0 and contact with me throughout the campaign between sessions to keep everything on track and player's happy. I currently offer module adventures for those wanting a more classic DnD experience. I stick heavily to the module and deviate where neccessary for player characters to feel more grounded in the settings and worlds.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

I talk openly with players so that we can agree on what feels fair and fun. I have always believed in the rules needing to matter for the game to feel fair and have weight to decisions. However, I also believe in the rule of cool and fun being the ultimate decider.

I prep by

Making sure I have all the info I need to play the session. That might mean knowing a lot about player's characters, the setting, the previous sessions, or just knowing the player's and what they want from the game.

Rules are...

Rule 1: Everyone has fun every session (If that isn't happening I'm not doing my job right) Rule 2: Respect at the table is paramount (That goes for players and myself) Rule 3: Everyone has a voice (Open and honest dialogue is necessary to guarantee everyone feels heard and gets to play)

Daniel Spinks's ideal table

The ideal table is one where each player can respect the other's time and ideas. Every player should be there for the same reason, to tell and experience a fun story with others so that we all have a good time and can speak together about any issues, that way we can all enjoy our time and feel respected at the table.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

I love when a player comes to me excited about an idea they had, or wants to talk in-between sessions about the game and the stories we tell.

I think metagaming...

Makes the game less enjoyable as it means the player's aren't playing characters, they are playing themselves in a different place and body, which can be a fun idea, as long as it is what has been agreed upon. I prefer role play, surprises, and the thrill of new experiences.

My table is not the place for...

Making the game all about yourself. I always believe that DnD is a collective story telling experience where the actions of yourself and others affect the game. Being aware of how your actions can affect the story is important, so making the game all about yourself often leads to friction, not fun.