Ethan
he/him
5.0
(5)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Ethan
Hi, I’m Ethan! After years of being ground down in healthcare and the service industry I finally decided to try taking a shot at making a living with my passion for TTRPGs. I’ve been playing D&D and other TTRPG for about 12 years now. What started as a fun way to kill time in my dorm room basement slowly turned into a major part of my life. While I loved my time as a player I happily embraced the title of forever DM when my original game master moved. In total I’ve been DMing for about 11 years and I’ve run dozens of campaigns in multiple systems for my friends. With my longest campaign lasting 6 years! I love all TTRPGs and love exploring new ones to see what they have to offer. While D&D 5e is the one that I’ve got the most time playing, I also love other games like Mothership, Wanderhome and Kobolds Ate My Babies. I have a passion for running large open world sandbox style games where you truly feel that you make an impact in the world and where your back story matters. I see TTRPGs as a way to embrace and tell amazing stories collaboratively and I’m excited to do that with you as well!
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Inclusive, Beginner Friendly
$25 per session
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I got started GMing...
back in 2015 with small chaotic one shots in my dorm basement with friends. The chaos quickly turned into my passion and I craved the creativity and freedom that being a GM gave me. I've run dozens of TTRPGs in multiple systems now and have no intentions of stopping anytime soon.
My favorite system of all Time is
Kobolds Ate My Babies hands down! All hail King Torg! I love the chaos and improv required for this game. While its not a play every week type of game its a game full of laughs, chaos, and is peak silliness.
When I'm not running games I'm...
working on my farm! After I got burnt out in healthcare I moved to the countryside with my partner. Most days are spent building fences, hanging out with my chickens or playing in my garden.
How Ethan runs games
I run games with intention. Step one for me when it comes to campaigns is always a session 0. Lets figure out those characters, backstories, what you want to see in the campaign and what you don’t. Building worlds together starts with us being intentional about what we want so that it can guide the rest of the stories that we create. I love finding out what people like and dislike as it helps give me rails for my creativity. Give me a direction and lets go! At the same time I am all about collaborative story telling. Expect to be asked questions when you play. For example: “What’s the name of the baker? What are they like?” I want you to both literally and figuratively build a world and story with me and the rest of the table. As for a few things that might stand out outside of collaborative gaming for me is that I use talespire to create beautiful 3D maps for players to enjoy and play on. This came about because one of my dearest friends has aphantasia and we wanted to ensure that they could enjoy the story just as much as us. We never went back after getting used to the system. It’s truly magical. I also try to challenge my players when it comes to combat but also love good roleplay. There are also times I might homebrew a few rules to make things more interesting, such as making heroic inspiration do more than just give advantage or personally making weapons for your character to fit their theme. Overall, I love TTRPGs and can’t wait for you to join and love adapting my style so that everyone can fit in at my tables.
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I deal with rules issues by...
using a bring it up once rule. If you think I got something wrong, call it out and I’ll make a ruling to keep things moving. I’m not perfect. If needed, we can revisit it on break or after the session. The goal is flow and fun, not rules debates mid game.
I prep by
spending about 2 to 4 hours before each session building loose outlines, reviewing past notes, and creating maps, tokens, and encounters. I don’t script everything out. I focus on what’s happening in the world so it can react to the players just as much as they react to it.
My games focus on...
collaborative storytelling front and center. I build worlds around the players, their characters, and their backstories. The goal isn’t just to tell my story, it’s to create one together. That’s how you get something far more meaningful than I could make on my own.
Ethan's ideal table
My ideal table is full of players who are excited to be there and ready to participate. You don’t need to be the most creative or the best roleplayer. If you show up wanting to build a story together, you’ll fit in. The vibe is roleplay forward and a bit rules light in the moment. I don’t like bogging things down with constant rolls or “um actually” interruptions. That said, when it comes to combat, I turn it up. Expect creative and challenging encounters where the rules matter more and the stakes feel real. I love players who collaborate, share the spotlight, and even help lift others into it. Everyone brings something unique, and discovering that is one of my favorite parts of running games.
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I am for a vibe that's...
I aim for a vibe that changes with the table. One night you’re in a cozy village, the next facing unimaginable horror. Some sessions are dark, others bright and hopeful. We’ll find what fits your group. Cozy, funny, horror, epic, or chaotic, I’m here for it.
I love it when a player
I love it when a player helps share the spotlight. Pull others in, give quieter players a moment, and make space for everyone. Sure the barbarian might not be great at negotiating, but it’s way more fun when they get the chance to try.
I think min/maxing...
I think min maxing can be a blast. Bring strong builds, I’ll challenge them. Just make sure it fits your character. Power is great, but personality matters too. A well built character is fun. A well built character with depth is unforgettable.
Ethan's Preferences
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