Ashley

she/her

5.0

(9)

Timezone

America/new York

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Queer

Neurodivergent

About Ashley

I’m a 37-year-old Game Master with a deep passion for collaborative storytelling, immersive worlds, and long-form character-driven campaigns. Tabletop gaming has been a major part of my life for years, and since shortly before COVID, professional GMing has been my full-time work. Over the years I’ve run multiple systems and settings, with a particular love for D&D 5e, Adventures in Middle-earth, and Chronicles of Darkness. My favorite campaigns tend to blend strong roleplay, atmosphere, mystery, tension, and meaningful character development. I especially enjoy building stories around player backstories and weaving their choices directly into the larger narrative. I also enjoy homebrew design and adapting systems to fit unique settings and themes. Some of my larger projects have included adapting settings like Elden Ring and Dragon Age into D&D, as well as creating crossover and conversion systems involving World/Chronicles of Darkness and Lord of Mysteries. Especially Lord of Mysteries... Some of my favorite settings and inspirations include Middle-earth, Ravenloft, Eberron, Wildemount, Dune, and the World of Darkness universe. Outside of online GMing, I’ve also been working on building an after-school LARPing program focused on creativity, storytelling, teamwork, and roleplay for younger players.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Inclusive, World Builder

Average response time: 3 hours

Response rate: 67%

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

I started GMing because nobody was running the campaigns I wanted to play. Years later, I'm still building worlds, writing mysteries, adapting settings, and creating stories that couldn't exist anywhere else.

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

Players say: Immersive, Fair, and Collaborative. I build living worlds where player choices matter. I strive to be consistent and fair in both rulings and challenges, while working with players to make their characters an important part of the story rather than simply observers of it.

When I'm not running games I'm...

Usually working on my next game. Whether I'm designing new systems, adapting Elden Ring or Dragon Age into campaigns, developing Lord of Mysteries into CoD, or working on a child's LARP program, storytelling tends to follow me in life. When I do take a break, I play 40K necrons, read and cook.

How Ashley runs games

I specialize in long-form, story-driven campaigns that focus heavily on character development, player choice, immersion, and emotional investment. My games are built to feel like living worlds where decisions matter, relationships evolve, and consequences carry forward across the entire campaign. Players can expect: * Strong roleplay and character-focused storytelling * Deep worldbuilding and lore * Serious attention to atmosphere and tone * Meaningful player agency * Mystery, investigation, and slow-burn reveals * Tactical combat that serves the story rather than replacing it * NPCs with distinct personalities, goals, and relationships * Campaigns designed with long-term arcs and character growth in mind I particularly enjoy games that blend tension, horror, politics, exploration, and interpersonal drama. Many of my campaigns involve hidden truths, difficult choices, shifting alliances, and moral ambiguity rather than simple “good vs evil” stories. I also place strong emphasis on preparation, communication, pacing, and making sure every player has opportunities to contribute and shine throughout the campaign.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

Making a quick ruling and keeping the game moving. If the answer isn't immediately clear, I'll research it after the session and adjust future rulings if needed. I'd rather spend game time telling stories than debating rulebooks.

If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...

strange collaboration between Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro, and whoever keeps giving the characters emotional damage.

My favorite trope is...

Ordinary people discovering that power comes with a price. Whether it's heroes, villains, or something in between, I'm fascinated by how people change when they're given the ability to reshape the world around them.

Ashley's ideal table

My ideal table is made up of players who enjoy becoming invested in both their characters and the world around them. While I enjoy tactical combat and exciting encounters, my campaigns are primarily driven by character choices, roleplay, exploration, mystery, and long-term storytelling. Players who thrive at my table tend to enjoy asking questions, pursuing personal goals, developing relationships with NPCs and fellow party members, and helping build a collaborative story. I love incorporating character backstories into the campaign, so players who bring motivations, flaws, ambitions, and connections usually get the most out of my games. The atmosphere at my table is generally friendly, respectful, and engaged. I welcome both experienced players and newer players who are willing to learn. Communication, reliability, and consideration for fellow players are important to me, and I work hard to ensure everyone has opportunities to contribute and shine. If you're looking for a campaign where your character's decisions matter, where the world reacts to your actions, and where stories can develop over months or even years, we'll probably get along very well.

Featured Prompts

I am for a vibe that's...

Engaged, collaborative, and respectful, with plenty of room for laughter, tension, triumph, and the occasional emotional gut punch.

I love it when a player

Takes an interest in the world beyond their character sheet. Ask questions, pursue mysteries, make connections, and surprise me with your choices. Some of my favorite campaign moments started with a player following a thread I never expected.

My table is not the place for...

Players who enjoy disrupting the game, ignoring fellow players, or treating a collaborative story as a competition. Everyone deserves a chance to contribute and be heard.