Allen

he/him

4.8

(8)

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

About Allen

I’ve been GMing for about five years, primarily running D&D 5e and 5.5e. My first campaign as a player was Curse of Strahd and I've loved dnd ever since. My wife was a player in that game and we ended up getting married and we both dm campaigns in our home every week. I love the lore of dnd and creating adventures that my players can step into and embrace that world. The players I enjoy most are those who step into their characters—who speak, decide, and act from that perspective. When a table leans into roleplay, the story becomes something we create together. One of my favorite moments came from a barbarian challenging a fleeing warrior cleric. He called the cleric a coward and the NPC turned back for a duel. It was tense and cinematic—the bard played music, and the party surrounded the duel. The barbarian finally won, and as the cleric accepted his fate, I granted advantage on the final strike… double natural 1s. Instead of a failure, we made it mythic. The player said his god must have stayed his hand, and I followed through. Lightning struck, and the fallen warrior became a tree. A bad roll became a legendary moment. Thats what I want for my players. I love listening to what my players envision for their characters, their arcs, and dreams and helping create situations, challenges and obstacles let them express it. DND to me is a story, told by the players based on how they direct their characters, and i get the privilege of turning the pages.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

1 games hosted

Highly rated for: Inclusive, Teacher, Creativity

Featured Prompts

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

Spending time with my wife and kids. Playing league of legends, Mtg, or creating yet another dnd character and fantasizing about how they could be in a dnd game that doesn't exist yet.

How Allen runs games

I’m a story-first DM who believes the best campaigns are the ones players feel as much as they play. My games focus on heroic storytelling—tales of redemption, fate, sacrifice, and overcoming darkness. I want my players to win, but that victory should feel earned. While story is the heart of my table, I love building intricate, multi-layered combats where the goal isn’t just “defeat the enemy.” Expect encounters with objectives, stakes, and meaningful choices beyond simply reducing HP. Playstyle & Approach I tend to plan key moments and major scenes, but I don’t script outcomes. How we get there—and how things unfold—is driven by the players. You tell the story; I build the world and present the choices. I follow the rules closely, or at least their intent, but I’m not rigid. If something is unclear, I usually lean in favor of the player. Creativity is always welcome, and consequences exist—but they’re not always negative. Actions shape the story in meaningful ways. Roleplay & Table Culture I enjoy a table that can balance humor with serious, grounded roleplay. Jokes and table talk are welcome, but I love when players engage from their character’s perspective and immerse themselves in the world. This is a collaborative storytelling environment. I prioritize team storytelling while still giving space for strong individual character arcs. Expectations - No PvP or antagonistic player behavior - No predatory or disrespectful conduct - Be willing to engage - avoid ai

Featured Prompts

Rules are...

Secondary to fun. The rules serve their purpose to explain how things happen in a setting, and set up restrictions that generate creativity. But sometimes, the rules should be bent or broken if in service to the table's joy for the game.

Allen's ideal table

My table is about getting pulled into the world and having room to really explore your character. I like when players feel comfortable leaning into who their character is and making choices that matter. The vibe is pretty laid back. We joke around and laugh a lot, but when something serious comes up, people lean into it and those moments hit. The players who tend to fit best are the ones who want their character to feel real in the story. You don’t need to do voices or anything like that, but being willing to think from your character’s point of view goes a long way. Combat usually has a few moving parts. There’s often something going on beyond just fighting, so paying attention, working together, and getting creative helps a lot. At the table, people are supportive of each other. Whether you’re really into roleplay or still getting used to it, you’ll be met where you’re at. Respect matters—no PvP or pushing other characters into things unless everyone’s talked it through ahead of time. If you like being part of a story and want your character to actually matter in it, you’ll probably fit in well here.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

Lives through their character. When you logic things out like your character, engage the world around you through your character, and work to tell their story. It encourages others to roleplay and brightens the table.