Josh

he/him

5.0

(7)

Timezone

America/new York

Language

English

About Josh

D&D 5e & Shadowdark Dungeon Master: Homebrew Adventures & Immersive Roleplay Welcome to your next great adventure! I'm a (semi)professional Dungeon Master specializing in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition & Shadowdark with a focus on rich storytelling, dynamic combat, and interactive worldbuilding. Whether you're a newcomer eager to explore or a veteran hero chasing new legends, my sessions strive to blend the best of homebrew creativity with the structure of beloved official modules. My games spotlight character-driven narratives, collaborative storytelling, and just the right amount of chaotic humor (bad puns included, no extra charge). Expect engaging roleplay, tactical encounters, devious puzzles, and a world that evolves with your choices. If you’re looking for a D&D or Shadowdark experience that’s equal parts heartfelt, hilarious, and heroic—pull up a chair. Let’s roll some dice and make some memories.

At a glance

3 years on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Voices

Featured Prompts

My 3 systems I'd bring to a desert island would be

D&D 5e, the options are nearly endless (bonus: Shadowdark is kind of 5e but less cruft, so technically I'd get 2 for one by going 5e); Call of Cthulhu, I love a good eldritch horror; EZD6, sometimes simple is best.

My favorite books are

Kings of the Wyld and Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames, The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehler, the majority of the Legend of Drizzt series by R.A. Salvatore, the Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson, the Watch series of Terry Pratchett Discworld books (or really any Discworld book), LOTR

My favorite system of all Time is

While I love Shadowdark & Call of Cthulhu, and I have had great fun in Blades in the Dark, EZD6, and have just started playing Candela Obscura, 5e will always hold a special place in my heart. It was my introduction to TTRPGs and the first system I ran. Playing or running 5e feels like home.

How Josh runs games

My GM Style: Collaborative, Character-Focused, and a Little Chaotic (in a good way) I'm all about roleplay-rich sessions where your characters take center stage—and yes, I’m absolutely doing the voices, no matter how ridiculous they sound. Voice acting isn’t expected, just encouraged if you’re feeling bold. Every session blends immersive storytelling with tactical combat or brain-teasing puzzles, tailored to your group’s preferences and the evolving narrative. My priority is making sure everyone’s engaged, having a blast, and invested in the adventure. We’re here to tell an awesome story together, not grind through content like it’s a textbook.

Featured Prompts

My favorite trope is...

I love respectful party tension—like the Dudley Do-Right paladin clashing with the charming rogue. Opposing alignments create conflict, character growth, and some of the best moments in tabletop storytelling. Often, the biggest baddy the party will face is the friends they have along the way.

Rules are...

Rules support fun, not slow it down. I follow the Rule of Cool, use light house rules to keep things moving, and aim for a fair, creative table where everyone shines. The mechanics shape the journey, but the laughs, drama, and player choices bring the world to life.

When it comes to voices

I bring NPCs to life with voices—bad ones, but lovingly so. I strive to the heights of Brennan Lee Mulligan but where he's Times New Roman, I'm Comic Sans (IYKYK). I aim to entertain, not impress, and help players dive headfirst into the escapist fun of TTRPGs.

Josh's ideal table

My Ideal Table: Fun-First, Flavor-Forward I’m here for players who want to engage with the story and each other, not just optimize builds and crunch numbers. While I’m flexible with multi-classing and stat-chasing, my priority is co-creating a memorable, exciting adventure where every player gets to shine. If you're looking to “win” D&D via action economy hacks, you might not have the best time. But if you're into rich storytelling, hilarious character moments, and leaning into classic fantasy tropes (and maybe a few surprise twists), you’ll fit right in. I’m not above a brutal meat-grinder dungeon—but only if the party is up for it. My tables thrive on humor, cooperation, and plenty of dad jokes. Rule of thumb: if you can laugh at yourself and still cry over a dramatic character arc, we’re gonna get along great.

Featured Prompts

I think metagaming...

I’m all for OOC theorycrafting, but I ask players to act on what their characters know in-game. If your character knows something you don’t, I’ll clue you in. It keeps the story grounded in the world, and the roleplay immersive and authentic.

I think min/maxing...

Metagaming’s great in video games—but at the table, I live for chaos from bad rolls and party flaws. Optimize for story, not stat-maxing. If it makes sense in-character, bring it on. If it’s just a loophole exploit, maybe save it for the speedrunners.

My table is not the place for...

This isn’t a table for shock value or edge-lording. I’m all for mature themes when handled with care, but I don’t allow excessive violence, abuse, or anything that compromises player safety. We’ll set boundaries in session zero so everyone feels welcome and free to enjoy the game.