Stephen

he/him

4.8

(5)

Timezone

America/toronto

Language

English

About Stephen

Hello, my name is Stephen. I have been actively GM-ing for about 7 years and mostly play D&D 5e. I have played most of the other D&D editions and love playing any board/card game. I regularly host D&D sessions with my friends and have created a realm and Discord server that is continuously evolving with each session. I enjoy teaching new players the ropes of D&D and watching players get hooked and fall in love with the roleplaying, the dice rolling, and the community it can create. I love to build, create, and indulge my player's crazy ideas (Rule of Cool all the way!). My sessions usually aim to be a 50/50 balance of combat and roleplay, but I adjust based on the player's preferences. My goal is to give any new players a platform to dip their toes, play the game, have epic moments, and make mistakes. I am LGBTQIA2+ friendly and aim to deliver an inclusive platform where everyone can have the opportunity to play. I look forward to meeting new players, watching them grow, and gain some inspiration from them in the process.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Inclusive

Average response time: Under 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

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I got started GMing...

I had a buddy who took an interest in D&D but didn't have a GM to facilitate a campaign. So for their birthday I taught myself how to GM and now for the past 7 years I have been our group's forever GM and I love it.

My favorite system of all Time is

D&D 5th edition, I find it's flexibility and ability to take its rules and adapt them to almost any homebrew theme fits the best with how I design and run campaigns. Honourable mentions: Pathfinder, D&D 3.5e, Rifts

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

Prepping sessions! I'm always in my creative world whether it's, playing video games, writing stories, practicing a musical instrument, or pretending to go on adventures with my daughter slaying dragons and flying rockets. I am always finding ways to exercise my imagination.

How Stephen runs games

I like to make sessions as balanced as possible, 50/50 combat and roleplay. Any homebrew campaign I have run, the roleplay usually has a purpose besides players bantering. Combat usually has some meaning or implications behind it and not just a "here's a random encounter to fill time." If I am delivering a book module, I will mostly keep to the book's plans but depending on the party's gaming experience I might throw in curveballs to: 1) make things more interesting and 2) prevent those who meta game by reading ahead in the book in their spare time from knowing exactly how each encounter will go. However, if the party prefers unrelenting battle after battle then I'll give you an onslaught of combat. If they want to roleplay most of the campaign and talk their way through encounters, then I will certainly let them try to.

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I prep by

If I am doing a book module, I will read it, learn it, change a few things based on the party and then find ways to add my own flairs to it. Homebrew, is hours of prep for the first couple sessions and then lots of improvisation for all future sessions.

Rules are...

Guildlines. I am 100% pro Rule of Cool and encourage my players to find abstract and objectively awesome ways to solve problems (or cause problems) throughout. The more curveballs they send me the more satisfying the session is getting to witness these epic wins (or failures).

When it comes to voices

I jump right in, I go with the first voice that comes out and that's it. I enjoy watching players get immersed in their characters, do the voices and just get in it. Sessions become more enjoyable, characters develop more, overall it's satisfying to be part of.

Stephen's ideal table

If you are a nerd, gamer, storyteller then you are great for this table. My tables tend to give off a laid-back, chill vibe but also welcoming and inviting. I encourage new players to try out tabletop roleplaying, it is addicting and I enjoy teaching new players. Just like a group of random friends, chilling at a table eating chips and rolling some dice.

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I love it when a player

Gets fully immersed in their character, or when they come up with some ridiculous plan that somehow works. I love seeing characters and their players develop and improve the more they play, makes the sessions more enjoyable.

I think it's a red flag when players...

Decide to be a nuisance for the party. The whole idea is to work as a team and work towards a common goal. It sucks the fun and energy from the game when a player insists on causing problems for the party.

My perfect party mix is

players who enjoy a balance of combat and roleplay. They can tell a story but aren't pushovers when the swords come out.