Annalisa

she/her

5.0

(6)

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

Identity

Teacher/Educator

Game Designer

About Annalisa

I first discovered tabletop gaming in high school, when a friend dragged me into a weekend Dungeons & Dragons session “just to try it.” I walked in curious—and walked out completely hooked. From there I dove into D&D and Pathfinder, exploring every role I could at the table and falling in love with the collaborative chaos, creativity, and community that TTRPGs make possible. Outside of running games, I’m an avid worldbuilder and lore enthusiast. I love digging into setting history, magic systems, and character backstories just as much as I enjoy improvising the unexpected twists that player choices inspire. My experience as both a player and a GM has given me a well-rounded understanding of what makes a table feel exciting, safe, and engaging for everyone involved. Over the years, tabletop gaming has become more than a hobby for me—it’s a creative outlet, a place for connection, and one of my favorite ways to help people tell stories together. Whether I’m leading a new group through their first adventure or supporting veteran players as they chase bold character arcs, I’m dedicated to making sure everyone leaves the table feeling inspired and excited for what comes next.

At a glance

5 years on StartPlaying

8 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Voices

Average response time: 3 hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

I was actually teaching a mythology class and, as frequently would happen, D&D came up. My students said they never played, but they would if I DMed for them. I created a one-shot that turned into a years-long campaign and now I run multiple games for multiple groups, both in person and online.

My favorite books are

numerous and ever-changing. The usual suspects are "Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss (still waiting on book 3, Rothfuss!!), "The Rook" by Daniel O'Malley, The Ruinous Love trilogy by Brynne Weaver, and of course the Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling.

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

scheming, twisted, and invested.

How Annalisa runs games

I’m a story-driven Dungeon Master who loves crafting immersive, character-focused adventures for players of all experience levels. I’ve been running TTRPGs for three years across D&D 5E 2014 and 2025, guiding dozens of campaigns and one-shots for both first-timers and seasoned veterans. My DMing style centers on player agency, rewards for unique player role play and solutions, deeply collaborative storytelling, and a welcoming, inclusive table where everyone can explore their characters freely. You can expect rich roleplay, dynamic narratives that evolve with your choices, and a balanced mix of combat, exploration, and social intrigue. I run games in a variety of settings—Exandria, Strixhaven, the Forgotten Realms, and my own expansive homebrew worlds. I have a special love for high-fantasy sandboxes, atmospheric mysteries, and stories full of secrets, twists, and meaningful character moments. To elevate immersion, I use vivid descriptions, thematic music, interactive maps via Roll20, and curated soundscapes to bring every scene to life. My goal is simple: create memorable, fair, and fun sessions that your group will look forward to week after week. If you want a campaign shaped by your choices and creativity, I’d be thrilled to run a game for you.

Featured Prompts

My games focus on...

players and player characters, first and foremost. I can run the same one-shot ten times and have ten wildly different stories because I use the player characters as plot points, building lore and interactions around backstories and characteristics of each character at the table.

Rules are...

there to give a framework for the narrative, but not overshadow it. I use rules-as-written all the way until a player suggests a cool twist or shift that makes sense for the story. When we come together to add to the story, not break the world, then the rules are much more adaptable to what we build

When it comes to voices

I always try to differentiate NPCs for my players, whether it's a full on accent or just a simple dialect shift. That being said, I know my limits and don't attempt to sound like Henry Cavill, but I will DESCRIBE what a voice sounds like before speaking in character.

Annalisa's ideal table

Players who can fall into character, want to learn how to fall into character, or are interested in being a part of character-driven narrative are always in for a treat. I love to set up player interactions and build plot points around the character you create to build an immersive, personalized experience. That means the vibes can shift a lot, from horror to hilarious, depending on what kind of encounter you want to experience. In session 0, we start asking and answering questions about who you want to play and why, then I craft around those details to make sure players have unique experiences that feel tailored to the game they want to be a part of.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

surprises me with out-of-the-box thinking, and I like to reward those moments with in-game mechanics from heroic inspirations to imposed Disadvantage on foes, depending on the situation. I truly and deeply love it when a player describes something so well, that their narrative becomes a "Natural 20"

I think metagaming...

has a time and place, like planning for a heist, but for in-game role play moments, like backstory, that should happen in organically and in-character. Let the players learn about your character through their characters, and ask questions as a character vs. as a player to enhance party dynamics!