Scott
he/him
5.0
(2)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Scott
I started running D&D as a kid in 1984 with a battered boxed set from a rummage sale, my brothers, and a couple of neighbors. I kept playing through the Satanic Panic years (sometimes underground), and I’m still doing what I love—helping the dice tell stories. I’ve played and run a wide range of systems, including D&D, Star Frontiers, and Boot Hill. By day, I’m a high school teacher (History, Geography, Government, and French), and by night I’m a published novelist—so clear communication, strong atmosphere, distinct characters, and meaningful choices are at the center of every game I run. I often say there are two kinds of tables: those that play a game with a story attached, and those that tell a story with a game attached. I run the latter. My style is story-forward and roleplay-focused, with room for tactics, humor, and heroics—but always with character at the center. I aim for tables where everyone shares the spotlight, which is why I cap my games at 4–5 players. My tables are inclusive, respectful, and welcoming. I’m also beginner-friendly. If you’re looking for immersive stories, shared spotlight, and a GM who treats your character as part of the narrative—not just a stat block—I’d love to have you at my table.
At a glance
5 years on StartPlaying
4 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Teacher, Storytelling
Average response time: 8 hours
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
People are always surprised when I tell them
I also write (really bad) French poetry.
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
stink, stank, stunk.... oh wait, that's the Grinch. But seriously, I think they would say creative, fair, and frustrating in all the best ways. And now, this has me thinking, and I might have to actually ask them...
When I'm not running games I'm...
neck deep in lesson plans for my history class, playing drums, or writing anything from a cheesy poem to the next great American novel.
How Scott runs games
I am flexible in the styles of game I run, but my favorite games are story-forward and roleplay-heavy. RPGs, at their best, are collaborative storytelling with those infernal math rocks providing the occasional plot twist. Of course, no D&D game would be complete if we didn't sling fireballs and cross blades. I like tactics and think smart play should be rewarded, in combat and out -- but the rule of cool should ultimately win the day.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
trying to be reasonable. Sometimes a player knows parts of the rules better than you do, and it's important to hear them out, as long as it doesn't slow the game down unreasonably.
My games focus on...
the characters and the story. "Fiction is Folks" as one well-known writer's instruction manual put it. The same is true with RPGs. The characters drive the story. I strive to create interesting settings, scenarios and secondary characters for the stars -- YOU -- to interact with.
Rules are...
important, but not as important as the story. RAW are the default, but Rule of Cool is king.
Scott's ideal table
My table is story-forward, immersive, and driven by meaningful choice. I run games where the world reacts to you, where NPCs have real motivations, and where the environment itself feels alive. Atmosphere matters as much as action, and quiet or comedic moments are given the same weight as dramatic ones. The focus is on shaping a story that feels earned. The players who fit best at my table enjoy roleplay, moral gray areas, and situations without clean answers. If you like exploring complicated choices, building relationships with NPCs, and seeing the ripple effects of your decisions, you’ll feel at home here. You don’t need to be a rules expert—just curious, collaborative, and willing to engage with the world and the people in it. The general vibe is lantern light in the mist rather than dungeon crawl (though you will see some dungeons). There will be tension, strange beauty, and moments of quiet reflection alongside danger and discovery. It’s a table for players who want a story that lingers after the dice stop rolling.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
approaches a challenge is a way I'd never have dreamed to prepare for. Surprise me, please!
I think metagaming...
is inevitable on some level, but that the best roleplayers have learned how to approach playing based on what their character knows instead of what they know.
My perfect party mix is
one where each player brings a character they’re genuinely excited to play. I love tables where every character gets their moment to shine. Quirky, offbeat, or unconventional characters are especially welcome. Imbalances in party composition can be part of the fun and challenge.