DM Bryant
he/him
5.0
(23)
Timezone
About DM Bryant
Hi everyone! I'm DM Bryant. I've been playing and running D&D for 24 years, and I'm now a full-time Dungeon Master. I've run 180+ games here on StartPlaying. I enjoy running long-form campaigns where players have room to explore, make their own decisions, and actually see those decisions matter. I like a good mix of roleplay, tactical combat, exploration, and the occasional plan that goes completely off the rails. I use published adventures as a foundation, not a script. If your characters decide to go somewhere unexpected or pursue something that caught their attention, I'm happy to see where it leads. I want the campaign to develop from what the players actually do. I also put a lot of work into my online games. I've spent thousands of hours working with Foundry VTT, using detailed maps, dynamic lighting, music, soundscapes, weather, visual effects, automation, and interactive elements. Foundry is free for players and works right in your browser. I primarily run D&D 5e, with a particular interest in dark fantasy, exploration, faction conflicts, and campaigns where choices have consequences. At my table, the goal is to challenge the characters, not to beat the players. I want failure to create interesting situations and success to feel earned. I also want everyone at the table to feel welcome, so I use Lines & Veils, the Golden Rule, and Aftercare to help set expectations. If that sounds like your kind of game, take a look at my campaigns and come roll some dice with me.
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
194 games hosted
Highly rated for: Knows the Rules, Creativity, Visual Aid
$30 per session
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
Featured Prompts
My favorite shows/movies are
My favorite shows/movies are: Family comedies like Malcolm in the Middle, The Middle, The Goldbergs, Scrubs, and Big Bang Theory. For movies, Interstellar, First Knight, Troy, Gladiator, and The King fuel my imagination.
My favorite system of all Time is
D&D. I’ve always loved castles, knights, and stories of adventure, and D&D gave me a way to create those stories myself. It was the first system I learned, and after 24 years, it’s still the one I know best.
People are always surprised when I tell them
How long I’ve been a Forever DM. Most people assume I haven’t been alive that long. Then they do the math. The next question is usually: “So… how old ARE you?”
How DM Bryant runs games
I don't know how you're going to solve the problem. And neither do you. That's the point. I'm DM Bryant, a full-time DM with 180+ games on StartPlaying and 24 years of experience behind the screen. I build campaigns around situations rather than solutions. You aren't looking for the three clues I planted so you can perform the ritual exactly as written. You're figuring out what you want to do—and finding out whether it works. Maybe your fighter intimidates the guards. Maybe your wizard discovers a loophole. Maybe the rogue climbs the wall. Maybe you convince everyone that the dragon is actually on your side. If you can come up with it, we can play it. The world reacts, the dice decide, and the story becomes something none of us could have written beforehand. That's what I love about D&D- watching players take a problem I thought I understood and solve it in a way I never imagined. I run D&D 5e campaigns heavy on exploration, roleplay, tactical combat, dark fantasy, faction conflicts, and consequences. Published adventures give me a world; you decide what happens to it. And when it happens online, I bring thousands of hours of Foundry VTT experience with detailed maps, dynamic lighting, music, soundscapes, weather, visual effects, automation, and interactive elements. Foundry is free for players and runs in your browser. I know the world. You decide what to do with it.
Featured Prompts
My favorite trope is...
Try, Try, Try Again. A bad roll shouldn't mean “welp, we're screwed.” It means that approach didn't work. Experiment. Get creative. Try something weird. The dice can tell you your plan failed—they don't get to tell you to stop trying.
My games focus on...
Narration, Exploration, and Survival. I want the world to feel alive outside of combat. Explore places you probably shouldn't, face situations without a convenient answer key, and have your actions described—not just announced. Explore the unknown. Experience the story. Try not to die.
Rules are...
Not set in stone. Rules give us consistency, but with this many gods running around, miracles happen. If bending a rule creates an awesome moment or expands the story, I’m all for it. Otherwise, we follow the rules so everyone knows what to expect.
DM Bryant's ideal table
This is a welcoming, inclusive table where players of all experience levels and backgrounds are encouraged to bring their characters- and their imaginations- to life. Whether you’re brand new to tabletop RPGs or a seasoned adventurer, you’ll find a space here that’s respectful, supportive, and focused on making sure everyone has fun. I do everything I can to deliver a smooth, immersive experience using FoundryVTT - complete with atmospheric maps, dynamic lighting, soundscapes, and interactive features that enhance the game without ever getting in the way of storytelling. If you’re new to Foundry or 5e, no problem - I’ll help you get up to speed quickly, without slowing the party down. Above all else, fun comes first. While I love crafting deep worlds and dramatic moments, I never lose sight of why we’re here: to enjoy ourselves. Whether you’re here for the story, the tactics, the roleplay, or just the laughs, you’ll find something to love at this table.
Featured Prompts
If you're into ___, you're going to love my table
If you're into ruined cities, dangerous magic, and exploring places you absolutely should not be exploring, you're going to love my table. Expect eldritch contamination, monsters, rival factions, forbidden treasures, and the occasional decision that makes everything considerably worse.
I love it when a player
Interacts with my world in a way I didn't expect. Push the buttons. Pull the levers. Open the door I definitely expected you to leave closed. If you find a way to use my world that I never considered, I’m delighted.
I think metagaming...
…is usually given way too much credit. If knowing something your character doesn't know makes the game more fun, I’m rarely worried about it. The real problem is when metagaming turns into 45 minutes of planning followed by absolutely nothing happening. At some point, you have to pull the lever.
DM Bryant's Preferences
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