Drakeen
he/him
5.0
(20)
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About Drakeen
I am seasoned East Coast Dungeon Master and recognized as a Top GM on StartPlaying who specializes in running long-term campaigns for both new and veteran players, both in person around New York City and online. My goal is to build campaigns that last far beyond a few sessions, where characters grow, relationships develop and player decisions leave lasting marks on the world. 🧙🏾 My games feature significant tactical combat, exploration and roleplay in a persistent world that reacts to the choices your party makes. My campaigns feature professional-quality maps, custom encounters, expansive lore, and challenges to create adventures that feel alive. ⚔️ Between sessions, the adventure doesn't stop. Players have the opportunity to pursue downtime activities, claim and manage treasure, craft potions and scrolls, train, research ancient lore, and continue developing their characters between sessions. These ongoing story elements allow you to build up your character and also help keep players engaged and make the campaign feel like a living world rather than a series of disconnected sessions. 🗺️ My background in horror screenwriting and film production influences the pacing, atmosphere, and dramatic tension of my games. Whether you're exploring ancient ruins, negotiating with powerful factions, or surviving desperate battles, I aim to create memorable moments that players talk about long after the session ends. All of my campaigns take place in the Forgotten Realms and are loosely interconnected. The actions of powerful characters and world events in one campaign may subtly influence another. For example, the Death Curse from Tomb of Annihilation may have repercussions far beyond Chult. 🎭 I run D&D 5E primarily rules-as-written and rules-as-intended with only limited homebrew. Creativity is always encouraged, clever ideas are rewarded, and while the world has genuine consequences, every challenge is designed to be fair. I also have a list of table rules to help keep play light and fun (see below). If you're looking for a reliable weekly group, a dedicated Game Master, and a campaign you can invest in for the long term, I'd love to have you at my table.
At a glance
3 years on StartPlaying
219 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Creativity, Teacher
$25 per session
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
Featured Prompts
My 3 systems I'd bring to a desert island would be
5E, Pathfinder and Daggerheart
My favorite shows/movies are
any good sci/fi
How Drakeen runs games
My games run roughly 40% combat, 30% exploration, and 30% roleplay, with the occasional puzzle or riddle. At higher levels, play shifts toward navigating competing factions, researching ancient lore, and making pragmatic decisions about when and how to engage. Success comes from teamwork, preparation, and playing to your party's strengths rather than chasing individual glory. Tone-wise, think The Walking Dead: pressure, consequences, and group survival over heroics. The Dos and Don'ts of Server Etiquette: How to Play Nice and Have Fun 1. Don't be a bully. Unless your dream is to meet the virtual equivalent of the school principal. Trust me—you don't want to meet the principal. 2. Leave politics and real-world religion at the door. The only trolls welcome here are the ones trying to eat your party. Internet trolls will be fed to the owlbears. 3. Treat everyone with respect. Rude adventurers tend to have very low Charisma and almost always fail their saving throw against Banishment. 4. The DM's ruling stands during the session. If you think I've made a mistake, bring it up afterward. I promise I'm human... probably. 5. This is a welcoming table. Don't ruin it by being a jerk. Everyone deserves a chance to enjoy the game. 6. Don't cheat using out-of-game knowledge. Metagaming has an uncanny habit of causing Fireballs to scatter in unfortunate directions. 7. Keep romance PG-13. Flirting is fine. Explicit content isn't. If you're wondering whether something is appropriate... it probably isn't. 8. Don't be malicious. If your goal is making the game less fun for everyone else, your stay here will be very short. 9. Keep public chat on topic. Save controversial debates for somewhere else. This server is for slaying monsters, not each other. 10. No PvP without everyone's enthusiastic agreement. You're a party, not a reality TV show. 11. Follow the rules. Warnings exist, but repeated problems eventually become permanent problems. 12. Rules may evolve. Every campaign gets refined over time. Adaptability is a valuable adventuring skill.
Drakeen's ideal table
I enjoy running games for players who are invested in the story, enjoy working as a team, and want to see their characters grow over the course of a long campaign. Whether you're a veteran or completely new to D&D, you're welcome as long as you're willing to learn, contribute, and help create a fun experience for everyone. While my campaigns can be challenging, the atmosphere at the table is relaxed. Players joke, laugh, celebrate victories, and occasionally panic together when things go sideways. The game exists for the players, not for my ego, and my goal is to create memorable adventures where everyone feels involved and has a chance to shine. I enjoy players who ask questions, explore the world, develop relationships with NPCs, come up with creative solutions, and think outside the box. Good roleplay is encouraged, but you don't need to be a professional actor. If you're willing to engage with the world and support the rest of the party, you'll fit in just fine. Above all, I value reliability, respect, and teamwork. I want to build groups that look forward to getting together every week, tell great stories together, and leave each session excited for the next one.
Drakeen's Preferences
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