Dungeon Master Erik

he/him

5.0

(8)

Timezone

America/detroit

Language

English

About Dungeon Master Erik

Hello there, I’m Erik! I have been a Dungeon Master for D&D 5th edition since its release in 2014. Since then I have logged thousands of hours running games both in person and online. I love the adventure, laughs, gasps, and those nail biting moments where a single dice roll can shape an outcome. To me D&D is a cooperative story we tell together. I have always been a huge fantasy and gaming nerd. When D&D 5th edition dropped in 2014 I got interested in it and decided to buy the players handbook and some sheets. Got a little group going and did the Starter campaign "Lost mines of Phandelver" It was SOOOO much fun I decided to immediately start running more games. Since then Ive ran campaigns like: Curse of Strahd x4 Tomb of Annihilation x1 Ghosts of Saltmarsh x2 Lost mines of Phandelver x1 Homebrew campaigns x8 approx. I have experience in both virtual and tabletop games. I have tons of maps, tokens, music etc. I have my own Patreon page where I am a TTRPG mapmaker for games like D&D, Warhammer, Traveller, and much more! I love every minute of it and hope to add many more thousands of hours in the future! Most of my digital experience is on Discord and Roll20, but Ive been learning other engines as of late to try them out.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

6 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Rule of Cool, Teacher

Average response time: Under 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I love hosting and creating fun experiences for people. Being a DM allows me to combine my love of entertaining, with my love of fantasy and tabletop gaming. Seeing a table all excited as they work on a problem together bring me great satisfaction!

People are always surprised when I tell them

I've never watched a full episode of a TTRPG podcast.

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

Cooking and working on my garden are common. Food and Fantasy are my passions. I also create custom battlemaps and teach DM classes on the side. Many of my hobbies tend to focus around TTRPGs!

How Dungeon Master Erik runs games

I am extremely strong at improv, whether that's coming up with a unique encounter on the fly, or roleplaying as a host of NPCs. There nothing you can throw at me I cant handle! I rather enjoy when the players do something unexpected and unique. It makes the game more interesting for me when I don't always know what's going to happen next. My characters tend to be fun and over the top, with a mix of serious and silly mixed together. I love giving NPC memorable features or personalities. I also do character voices when it serves the story. I have a wide array of voices! I really enjoy creating strong and satisfying combat encounters. Dungeons and combat are Id say my greatest skills as a DM at all levels of play. I have spent a lot of time honing my DM abilities in combat so I can make them run as smooth and quick as possible. I love creating situations that challenge players, as well as moments where their abilities can really shine! I am willing to run any type of adventure out there! From Swashbuckling pirate games to Gothic horror goodness. I can run set modules, or create unique homebrew worlds for my players based off of their favorite movie, show or IP. My favorite games to run tend to be open-world, and player-focused adventures, as opposed to a more guided story with set plot points. The one thing I tend to steer away from as a DM are very deep complex political games that are heavily RP based. I prefer lighter stories with more action.

Featured Prompts

If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...

My games are more akin to something like a Zelda or Elder Scrolls game. A large open world full of unique characters, foes, and locations. A world where there is clear good and evil, and the story of overcoming that evil is driven by action and exploration. With roleplaying supplementing the story.

My games focus on...

player choice. I love when players are free to accomplish their goals as they wish, or have multiple paths in completing their quest. The story revolvers around the players and their actions and I enjoy making their choices influence the world.

When it comes to voices

I can do a wide array of voices. From surly sailors, to gushing grannies, to spooky scary skeletons. For those times I need a voice beyond the capabilities of the human voice box I have a voice changer program.

Dungeon Master Erik's ideal table

My table is focused on fun and cooperative storytelling. I love creating a world that allows the players characters to face challenges that allow their strengths to shine. Players that enjoy the mechanics of 5e work best at my table. Meaning players that take the time to learn their spells/abilities and more, and make use of them. While my games do feature a lot of fun roleplaying opportunities, combat and exploration are frequent as well. Players that mostly just enjoy roleplaying will have less fun at my table. I am laid back and easygoing. I enjoy memes and jokes from my players. My line for that is players who's characters make everything a joke, or try to rob/prank every NPC etc.

Featured Prompts

If you're into ___, you're going to love my table

High octane adventure Lots of player freedom Generous treasure Wacky characters Nail-biting moments Thrilling dungeons Maps and visual elements Unique magic items Music and sound effects Memorable Bosses High level play Talking in character

I love it when a player

does something creative and unexpected. I love when a player comes up with a fun way to solve a problem I didn't expect. I also love it when a player gets involved with the goals and motivations of the other players, and works with them to deepen their teams immersion.

I think min/maxing...

totally fine! I am great at balancing combat encounters. If your player leans into being really powerful I will give them scenarios that challenge them, as well as times to let them feel powerful and let their investment in their character shine.