Ty

he/him

Timezone

America/los Angeles

Language

English

Identity

Podcaster

Published Writer

Teacher/Educator

About Ty

Hello and welcome! I am a professional game designer, writer, editor, and consultant. I began professionally in tabletop game design in 2017 as an editor for Carbon 2185 by Dragon Turtle Games. I later worked with Absolute Tabletop on the Dead Man's Guide to Dragongrin, and on several projects at Dead Channel Studios. In 2021 I formed Adventure Slang Productions for the creation of Nuovarden and the Fortunes D4 System. In 2025 Nuovarden was formally published. I am also a podcaster, livestream performer, and English teacher. I began game mastering in 1983 and have professionally GMd both kids and adults since 2016. I can GM D&D 5e, Mork Borg, The Mutant Epoch, Carbon 2185, Call of Cthulhu 7e, Ten Candles, and Nuovarden. I have played many other games and know several systems. Here at StartPlaying, however, I prefer to introduce players to Nuovarden - the earthpunk fantasy option to medieval high fantasy. If you are ready for something a little different, please join me!

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

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I got started GMing...

I started GMing in middle school (early 1980s) and rarely played as a PC until the 2020s. My friends asked me to learn how to play this new game they heard about and teach them. So I did! I still prefer the GM seat to player, though I have come to love the challenge of creating unique PCs, too.

My favorite shows/movies are

In no particular order: John Carpenter's The Thing; Fire and Ice; Solomon Kane; Game of Thrones; The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein; The Big Lebowski; Moonrise Kingdom; and Fallout.

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

I write and design a lot of content for my world of Nuovarden. I also play chess and enjoy watching pro football and hockey. I'm not opposed to hiking, am learning guitar, and I podcast a bit. I also teach college English courses, and that keeps me very busy most of the year.

How Ty runs games

My primary pleasure in TTRPGs is roleplay and improvisation. I also enjoy creating settings that offer challenges in the form of traps and obstacles. Combat is intense and character death is possible for the simple fact that high-stakes build tension. Story is king. I will challenge your characters with fear and hardships, but always with the goal of a major payoff on the other side. Trust is important to me - between players and the GM, and player-to-player. Let's tell amazing stories.

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My games focus on...

Character development, plot, and story. I am a writer at heart and strive for complete, well-developed narratives. Roleplay is highly encouraged, and I appreciate complex characters.

Rules are...

Without rules we wouldn't have a game. That being said, I like to follow the rules as much as possible but there is room for flexibility. When the rules govern character autonomy, however, that is something we should follow - a rogue and a druid are usually much different and should act so.

When it comes to voices

I personally like to explore a range of quirky voices or variable accents; especially as a GM, I want my NPCs to stand out in how they sound and feel. My players are welcome and encouraged to do voices if they want to, but there is no expectation that anyone should.

Ty's ideal table

Roleplayers and storytellers thrive at my table. Min/maxers can fare well, though I personally don't favor the style. I do like serious stories punctuated by periodic humor rather than silly stories with little complexity. Murder hobos are likely to struggle at my table, but only within the scope of the adventure - I will not directly or unfairly "punish" anyone, but the victims might seek revenge.

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I am for a vibe that's...

Mature and considerate as much as it is fun. I'm not one for a lot of silly (but a little is okay). Characters that support each other and care enough to keep each other safe is far better than a group of mavericks that laugh at each other's failures and seek to undermine them.

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

Story and character development, alongside healthy roleplay is ideal for my table. I write tight-knit plots and living worlds. Time passes in my settings, so putting things off or expecting everything to be the same when you return is dangerous. Seize the day!

I love it when a player

Invests in their character and is willing to take chances. I will challenge my players both ethically and at a character's personal level. What may feel like defeat or struggle, though, is always a set up for epic success down the line.