Emil (he/they)
5.0
(14)
3 years on StartPlaying
188 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Storytelling
About me
I launched my professional game-mastering journey in the fall of 2020, but my passion for running tabletop games stretches back nearly 15 years before that, entertaining friends both online and offline. My roots are in 3rd Edition D&D and Pathfinder, and I've played through every edition up to the current 5th. My repertoire also includes a wide variety of Powered by the Apocalypse and small-press indie games. Always on the hunt for innovative storytelling tools, so I'm your go-to DM for any offbeat indie game you've been itching to play but couldn't find someone to run. By day, I work as a teacher, which fuels my passion for introducing newcomers to the world of tabletop gaming. Regardless of your background or experience level, you can rest assured that my table is a welcoming, safe place to learn, explore, and challenge yourself. I'm excited to bring your story to life! If you're ready for an adventure, reach out to me today and let's get rolling!
GM Style
As a Dungeon Master, I aim to create a dynamic blend of adrenaline-pumping action and immersive role-playing experiences. D&D is, at its core, a combat-centric game, and I wholeheartedly embrace that. My goal is for players to feel like epic heroes, capable of conquering monumental challenges. Yet, these pulse-pounding moments truly resonate only when we're deeply invested in the story, our characters, and each other. That's why I gravitate toward running sandbox-style campaigns. These open-world settings offer players abundant room for role-play, relationship-building, and making choices that leave an indelible imprint on both the storyline and the world at large. In my view, narrative and action are inextricably linked, each amplifying and enriching the other.
Games played
Emil's Games
Game Master Reviews (14)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Inclusive
Storytelling
I've played in 2 campaigns with Emil now, and starting a third! He is a great collaborative storyteller, very knowledgeable of the rules and runs challenging, fun combats while allowing for player creativity and thinking outside of the box. He really goes above and beyond to build your character and their backstory into the campaign and gives every player a chance to shine. Very patient and great for both beginners and experienced players.
From our first session where we got to know Emil, got to see how we fit together as a group and he explained to us how he runs his games I was really hopeful for what was to come and I can tell you honestly, after over a year of regular sessions that together we surpassed all of my expectations of what a TTRPG can be. Emil approached the game as a collective story we were all writing together, I never once felt like I had to do anything my character wouldn't have chosen to do, or felt like I was ever put in a position I wasn't comfortable with. The combat was often challenging, sometimes nerve-wracking, and always fun, victories really felt like they were earned, but it's the NPCs and the world we created together, the friendships and enemies and changes to the map that are the things that I aspire for in any games I play in the future. I had a very basic grip of the rules when we started but Emil has a genuine knack at making complicated and sometimes convoluted information really simple to understand, and thanks to him I came to know the rules and the system so well that I took the plunge and tried DMing myself a few times, something I don't think I would have had the knowledge or confidence to attempt if I hadn't had such a great DM to learn from and grow with as a player. Now you might have gotten to this point thinking I'm blowing smoke but I really can't overstate how good a DM Emil is, for brand new players and grizzled veterans alike.
What's StartPlaying?
Tabletop Roleplaying Games Run by Game Masters
Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.