Evan the Bard
he/him
5.0
(8)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Evan the Bard
I've had a passion for storytelling for as long as I can remember. As a kid, my favorite passtime was coreographing battle scenes out in the yard with my friends and some well-shaped tree branches. As a teen, I created art, music, and the occasional script for all the narratives running through my head during the banality that was highschool. And as an adult... well I'm a 27-year-old perma-DM who still can't shake my addiction to the chills that come with the dramatic twists and turns of collaborative storytelling! I've been in love with Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition ever since I was introduced to it back in my undergrad. At the time, we had constant weekly games going—all of which were insanely fun but also very chaotic. Now, with a decade of DMing under my belt, I'm proud to say I've learned how to keep that same level of fun but with much better structure!
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Sets the Mood, Storytelling, Knows the Rules
Featured Prompts
My favorite shows/movies are
Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Avatar the last Airbender, Avengers: Infinity War, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Castlevania, and Love, Death, and Robots, just to name a few!
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
Creative, fair, and dedicated.
When I'm not running games I'm...
Producing music! I compose freelance scores, tracks, and classical pieces for all different kinds of media. I also create background tracks for my D&D games on occasion!
How Evan the Bard runs games
My games often involve a good mixture of D&D's core pillars; intentional roleplay, immersive exploration, and dynamic tactical combat. Additionally, the story will always come first for me, so every campaign will be sure to have gripping narrative elements that entice my players to return for more! From my players, I expect fair and courteous behavior towards everyone at the table and I do not tolerate any sort of cheating (though I am aware that miscommunications do happen.) Building a dependable, comunicative party is the ultimate goal for a long-lasting campaign—because in the end it's not exactly what you play that matters, but who you play it with. As for my part, I am happy to help my players integrate their character concepts seamlessly into the setting and story, as well as fulfill where the player wishes to take the character and what they desire to accomplish. My favorite among the many tools I use to do this are customized magic items that grow with the character. So if you're ready to start a game with a personalized magical weapon, pet, or trinket, what are you waiting for? Claim a seat at my table today!
Featured Prompts
My games focus on...
Fun! I know that's the cheeseball answer, but I feel that a game is only as successful as the level of enjoyment it gives the players. While elements like comedy, tragedy, suspense, and action are all vital, they ultimately serve as tools to encourage and sustain an engaging experience. Fun is king!
Rules are...
Critical to create a defined structure for a collaborative medium. Rules ensure that the game feels grounded and everyone is treated fairly. Most importantly, rules actually bolster an imaginary narrative, as creative thinking flourishes best within the confines of structure.
When it comes to voices
I actually don't get too worried with accents. I find that voices can be characterized well enough through their pitch, pace of speech, mannerisms, and vocabulary. As I am not a voice actor, I prefer to spare my players from my attempts to butcher an accent unless I just really have a knack for it!
Evan the Bard's ideal table
At my table, immersion is key to a fun game. I keep the narrative rolling as consistently as possible, in and out of combat. I also encourage my players to take control of the narrative regarding the result of their character's actions. Flavor is completely free, so please describe how your character flips through the air to avoid an attack or how their eyes glow as they cast a fireball! I run combat fairly but realistically. I find that high stakes are complimentary to investment, so I tend to avoid simply bailing my players out of danger. My monsters know what they're doing. That being said, the average bandit or goblin won't usually fight to their last breath over a bag of 5 gold pieces and, to quote the late Ben Kenobi, "there are alternatives to fighting." The roleplay in my games only exists as much as my players wish to engage with it. There is absolutely no pressure to do voices or even speak in the first-person. I tend towards third-person interactions when it comes to mundane tasks and unnamed NPCs. I hold the belief that you can 100% play a smooth-talking character with a high Charisma even if you yourself aren't all that great with words. Just as I can play a character equivalent to Conan the Barbarian even though I'm a string bean with the constitution of a damp paper towel.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
Has a very specific and unique character concept! I thoroughly enjoy working with players to fit their character into the setting and figuring out how to accomplish their vision by blending flavor and mechanics. It's like a little puzzle that is just so satisfying to build.
I think min/maxing...
Is completely fine! Everyone gets enjoyment out of different aspects of the game, and playing a really powerful character by using the rules to your advantage is totally valid. Besides, everythng has a counter and at the end of the day it all comes down to the dice.
My table is not the place for...
Gag characters and endless comedy. The occasional bit of levity is welcome of course! But there's nothing more discouraging to me than a player who turns everything into a joke. If you're looking for a beer-and-pretzels goof-fest extravaganza, please look elsewhere.
Evan the Bard's Preferences
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