Robert Howard

he/him

5.0

(7)

Timezone

America/los Angeles

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

About Robert Howard

I've been running Dungeons and Dragons games as well as other systems for over 35 years now. It's one of my passions, and it is my main creative outlet. It's this or actually try to write a book.😊 If you join one of my games, you can expect to have a customized experience. I've never gotten used to running modules, and I avoid linear, boxed in games -- I want your decisions to shape what shape what comes next. I'm also a big fan of Foundry VTT and have been using it extensively ever since the pandemic. The automation and the ability to use absolutely gorgeous maps is hard to beat. So, that's me as a GM in a nutshell. I look forward to running a game for you!

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, Knows the Rules

Average response time: 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

because no one else wanted to do it and it is a great creative outlet.

My favorite books are

the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson. Excellent writing and the unique magic system is fascinating.

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

currently working on a science-fiction / thriller.

How Robert Howard runs games

I am a story driven DM with a penchant for running campaigns on the epic side. Many of my games in the past have gone all the way to 20th level and beyond. I've heard again and again that 5th breaks down past 12th, but I'd love to take a game all the way to max level and see if that really holds true or if the problem is simply a lack of imagination. Some key things about my style: * I seldom have random encounters. In general, each encounter should move your characters closer to their goals. * I enjoy running games that pose difficult moral choices. Not black and white: Pure Good vs. Pure Evil. Shades of gray. * I'm not hung up on encounters going a specific way. If you find a brilliant way around a problem, that's awesome. I enjoy rewarding player ingenuity. * My ultimate goal is for you to have fun.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

quickly making a decision at the table, but making sure we loop back on anything unclear / unfun between game sessions.

I prep by

creating beautiful maps, challenging encounters, and meaningful choices for my players.

Robert Howard's ideal table

My ideal group enjoys both roleplaying, combat, as my games tend to have a mix of both. They engage with the story as well as enrich it with their own character's backgrounds. They play well together and genuinely enjoy each other's company. They also would bring energy to the table. A quiet player is fine, but a table of all introverts makes for a boring game. It's a collaborate game, and I want all of us to be part of making it fun.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

brings their own ideas to the table. I don't necessarily have an "ideal" solution to every challenge I place in front of the group. I love finding out what you'll come up with. :)

My perfect party mix is

about five to six players, so that if one person isn't able to make it, we don't have to skip the entire game. Four feels like the minimum for any session and anything more than six is just too much.