Tobias

any/all

4.8

(6)

Timezone

America/los Angeles

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Neurodivergent

Artist

Game Designer

No Gen AI

About Tobias

Hello! My name is Tobias, I've been running games for almost a decade now. I usually run games for the Santa Cruz Libraries but mayhaps I can DM for you! I love running for beginners, and I've had a blast seeing how people interact with role playing games having never played before. And I am always down when a veteran brings some high concept character or story and we weave it into the narrative with care. I'm a lover of animals, and am currently working on making my "Critter Game" into something more standardized. So look out for that. If everything goes right, I'd like to research animal behavior and ecosystems, and get my zoology degree (or any relevant degree that would let me do that).

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Inclusive, Creativity, Storytelling

$20 per session

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I saw the potential of TTRPGs! I saw that games typically fit into certain tropes (not that that's bad) and I knew that I could offer up unique experiences with my set of skills. I feel uniquely gifted to this craft (humble brag) and I want to give people the experience they seek in these games.

My favorite books are

The Brightsword by Lev Grossman, Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, and The Institute by Stephen King. Fantasy is my favorite genre, because I love the idea of super powered people, with a special love for psychics and psychic powers.

The three words my players would use to describe me are...

Flexible, inclusive, and comedic. I try to give each player their scene, their moment in the sun, and I try to do that as evenly as possible. I also just find TTRPGs inherently silly, so its hard not to do bits when someone is stuck in an ooze, or a player decides to hit the BBEG in the knees.

How Tobias runs games

I love varied game play, I'm always trying to take these games as far as I can with the provided tools, and I love a game where the players are deeply entrenched into the narrative, but most importantly, I'm flexible! I care deeply about everyone having a good time at the table and I /will/ find a way to make that happen.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

Finding a solution to issues as fast as humanly possible. We didn't gather here to bicker about edge cases! I try and settle on an agreed interpretation that fits the setting. Fun should always come first!

My games focus on...

Making something of the world! Yes you are an adventurer, but you also live in a world of institutions, and why wouldn't the world make space for a wizard to set up a school? 2024 D&D added bastions, but they're mostly gp focused. Your characters and their institutions should have narrative weight!

Rules are...

Suggestions, but with merit. Games like D&D have been play-tested quite a bit, so there's usually a reason for a rule or guideline. Games with less play-testing are more prone to blips, but generally most games recommend that you do what's the most fun in a given situation. That's what I try to do.

Tobias's ideal table

My table style is very cinematic, I like to think of games in terms of episodes, and I will often reference the POV of the 'audience'. "We cut back to X about to do ___" That kind of thing. My tables are also usually bit-forward, I like comedy, and TTRPG's are absurdly funny, so the world usually ends up reflecting that a fair bit. There is always room for serious moments, however, and while I cannot cry on command, I can hold myself vulnerable for the scene. I generally like players who are 'go with the flow' types, button pressers, and engaged in either their character's stories or the world itself. While I'm highly adaptable and can fit anyone at my table, these traits make games go smoother and let us get more done with our time. And personally, I love when people have the urge to create and change the world, and I'm always down to world-build together.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

Invests in the world, and creates goals for themselves. It makes for a much more fun experience when your character is working towards a goal beyond whatever the villain of the game is. It also makes it easier for me to make a more personalized experience for you!