Kevin Dawson

he/him

5.0

(7)

Timezone

America/vancouver

Language

English

Identity

Artist

Game Designer

About Kevin Dawson

I'll start by saying: I've been gaming a long time and I absolutely love the process of telling a story together. Sometimes silly, sometimes emotional, my games run the gamut. I hope to get the chance to show you. Now the deets: I’ve spent years behind the GM screen, crafting narratives that blend deep strategy with immersive storytelling. My passion lies in complex world-building—specifically, my long-running homebrew setting, Aeranos, where Celtic fantasy meets steampunk aesthetics. I bring a designer's eye to my tables, hand-crafting maps and writing original fiction to deepen the lore. While I have extensive experience with D&D 5e (and a multitude of systems throughout the years), I’m currently enjoying a deep dive into the mechanics of the DC20 system. I’m here to connect with others who appreciate the art of the campaign, from high-level architecture to the nitty-gritty of rule systems, but I like to use the mechanics to set the stage, then get out of the way to let the drama unfold. That's not to say we don't like to joke and laugh around the table, virtual or otherwise. It's more to point out that I love a good tale, and want to play with like-minded gamers.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

1 games hosted

Highly rated for: Inclusive, World Builder, Storytelling

Average response time: 24+ hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

My favorite books are

In no particular order: LoTR, Dragonbone Chair, The Deed of Paksenarrion, Dresden Files, Dungeon Crawler Carl, The Fionavar Tapestry.

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

... creating games, drawing maps, writing stories, camping, fishing, hiking, mushroom hunting, wrestling with my dogs, watching shows and movies, beachcombing, etc, etc.

How Kevin Dawson runs games

Immersion Over Math: We are here to tell a collective story, not just roll math rocks. I try to reward creative problem-solving and roleplay moments over strict adherence to the rulebook. If it makes sense in the narrative, sounds cool, and doesn't totally break immersion, we will find a way to make it happen. A Living, Breathing World: My homebrew setting, Aeranos, is a labor of love mixing Celtic mythology with Steampunk grit. Expect a world that responds to your choices, with rich lore and political intrigue that truly matters. High-Quality Visuals: I’m a creator at heart. Unless we are deliberately keeping things TotM (Theater of the Mind), you won’t be staring at a blank grid; I design many of my own custom battle maps, regional maps, and tactical airship layouts to help visualize the action. Lore & Literature: I love expanding the story between sessions. I often write short fiction or "lore drops" based on our gameplay to flesh out the world and your characters' place in it. Any player additions are a valued "plus". A Collaborative Journey: While I provide the setting and the obstacles, you drive the plot. When available, I lean into character backstories and weave them directly into the main campaign arc. I rarely plan heavily past the next session, instead relying on character choices to navigate the story. Once something is "written into the story," it's canon. Before that, I often invent elements that fit the narrative and make for the best story.

Kevin Dawson's ideal table

Number one rule is: We all have fun. We joke, we laugh, we sometimes engage in questionable humor, but in the end, we tell an engaging story together. My ideal players are people interested in their characters' backstories and the story at large. They aren't so worried about min-maxing their builds, so much as making real characters with strengths and weaknesses.