Gates E. Smyth
he/they
4.9
(10)
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Identity
About Gates E. Smyth
Hey, I’m Gates! I’m an experienced Game Master and TTRPG player with more than 10 years of experience behind the screen. I primarily run Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, but I also have experience in games using Cyberpunk RED, The Witcher, Call of Cthulhu, and several other systems. I have extensive experience running online campaigns and using a variety of virtual tools, platforms, and systems to create immersive and engaging sessions. No matter where we are playing, I aim to make every game feel personal, polished, and unforgettable. Outside of tabletop gaming, I am a professional actor and theatre director with a BA in Theatre from the University of Kentucky. My background in performance and directing strongly influences the way I build characters, shape scenes, and guide collaborative stories. Storytelling is both my passion and my lifelong pursuit, and I look forward to creating incredible adventures with you!
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Beginner Friendly, Creativity, Storytelling
$20 per session
Featured Prompts
I started running games because...
As is the fate of many a DM, I was the only one of my friends who had any knowledge of D&D, and so I ended up learning the system and running a campaign (albiet terrible) for my middle school friend group during study hall! Since then my games has grown much (hopefully).
People are always surprised when I tell them
I am extremely colorblind! I have two types of colorblindness, I am only able to see 5% of the normal color spectrum!
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
From my players: immersive, inspiring, whimsical.
How Gates E. Smyth runs games
I’m a roleplay-focused Game Master who loves creating immersive, lore-rich campaigns where the story, characters, and factions genuinely matter. Player choices shape the world, relationships develop over time, and attentive players will often discover that even the smallest details can become important later. While roleplay is at the heart of my games, I certainly don’t shy away from combat. Battles may not happen every session, but when they do, they are designed to feel meaningful, challenging, and rewarding. My encounters tend to be gritty and tactical, encouraging players to think creatively, work together, and make full use of their characters’ abilities. As a professional theatre artist, I bring my experience as an actor, director, and storyteller into every session. I create custom maps, build atmospheric soundscapes, carefully select music, and strive to provide the highest-quality experience possible. Players can also expect a diverse cast of memorable characters—complete with plenty of voices, accents, personalities, and questionable life choices. My approach to the rules is flexible and player-focused. The rules give us a shared foundation, but they should never stand in the way of an exciting idea, a powerful character moment, or everyone having a great time. Every group is different, and I make it my mission to understand what each player enjoys and create an experience that allows everyone to shine. I also love homebrew and character customization. I have created several original classes, subclasses, races, creatures, and other options that players may explore, and I am always happy to collaborate on creative ideas. Above all, I believe tabletop roleplaying should be welcoming, collaborative, and unforgettable. Whether you are an experienced adventurer or sitting down at the table for the first time, my goal is to help you feel comfortable, invested, and excited to discover what happens next.
Featured Prompts
I prep by
Twiddling my thumbs and praying to the dice gods.
Rules are...
Entirely a construct designed to let players have fun! If the rules do not serve my specific table or group, I am not hesitant to change them!
When it comes to voices
With a background in acting, I absolutely love finding any reason to use an interesting voice or dialect! DMing is entirely an excuse to voice-act more.
Gates E. Smyth's ideal table
My ideal table is filled with players who enjoy engaging with the story, embracing roleplay, and building meaningful connections with both their fellow characters and the world around them. Curious players who ask questions, follow story threads, and take notes will often find their attention rewarded! I also love players who are excited by tactical, challenging combat. Lengthy dungeon crawls may not appear in every adventure, but when dangerous encounters arise, you can expect them to be meaningful and demanding. Creative thinking, clever strategies, and cooperation with your party will be the keys to victory.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
Takes notes! Note-takers at my table are amply appreciated and rewarded.
I think min/maxing...
Is entirely a legitimate and fair playstyle, so long as you are not looking down on other players for playing non-optimized characters!
My table is not the place for...
Bigotry of any kind. Zero-tolerance policy on anyone treating any other player or person with harmful intentions. My table is a safe space for all people of all backgrounds.
Gates E. Smyth's Preferences
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