Gaynor (they/them)
5.0
(19)
4 years on StartPlaying
122 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Inclusive
About me
Hiya there! I'm Gaynor (they/them), a trans queer GM trying to take the world of tabletop role playing games by the horns. I dived deep into gaming in my youth, finding it to be the perfect tool to make friends, discover identities, and just have a great time. I also found ttrpg spaces to be a great space for folks to explore identity and morality, and I work hard to break down the structural and societal issues baked into the world of tabletop gaming where I can, allowing for a more honest and open gaming space. I lean hard into the storytelling aspects of ttrpgs, focusing on story arcs and structures that emphasize the personalities, histories, and choices of PCs and their players, and I play fast and loose with rules, dropping them when they restrict play and only enforcing them to clarify complex situations. I love fun campaigns filled with friendly folks just trying to have a good time, and I hope you can be a part of my next adventure!
GM Style
Coming from a background of acting and storytelling, I take particular joy in the roleplaying aspect of ttrpgs, always preferring to make space for my PCs to speak out and tell their character's story, and the collective story of the party, in their own words whenever possible. I'm a sucker for a profession of love to a favorite NPC, a monologue of pain to a untrustworthy parent, or a grand speech of freedom to the scared citizens of a tyrannical government. I prefer immersive theatre of the mind, I find maps and minis to be helpful for combat when the combat is confusing, but I find simple, intense combat to preferable to a complex and confusing tactical battle. I believe in the GM role as one of facilitation, and prefer to collaborate and follow my player's lead in storytelling and themes. My stories, in conjunction with this, tend to focus on themes of family, morality, and the power of many triumphing over the power of the few. But don't mistake me for too serious a GM: I'm more likely to make an NPC into a cheese-themed genie with a silly voice and an air elemental boyfriend than I am a gruff barkeep with a dark secret. Just know that even the silliest of my NPCs, in the words of one of my players, "are worth dying for literally any day of the week."
Games played
Game platforms used
Game Master Reviews (19)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Storytelling
Inclusive
Ghastjio
Played 40 sessions
Every other Friday when I leave work, I remember it's game night & have to fight the urge to skip back to my car. I can't stop grinning on the way home. I genuinely grieve when a sessions gets rescheduled. Gaynor's hooked me in mind, body, and spirit with terrific storylines, characters, and worlds. They run silly oneshots, serious campaigns, and everything in between with an expertise I didn't even know existed. Every story is made in collaboration with their players, building off their ideas and characters. Battles aren't complex but are always kept interesting with fun roleplay moments! And every joke has a chance to become real... I can't imagine a day where I stop wanting Gaynor to be my DM. I really think you should give them a chance, especially if you're a fan of the roleplay side of D&D!
Megan
Played 34 sessions
Gaynor is an amazing DM, they’re always down to do some fun custom things and really make you invested in what happens in the story! Lots of funny improv and cool homebrewing, too!
Ben
Played 14 sessions
Gaynor has created such an amazing campaign for me and my friends. Hilarious, challenging, and captivating every single time! Our game is really a perfect balance of wild antics, intense drama, and intrigue that makes me excited to come back session after session. We're all so busy that we can only play once a month, but the world is so rich, and Gaynor is so good, that we start playing and I'm right back into the story - as if no time has passed. Gaynors games have become everything I ever want out of D&D, and they are so flexible and willing work with you to make your ideas come alive... I truly can't recommend them any higher.
aenastirin
Played 13 sessions
I’m a new player and Gaynor helped me to create an artificer and feel confident playing it! Gaynor does a good job making everyone feel included and gives each character a chance to shine!
Alex
Played 48 sessions
Gaynor has been wonderful about creating an engaging story, leading with exciting story beats enhanced with intriguing story threads to be pulled upon later.
Shannon
Played 48 sessions
Did you ever make a joke about turning a silly piece of monster goo into your son? Because unbeknownst to you, Gaynor will actually make it sentient and your son. Now you are a goomother. I have played with Gaynor in other campaigns, and as always they bring complex world building, fantastic npcs, and a great mix of serious suspenseful moments and silly role play.
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