Ghost (he/him)
5.0
(30)
3 years on StartPlaying
176 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Sets the Mood, Storytelling
About me
Greetings! You can call me Ghost. I'm an avid fan of roleplaying, and have loved D&D ever since I first picked up a set of dice back in high school. My passion for the hobby has followed me throughout every aspect of my life, and I owe many of my relationships, experiences, and fondest memories to this wonderful game. I've successfully ran 3 separate year-long campaigns to completion, and am continuing to hone my skills as a Dungeon Master to this day. Beyond this, I also have hundreds of hours running various one-shot modules both in the Adventurers' League format, and across personal homebrew games. I try to resolve conflicts amicably between players should any arise, and am no stranger to having to deal with awkward situations or disruptive attitudes. I believe D&D is meant to be enjoyed, first and foremost, though I understand that sometimes other's ideas of fun might conflict. In cases like these, you'll find that I take the initiative to handle out of game problems and find a solution that hopes to keep everyone involved happy. On this note, it's important to me that we discuss our boundaries and sensitive topics during Session 0, so that nothing comes as a surprise down the line.
GM Style
My DMing style has changed over the years and I’ve found myself comfortable with a mostly roleplay/narrative focused game, and with a panache for taking on the fly suggestions to give campaigns an emergent quality of gameplay and discovery. I enjoy reading about the Forgotten Realms in my spare time, and use what I learn to craft a world rich in lore, with adventure waiting to be found in every corner. I’m experienced with DMing online, and have done so professionally even before the pandemic. In total, I have over 4000+ hours using Roll20, and can offer my expertise to help anyone familiarize themselves with the platform. I’ve also put together my own Discord server to organize the campaign’s details for helping players easily recall important information or engage in roleplay during their downtime. I also offer free text roleplay in between games to help players flesh out their backstories and interests in the world, whether they wish to play out an important event from their character’s past or something as simple as having a drink at the local tavern. It’s very important for me to make every facet of the journey engaging, with character development at the forefront of the experience. I aim to make combat exciting without needing to make it overly deadly, and prefer a good balance that will still challenge my players organically. Combat encounters can almost always be avoided if prepared for, and regularly make use of the terrain to provide puzzle-like elements that make solutions more than just “hit it until it dies.” There are usually at least 3 different win conditions that vary in difficulty, each with their own outcome on the adventure. I know the 5e rulebooks cover-to-cover, though I understand when some rules can be bent to emphasize fun and enjoyment. I mostly try to run rules as written for a consistent experience, but am an avid advocate for the rule-of-cool when my players suggest something awesome. In addition, I’ve crafted my own system of shopkeepers with varying useful items that aim to answer any additional needs your characters might have, be they firepower, new skills, or useful potions, all in an effort to make gaining in-game gold feel like it matters. I run games because I love the stories we can share, whether or not they result in victory, for as long as we tell a tale that we’re proud to have experienced together. Every game I run is a collection of everything I’ve learned across all facets of my life, and a dedication of over 11 years honing my skills in world building, combat, and writing. At the end of the day, I strive to make character sheets feel like more than just a piece of paper with numbers, but instead like real, living people. When I see my players not only succeed, but make their mark on the world that their characters live in, it makes this hobby all worth it for me. If this is what you’re looking for, then I’m certain we will both enjoy playing together for many games to come.
Game platforms used
Ghost's Games
Game Master Reviews (30)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Sets the Mood
Storytelling
Ghost is an excellent all-around DM. He is extremely knowledgable and well-prepared. After only one session I'm left with the feeling that the "simpler" lower-level content is part of a larger tapestry of an engrossing campaign, wit powerful forces at play whose intentions we are only just beginning to unravel. -------------------- At level 5, the campaign has evolved to reveal its interwoven nature. There are impactful decisions made by players every session, having long-range impact on the character and the story. Ghost continues to be a great DM, as well as providing interesting innovative mechanics such as for defensive sieges. I look forward to playing in this campaign up to level 20+. --------------------- I'm enjoying Ghost as a DM more and more as the campaing progresses. He delves into intricate individualized roleplay as desired by players. He's an excellent artist, which shows in his game materials, especially maps and portraits of NPCs. The campaign progression and story line is interesting and well-paced. Though the campaign features dragons, he manages to surprise us with dragon encounters. Never a dull moment.
It's unfortunate that you can only tag three items. Ghost should get many more. I've been playing Dungeons and Dragons since 1979 and I've been a DM myself for nearly that entire time. Getting a chance to play in a game always makes me both happy and trepidatious. Ghost caters exclusively to the happy part. He's an excellent storyteller and does a fantastic job of making sure that each player gets a chance to shine not only during each individual game session, but by creating side quests and between-game scenarios on Discord tailored to the characters (should you wish to) for pure role-play satisfaction. Opportunities abound to be imaginative with your character both during creation and game play, but don't expect to take advantage of it and unbalance the game as Ghost is fair, choosing balance over bravado. If you're looking for a solidly built, immersive world, good character development, excellent roleplaying opportunities, and the perfect balance of combat/puzzle/skill/exploring in your adventuring, Ghost is an truly solid choice of DM.
Ghost does a fantastic job of setting up a detailed world for players to explore and live in. I really appreciated the detailed and well-organized Discord server with information about the setting (incredibly helpful for character building) and the way he works to weave character backstories into the game! If you're looking for character and roleplay-focused play, you should absolutely check out one of Ghost's games.
Ghost is incredible at creating vibrant, immersive worlds to play in. He brings an incredible amount of lore into his games and works hard to interweave what he's already built with what the players/characters want to do. The amount of effort he puts in to each game is fully on display with music, artwork, and an environment populated with a multitude of characters/shops/factions to interact with. He is also extremely rewarding towards player creativity, with a full system of 'extra credit' (gold, etc) for side roleplay, character art, playlists, and other add-ons that encourage players to really dig into their characters.
This GM (Ghost) is super skilled and funny. He was extremely welcoming and helpful to me as a new player. If you want an amazing story, great acting, and just hilarity in general, while still leaving plenty of options for RP and character focus, he's your best bet. In case you are worried about any sort of conflict with other players. Ghost has a tendency to see any potential problems ahead of time, and will help to resolve it while making sure everyone wins. Ghost is extremely passionate about D&D and you can tell. Give him a shot, you won't regret it.
What's StartPlaying?
Tabletop Roleplaying Games Run by Game Masters
Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.