
Ben "The GM in the Keep" (he/him)
5.0
(69)
4 years on StartPlaying
940 games hosted
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Voices, Teacher
About me
Hello There! Welcome to my page! I've been DMing for a long time and have specialized in helping new players develop and grow in the hobby of TTRPG's. My preferred system is D&D 5e, but I also have some experience with the Chronicles of Darkness and World of Darkness systems. I've familiarized myself with a multitude of systems over the years so if you want to homebrew mechanics, I have a wealth of knowledge to work with. I have my own homebrew settings that can be played as One-Shot modules, or as full scale campaigns. I house rule specific things within either of my preferred systems to favor the quality of life for my players. I take my time resolving in-game events. The only thing I ask is that I receive the same respect and patience that I will show you as we progress. Roll Initiative, let's get started!
GM Style
I LOVE roleplay! Combat is interesting and a very important part of gameplay, but nothing beats watching a new player break out of their shell and lose themselves in character. I love working with new players, and mentoring people in this hobby, so if you ever have questions about playing TTRPG's just give me a shout, whether I'm in your GM or not. When it comes to the table, I take player experience very seriously. This is why I have a two hour policy for cancellation notice, and why I will sometimes ask players to take a second to allow the tension in a situation to disperse.
Games played
Game platforms used
Game Master Reviews (69)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Storytelling
Voices
Teacher
As a fellow Dm. Awesome DM, strong with player interactions, intelligent campaign choices and decisions to be made for the players with potential consequences depending on situation outcomes. As a player in one his Campaigns, I've had to use my character to his fullest potential, both in the narrative and information gathering, to in combat where he can put his full skill set to full use. As a bit of a power gamer from 3.5/pathfinder, I ended up deciding to make less optimized choices for my character because it was more interesting for the campaign. Being encouraged to get invested in the world made it so I wanted to explore what my character could achieve outside of pure combat skills.
I came to StartPlaying when a friend recommended Ben. I was looking for a regularly scheduled game and joined a new campaign that was a group of players who didn't know each other. Ben immediately created a great environment to play. His attention to storytelling combined with his ability to engage each player regardless of that individual's style is impressive. He works to understand what elements within the campaign each player leans towards and then finds ways to both challenge and highlight those areas. In addition to being a great campaign to play in, each session provides more ideas to implement in other games I'm a part of, both as a player and as a GM. I highly recommend Ben.
Just wrapped our Curse of Strahd campaign with harried, action packed final sessions. Ben maintained commitment to the stories we had developed as a group over the course of the adventure, driving to a very satisfying conclusion. Our contributions and fates were reflective of the characters we had created and molded, including our victories and our transgressions (you know who you are...:)). I would highly recommend Ben for a campaign when you are looking for a deeply thought out and engrossing RPG experience.
Playing with Ben feels like you're immediately brought into his family. He makes you feel welcomed, makes sure everyone is having fun and answers any and all questions without ever making you feel like you don't know what you're doing (even when you genuinely don't). If you're new and want a fabulous introduction into D&D (or any other roleplaying game he offers), he is the GM you want!
Both my main campaign and this oneshot were with Ben. As a complete newbie to DND I've really enjoyed his supportive energy and love of sharing knowledge about the mechanics and possibilities in DND. This one shot in particular was a really fun one with great horror elements and an interesting world.
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.