Aden

he/him

5.0

(5)

Timezone

America/los Angeles

Language

Arabic

English

Identity

BIMPOC

Neurodivergent

Published Writer

Game Designer

Multi-lingual

About Aden

Hi! I'm GM Aden (He/Him), a voice actor, game designer, and Critical Role fan, and I’ve been running tabletop games for over 12 years. I enjoy giving players opportunities to shape the story and building living worlds that react to my players' actions naturally. I love to focus on roleplay and character choices, but I still maintain a healthy respect for the rules of the game we're playing. A dynamically designed D&D encounter can really hit the spot! I started with D&D and have played through several editions up to 5e. Along the way, I fell in love with storytelling and started exploring other systems like Blades in the Dark, Stars Without Number, Dungeon World, Ryuutama, and Burning Wheel. I also designed my own system called Blades of Xenthra, which is still in early alpha phase. It’s a high fantasy take on Blades in the Dark, same core engine, but built for big magic and heroic adventure. Every player I've had the pleasure of gaming with has said my campaigns always leave them wanting more, so I do my best to keep the fun coming for everyone at my table.

At a glance

1 year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Storytelling

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I wanted my friends to explore their beliefs and drives in a living breathing world.

My favorite books are

Stormlight Archive Warbreaker Mistborn

My favorite shows/movies are

Castlevania Critical Role Avatar The Last Airbender

How Aden runs games

Character-focused - Your drives matter, and who you are matters. At session 0 I like to ask every new player 3 questions about their character. 1. Who are you? 2. What do you want? 3. Why can't you have it? That is where I begin crafting my homebrew campaigns. My goal is to create a living and breathing world for you to explore your drives, motivations, and beliefs in. Story-first - I prioritize roleplay, exploration, and creative problem-solving. Dynamic combat encounters still have their place, and I love me a good combat encounter! But there is always another goal, a new objective, another possibility for you to solve every problem. Chill but prepared - I keep things running smoothly and I try not to get too caught up in rules crunching, but I still am willing to hear every player out if they have a cool idea! Open table - I use safety tools and check in with players to make sure everyone feels good at the table. I will NEVER tolerate creepy behavior or anyone that pushes or violates the boundaries of others at our table. System-flexible - Whether it’s tactical D&D or a rules-light narrative game, I’ll meet you where you want to be!

Featured Prompts

My favorite trope is...

mortal enemies to ironclad friends

My games focus on...

Character driven roleplay

Rules are...

meant to create fun for all of us at the table. If it stops being fun, change the rule.

Aden's ideal table

My table is story driven, character focused, and inclusive. It's a place where your character’s goals, flaws, and choices drive the plot forward. If you love diving into rich roleplay, exploring a world that changes based on what you do, and tackling moral dilemmas or complicated choices, you’ll fit right in. I run with a “chill but prepared” approach: sessions flow smoothly, rules are respected but can be changed in the name of fun, and there’s always room for player creativity. Whether it’s a dramatic character moment, a clever out of the box solution, or a high-stakes combat encounter, I make sure everyone has a chance to shine. My games are perfect for players who: Love immersive storytelling and strong roleplay Want their characters to struggle, grow, and impact the world Enjoy collaborative problem-solving more than rules lawyering Appreciate a GM who’s flexible, supportive, and engaged Want to feel safe, heard, and respected at the table New to the system? No problem! I’m happy to teach as we play. We use Session 0, safety tools, and regular check-ins to make sure the vibe stays comfortable and fun for everyone. No pressure to “perform,” just a space to explore cool characters and memorable moments together.