Hayden

he/him

5.0

(9)

Timezone

America/vancouver

Language

English

About Hayden

Hi! My name's Hayden and I've been playing Dungeons and Dragons for over 20 years, starting with 3rd edition before getting into Pathfinder, and eventually 5th Edition D&D. I've had a lifelong love of storytelling and am I'm a hobbyist fantasy writer and world builder. I'm always looking for cool people to play with, doesn't matter the level of experience!

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

1 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Inclusive

Average response time: Under 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I have a passion for storytelling and I enjoy the collaborative and emergent nature of D&D as a storytelling medium. Its always a blast to weave a story with a table of cool people who each bring their own unique perspective to the game. The resulting story is always unpredictable!

I got started GMing...

at eight years old. My friend introduced me to the D&D box set. I immediately took a liking to the game and continued playing even after my step-mom told me it was "Satanic."

My favorite books are

Book of the New Sun, Lord of the Rings, the Second Apocalypse series, ASOIAF, Blood Meridian, Night, A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, Elric of Melniboné, Dune, The Road, House of Leaves, pretty much anything by Thomas Ligotti.

How Hayden runs games

I like to strike a balance between roleplay, tactical combat, and exploration. I try especially to integrate the three together as well, crafting encounters that include combat, puzzles or objectives, and opportunities to settle conflicts using roleplay. In the end though, every table is different and I'm comfortable adjusting my games to players' desired style, whether that waves of nonstop combat, or combat free roleplay games. My games tend to skew towards classic sword and sorcery adventures with a good deal of horror.

Featured Prompts

My favorite trope is...

an evil cult looking to resurrect their dead god.

Rules are...

important for creating a consistent set of options for players to engage with, allowing them to plan and make informed gameplay decisions. However, if a rule needs to be bent to keep the game flowing or better serve the player experience, I'm not against fudging a bit.

When it comes to voices

I only have the one I got.

Hayden's ideal table

If you like a chill, inclusive environment that isn't afraid to get spooky or engage with darker themes, you'll fit in great.

Featured Prompts

I am for a vibe that's...

inclusive, laid back, and open to cursing or more adult subject matter.

I love it when a player

makes a choice in line with their character even if it puts them at a disadvantage mechanically.

I think min/maxing...

is fine if the campaign or the character calls for it. Maybe you're a wizard devoted to increasing your power at all costs? If the min/maxing negatively affects the experience of other players, then it becomes an issue.