Darkmoon Gaming

he/him

5.0

(8)

Timezone

America/new York

Identity

Neurodivergent

Game Designer

About Darkmoon Gaming

Looking for a Dungeon Master who can elevate your game to new heights? Look no further—I'm Alex, and I'm the DM you've been waiting for. D&D, to me, is more than just dice and rules—it's a living, evolving story where my players are just as much the authors as I am. Using immersive voices, ambient music, and custom maps, I bring every game to life. But it’s not just about the world I create; it’s about how we build it together. I give my players full agency within an open sandbox, with events unfolding in my world regardless of the party's involvement. Your character isn’t just a stat block—it's a part of this world. I work closely with players to craft backstories that are woven into the fabric of my campaigns, often driving personal goals alongside the main plot. Whether you’re after a deep, character-driven journey or a wild ride full of high-jinks and epic moments, my games focus on rich storytelling, immersive roleplay, and combat encounters that keep things dynamic and exciting. I love making my players feel like heroes of legend, and I'm always open to bending the rules for an unforgettable narrative moment or a jaw-dropping "wow" factor. With my relaxed, fun-loving style, I ensure an inclusive and memorable experience where everyone at the table feels like they truly belong. If you're looking for a Dungeon Master who can turn every session into an unforgettable adventure, let’s roll some dice and create something epic together!

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

17 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Rule of Cool, Inclusive

Average response time: 24+ hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

Because I desperately wanted to play D&D when I finally did and the campaign ended early because of scheduling conflicts, I needed more D&D and hosting was the easiest way to get a party together. Then I found out I had more fun setting my players up then I did doing something awesome myself

My favorite shows/movies are

too many to list but I will do my best, side note I prefer the book versions (in no order) - the last duel - pre-Disney Star Wars -delicious in dungeon - Andor - dragon ball z - the 100 - lord of the rings - game of thrones -the office - harry potter - pirates of the Caribbean - reign of fire

When I'm not running games I'm...

I'm thinking about ideas and stories I want to tell. when I can't spend all my brain power and playing D&D I am working as a carpenter or spending time with my wife and 2 daughters, or working on some custom woodworking projects like dice boxes and rolling trays.

How Darkmoon Gaming runs games

As a GM, my style revolves around collaborative storytelling. I view the process as a shared journey between myself and the players, with everyone contributing to the epic tale we weave together. My focus is always on player agency—while I set the stage with plot hooks, I’m eager to see where the players take the story. I’ve learned to embrace improvisation and adjust when the party veers off course. The thrill of seeing the narrative unfold in unexpected directions is what makes this role so rewarding. In my campaigns, roleplay and difficult combat encounters are at the forefront. Combat isn’t just about facing powerful enemies; I strive to make 80% of encounters feel like a true challenge. This challenge goes beyond just tough foes; I enjoy adding dynamic elements like shifting terrain or special mechanics to keep players on their toes. Each battle becomes a puzzle to solve, requiring both strategy and quick thinking. Mysteries and puzzles also play a key role in my games. They serve as engaging challenges that provide a break from constant combat while still encouraging teamwork and problem-solving. Every twist in the narrative is an opportunity for the party to shine, both in and out of battle. I do incorporate several homebrew rules to enhance the gameplay experience. These rules are designed to add depth and excitement to our sessions, and I always explain them in detail during our Session 0 and through my Discord server. Here is a sneak peak to some of my homebrew mechanics: Healing Potions in Combat: A unique approach to managing healing during the heat of battle. Death Saves: A revised system to keep things tense and meaningful when characters are on the edge of death. Skill Check Assistance: A system to help players when they struggle with critical skill checks. Skill Challenges: Inspired by 4th Edition D&D, this mechanic tests the party's collective problem-solving ability. An example might be trying to escape a collapsing building, with each player using their skills creatively to help the party. Inspiration: A custom take on the classic mechanic to reward exceptional roleplaying and creativity. Critical Hits: A unique rule that adds even more excitement to those crucial moments in combat. If you’re looking for a campaign where your decisions matter and the story evolves based on your actions, I invite you to join me at the table. Let’s craft an unforgettable adventure together!

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

Rules at the table are speed as DM I have final say on a game ruling. Any rule in question about rules I’ll review between sessions an confirm the proper ruling and we will start the next session with the rule discussed before starting

My games focus on...

Collaborative Story telling, is the focus of my games. I love setting up plots or mystery and watching players work to unravel the story, and watching the players drive the plot somewhere I didn’t expect it to go give me a huge amount of satisfaction

When it comes to voices

I make the best effort I can as a non professional voice actor, I can do a couple of ok to good accents and I can do a really good New Jersey accent lol

Darkmoon Gaming 's ideal table

I adjust my tables based on the party at the table, my goal in every session is everyone having a great time exploring the game and my world. I encourage players to stay in character during our session as much as possible to help with the games immersion, but overall, I like to keep a relaxed and fun atmosphere at the table, I want players to be comfortable and thinking creatively and so I do tend to allow bending of the rules for the sake of a character pulling off something epic. an example I was running a game in the underdark and players picked up on signs of a Bulette in the area, to sneak through the area I let the wizard caste featherfall on the party with a high DC on there arcana check to keep the party from triggering the bulette's tremor sense. that is not how featherfall spell works but with creative thinking and a powerful wizard I wanted to reward my player, and they escaped the bulette.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

I work hard to make battle maps and locations to inspire my players creativity when planning an encounter, I try and think of a few possible outcomes and how my players might get there, and I reward players for doing more than just attacking the monster or rolling a perception check.

I think min/maxing...

Min/Maxing can be fun. Everyone loves D&D for different reasons if Min/maxing and number crunching is fun for you great. I tend to optimize my monsters for encoun so I have no problem with a player doing the same for their PC. want 30 AC at level 1, cool get ready for savings throws lol

My perfect party mix is

a group of 3-5 people willing to cooperate and have fun. I want players who are excited and willing to participate in Roleplay and the developing of our shared story.