Steven
he/him
5.0
(7)
Timezone
Language
About Steven
Hello! I'm Steve, though most folks call me Icebreed (or just "Ice"). Even before I even knew what D&D was -- more than 30 years ago -- I was making up an informal game I called "Pick Your Fate" where I collaboratively narrated an imaginative adventure with a friend. In my teens, appealing to my enjoyment of JRPGs and CRPGs like the original Baldur's Gate video games, someone introduced me to D&D! It didn't take right away (the Internet was still a nascent thing and I didn't know anybody else locally who played), but eventually I started running random dungeons in 3.5e for friend groups, dipped my toes into 4e, and then really sank my teeth in when I decided to run my very first full 5e campaign, Tyranny of Dragons. That game brought us together as good friends, and after three long years of playing it, it inspired me to host a West Marches-like community game with a bunch of my favorite DM buddies. I learned how to come up with my own material there. I've since dabbled in a few other games like Daggerheart and Shadowrun, but the game I know best by far is D&D. My TTRPG friends have encouraged me to go pro, so now I'm choosing to take on my next adventures with you! I'm a warm, inclusive, and open-minded person who wants to share the fun of D&D with the world. Let's explore the wilds that our imaginations run amok in together!
At a glance
3 years on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Inclusive
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
Originally, my D&D veteran friends were tired of running games. I didn't have a lot of confidence because 3.5e can be a complicated beast, but I successfully ran random dungeons. I've built up confidence and experience in the many years since.
My favorite shows/movies are
The classic comedy movies like Spaceballs, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Army of Darkness will get me laughing every time. More recently, though, I tend to watch anime. My favorite anime is probably Overlord.
When I'm not running games I'm...
...playing PC games with my friends, writing terrible-quality smut, and coding various random personal projects in Python. Oh, and playing in my other friends' D&D games.
How Steven runs games
While I don't consider myself a walking rules dictionary, I place a good deal of importance on rules fidelity, so long as it makes sense. I enjoy giving my players as much agency as I can, so when the rules fail to cover or poorly cover a situation, I'm not above making house rules on the spot to make things more fun. I also enjoy casual role play, however, and while I'm not the type to make you write up pages of backstory for your characters, I like to create situations that tease out their personalities and help them feel like more than just heroic statblocks. I love it when characters develop complex relationships with one another, and with memorable NPCs. I'm not averse to evil characters, but only if they're being played by players who know how to play evil without sabotaging the party and plot. I generally disallow PvP outside of expressly set up and consenting situations. I can't guarantee that every character will have a personal story arc dedicated to them over the course of a campaign, but I like to try and provide everybody something outside of the main plotline to engage them somehow, eventually. I endeavor to work with players to make it something that they can enjoy. I am all about creative actions in combat and teamwork! That's one of my favorite reasons to give out Heroic Inspiration.
Featured Prompts
My games focus on...
My games focus on the players. I know that's a cheesy, generic thing to say, but I like to get a feel for what my players want from their game and then adjust my approach to it accordingly. Sometimes that means tough, crunchy combat. Sometimes it means rich, emotional roleplay.
Rules are...
Rules are the framework of any game, but a cunning architect knows when and how to build outside the framework. Rules hold things together, but they shouldn't get in the way of fun.
Steven's ideal table
I jive well with players with a good sense of humor, and who see character failure as an development opportunity rather than a personal frustration or a low point in the game. My tables are all about bonding as a group over the ridiculous and exciting tales we tell together with our shiny math rocks. As long as you're respectful, friendly, attentive, and put effort into the game, you're going to have a good time. I believe that most of the rules of our games were written the way they were for a reason, so I like to follow their words most of the time. Corrections of rules I've misremembered are welcome, if they're given politely, but I reserve the right to make overriding decisions. I don't like to argue rules at length at the table, but you're welcome to chat me up outside of the session about it. Outside of combat, I tend to be looser with rules. I prefer to hear you tell me how your character goes about their adventuring rather than just going through the motions of one skill check after another. Don't just "search for traps" with a Perception check, tell me how you look for them and where and what makes you think there might be a trap there. Don't just "ask around" for information with an Investigation check, tell me where you go, who you talk to, and how you loosen lips and tongues.