Jordan
he/him
5.0
(4)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Jordan
I am a Chicago-based artist with a love of the dark and all things spooky. If I’m not working in my studio or gardens, or chilling with my wife and cats, I am almost certainly creating vibrant imaginary worlds and frightful scenarios to let others run wild with. I got my start with TTRPGs as a kid playing old school HeroQuest with my older brother, and ran games of my own off and on for years. But it was 2016 when I truly fell in love with Dungeons & Dragons. Over several years of playing and thinking of ideas for my own game worlds and stories, I took the helm as DM in 2020 and haven’t looked back! While I’ve run various one-shots and shorter campaigns, I’ve also kept a deeply rewarding campaign going with my close friends for six years now. I’ve learned a lot in that time and found a deep love for the game, collaborative storytelling, and rich world building.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Knows the Rules, Inclusive, World Builder
Featured Prompts
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
Spooky (alternatively kooky or ooky) Imaginative Conscientious
When I'm not running games I'm...
...making art in my studio, working in one of my two gardens (one a rain garden and restored native habitat, the other a community garden plot), spending quality time with my wife and kittens, learning something new, or delving into something spooky.
How Jordan runs games
My games are roleplay forward, rewarding investment and interaction with the game world. Combat is an ever looming threat and comes with interesting environments, tangible stakes, and gritty (often bloody) action. Exploration is usually rooted in the story and carries its own challenges and rewards. My game worlds are complex with unfolding layers of mystique and intrigue (and anti-colonialist tendencies). I lean heavily into all things horror, blending with various fantasy/sci-fi genres and weird fiction. Never fear, though! Between moments of dread and hard-fought survival, there is always plenty of space for that classic brand of D&D shenanigans we all love! Enjoy rich worlds with compelling characters and story hooks, and situations that give characters’ actions meaningful consequences on both a personal and cosmic scale. Game session will start with roleplay exercises to help get into character as well as get to know other party members. Players can expect curated soundscapes and playlists, veritable libraries of deep lore, various maps, a wealth of knowledge about the game itself, and very open communication. As an artist, I bring a wealth of detail, nuance, and description, and create unique settings and content for my players. I love finding creative ways to get everyone immersed in the world, incorporating backstories and weaving each character’s motivations into the story from beginning to end. Players should feel agency in how they engage with the world, and the party usually sets the pace of the plot—even as the world turns and events unfold around them. Official rules serve as a framework at my table, but homebrews may be used upon agreement with several of my own disclosed up front and baked into my games. Most rules are treated with a degree of flexibility, especially when situations or good storytelling ask it. I always host a Session 0 and make use of safety tools like consent forms and lines and veils to ensure everyone is on the same page going into an adventure.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
...consulting the sacred text! Published rules are usually clear, but of course there are exceptions. In this case, I explain my reasoning and considerations for a ruling, giving players a similar opportunity. If a situation allows for more "rule of cool" without breaking tension, I am open!
Jordan's ideal table
My table is open to players of all backgrounds and skill levels. Diversity and camaraderie are celebrated here! Whether you are new to the game or a veteran player, I am always happy to share my love of D&D and offer insights based on my experience. If you love the catharsis of horror and want to play through a story where neither your character nor the world they adventure in come out unchanged, then this is the table for you! Here we revel in the dread and lean into the fun of scary moments wholeheartedly. Despite the horrors both told and untold, all creep factor should remain in-game only. My table is a creep-free zone! Respect your fellow players, their identities, and their limits. In the words of Robin Wall Kimmerer, "all thriving is mutual." Likewise, D&D is at its best and most fun when everyone approaches the collaboration in good faith. Share the spotlight, support your fellow players and their character choices, and remember that we're all in this together!
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
...really commits to a moment – be it spilling your personal tea after one too many at the local tavern, describing the scars your character is left with after a tough fight, embracing an unforeseen change, or showing genuine support and engagement with other player-characters and the game world.
My perfect party mix is
...whatever gets the players excited about their characters! I don't subscribe to any one recipe for a good party and have found that just about any mix can make for a fun and compelling story as long as the players are invested. This also invites fun, creative problem solving.
Jordan's Preferences
Systems
Game Mechanics