Jay (he/him)
5.0
(4)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Teacher
About me
Hello! I'm Jay - and just to get it out of the way, I'm from Chicago (it comes up... a lot... 😅). I'm queer and nuerodivergent and love creating my own stories in 5e or my own system - the JAY Games system (see what I did there 😉). When I'm not writing music or earning a check responding to Teams messages while my cats, Batrick and Artemis, try to get my attention. I enjoy Urban Shadows and 5e as a player but really like to bring people into my own homebrew universes to experience something different. My own game system - Just As Yourself - is a system where anyone, regardless of skill or familiarity, can be themselves and enjoy a story in a safe and affirming environment. It has *everything* 🙅♂️ NO MATH! Beyond health points, and I can do this for you 😇 📖 Storytelling and roleplay! You can't have a TTRPG without that 🧐 📄 Playbooks! 4 to choose from, and you just answer 3 questions and choose your weapon/tool 🙌 🎲 ONLY 1 d20 (for probability!!) and 1 d6 (everything else!!) 🥳 🕊️ Agency! We move at *your* pace and explore the plot together 💪 My newest game - Under the desert sun - is a rich story of secrecy, deviousness, and desert monsters set in my not-so-trademarked universe, the Realm of Kâshmar. It will be available to purchase on itch.io in Spring 2025, but why not enjoy it here first 😁 Looking forward to playing with you - and sharing my universe!
GM Style
What's a TTRPG without roleplay?? Crafting a rich story arc and incorporating PCs into that is the best part of running a game. So are skirmishes... tactical or otherwise... that's where the chaos happens 😈 I don't railroad people... agency as Players is central to any TTRPG I run. I do my best with NPC voices and usually manage to pull at least one off well... I'm certainly not a professional voice actor... But I can usually manage British, Kiwi (never on demand though...), Hollywood Russian, and Midwestern (it's an accent I swear!!). But no, I can't do a Chicago accent well ☹️ I have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying and demeaning language between players - Every Play experience is a safe, affirming, and accepting space for everyone to have fun and enjoy a story. Everything that I craft is original content without the use of AI - and any graphics are either commissioned, part of a subscription package, or royalty-free. Always.
Game Master Reviews (4)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Inclusive
Teacher
Sarah Lentes
Jay’s game is one of my favorite games I have ever played. He accomplished the nearly impossible task of balancing accessibility of the game with a fun and exciting plot. This makes it a fun experience for players of all skill levels. I have raved to many people about how much fun this game is and how excellent of a Game Master Jay is. Truly cannot recommend any game by Jay enough!
Bonnie Caproon
Jay is an incredible GM! Fun, friendly, creative, forgiving (but not too forgiving!) and so much more. He asked us to fill out a questionare before we began, to ensure players comfort (gore, sexual encounters, creepy scenarios, phobias, yucks and yums... you name it) which I found to be incredibly thoughtful. One of our party struggles with math- Jay calculated all their dice rolls. Coupled with immersive storytelling, detailed maps, and a very cool objective, Jay has convinced me that TTRPGs aren't just for old fogeys with no computer.
Alrisatar
my first (TTRPG), and it was an incredible experience. The game was guided by an adept storyteller, who made the journey both seamless and captivating. the structure of the game was well-explained. As someone new to TTRPGs, I appreciated the clear and patient introduction to the game's mechanics and rules. This foundation allowed me to fully immerse myself in the experience without feeling overwhelmed. The plot was richly detailed and evolved naturally, keeping everyone engaged and eager to see what would happen next. The story was interactive, allowing for creative input from all players, which made the world feel dynamic and alive. Choices and actions had real consequences, and the flexibility of the narrative meant that we could explore various paths, adding a personal touch to the experience
Celestine Nox
I've played with Jay before and he's a great GM! I never felt railroaded or like my thoughts on my character or her feelings about NPCs or the story didn't matter. Not only did Jay appreciate the chaos that happened when my Tabaxi Warlock wanted to bat at the Mayor's earrings, he actively encouraged it! But his games aren't only chaos, they're fun, interesting, and set in a brilliant and meticulously constructed world. Jay is passionate about games and about your experience and I would recommend him to anyone.
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