Jackie Williams
she/they
5.0
(4)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Jackie Williams
I've been running games of D&D for five years, and it's safe to say I found my "thing". DMing is my absolute favorite thing to do, and I've now run dozens (upon dozens) of sessions. In 2024, I completed a four month D&D Dungeon Master course run by Amy Vorpahl, and came out of it with an amazing toolbox to pull from! I learned a lot about improv, adventure writing, and running engaging sessions from that course. While I have mostly run games of Dungeons & Dragons, I have also tried other systems, and really enjoy more "rules lite" one page TTRPGs as well. I currently produce (and appear in) a video and audio anthology podcast series called Nomads of the Multiverse, in which a rotating cast plays a different TTRPG every month. It's a ton of fun, and trying so many different systems has really strengthened my skills as a game master! While I've run games for plenty of experienced players, I've also "onboarded" a LOT of newbies. I really, really love teaching new players. I also offer one-on-one onboarding sessions to build a character and get familiar with the rules if you're a newbie who feels like you need some extra prep before your first gaming session! I write a majority of my own adventures, although I love a good module! Be warned, though - I will inevitably modify the module to fit the specific characters at the table. What's the point of that juicy backstory if you don't even get a dramatic reveal out of it? I also like shaking off some of the more restrictive aspects of species, like assigning moral alignment to a PC or NPC based on species/race. No room for that here! Also - queer people exist at my table, both in the story and out of it. I've run one-shots and campaigns in Forgotten Realms, in Exandria (of Critical Role), and in many one-shot homebrew worlds of my own. I'm very happy to brew something up or adopt a setting that fits exactly the vibe you're looking for. In general, I lean a bit more RAW than "rule of cool". That said, sometimes applying a rule as written straight up breaks the logic of our silly fantasy world! In that case, we modify the rule until it makes sense again in whatever ridiculous context we're in. Everybody who plays at my table fills out a Google form with lines/veils, and the "rating" they're okay with at the table. Sex doesn't happen "on screen" at my tables - that's one of my own "lines". We use the stoplight system (red/yellow) to check in with each other during the game. Racist, sexist, transphobic, homophobic, or any other hateful behavior from player to player, or player to DM, will never be tolerated. The offender gets one warning, and is immediately booted upon a repeat offense. I also reserve the right to boot someone immediately if their behavior is egregious. I run games via Discord or Zoom. For games of D&D, I use the DnDBeyond built-in battle map system, and I ask my players to build out their character in DnDBeyond. I typically draw my own maps for homebrew adventures. Let's play!
At a glance
3 years on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Knows the Rules
Featured Prompts
My favorite books are
My favorite series' are the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab, and the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. But my favorite book of all time is Circe, by Madeline Miller.
My favorite shows/movies are
Clue, Knives Out, Princess Mononoke, Agatha All Along, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel.
When I'm not running games I'm...
Producing podcasts! My main audio project right now is Nomads of the Multiverse, a TTRPG anthology series with a rotating cast. We play a different TTRPG every month! I handle editing and sound design, and I GM most of the games.
How Jackie Williams runs games
I try to maintain a good balance of roleplay and combat, and I almost always include some form of puzzle. I always include multiple ways to "solve" a combat encounter; if you want to hack away at the monster, you absolutely can and I will cheer with you, but if you want to find other clever solutions, I am here for it. I lean toward "rules as written" but remain flexible. My adventures are tailored to the player characters, even if we're running a published module. Typically, I enjoy adventures that have real stakes, but aren't "gritty" or overly dark. There's room for silly little guys in a serious world! I'm especially fond of adding a good dose of cosmic horror to the game. I'll make your character face their darkest fears, unearth ancient traumas - and then solve a riddle by singing "row row row your boat" in four part harmony. We contain multitudes. I will warn you right now that my character voices are absolutely terrible, and that I insist on doing them anyway.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
Going to the book! However, if I feel the application of the rule as written would be too illogical or game-breaky, I will make my own ruling. We don't do drawn-out arguments or rules discussions here - the best way to keep the game flowing is to make a decision and stick to it.
My games focus on...
An engaging narrative! Sometimes that means roleplay, sometimes that means combat, but it always means the players are the main characters, and the story is about them. I always try to incorporate character backstories or goals into an adventure.
When it comes to voices
I do my best, and my best is bad. That fact has yet to stop me from trying.
Jackie Williams's ideal table
I'm a good fit for players looking for a story-heavy, character-driven adventure! I really like teaching new players and have done quite a bit of newbie "onboarding", so definitely sign up for a game if you're looking for a way into the hobby. I love players who are willing to shine the spotlight on others at the table, want to explore character dynamics and relationships, and like finding clever solutions to problems. I always build in time at the beginning and end of a session to chat and get comfortable, and we take one or two breaks during the session. Eating and drinking is totally okay. I start the session with a list of questions for players to ask about each other's characters, to quickly create social connections that can be used in the game. We use yellow/red topics or lines and veils to make sure everybody can enjoy the game.
Featured Prompts
If you're into ___, you're going to love my table
Fairytale inspired stories, cosmic horror, fey nonsense, and underdogs beating the odds! I almost always incorporate themes of identity and/or the power of story.
I love it when a player
is willing to roleplay or lean into their character, even if it feels silly! We are using the rules/mechanics of the game to help us tell a story together, and that can feel intimidating - but it is extremely fun and satisfying when people are brave enough to do it anyway!
I think metagaming...
Is okay in moderate doses! We're playing a game together, and sometimes being super strict about metagaming can leave people out of scenes for longer than is really fun. That said, it's also not fun if all the characters just magically know everything - we need to be able to have secrets!
Jackie Williams's Preferences
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