Jeff - Weaver of Tales
he/him
5.0
(6)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Jeff - Weaver of Tales
I've been playing D&D since middle school, back when you still had to calculate THAC0. I've played through most of the editions since then, but 5th edition is the one I've enjoyed the most, both as a player and behind the screen. At the table, I work hard to weave visuals, sound, and descriptive text together into a story that pulls players in. I love giving players those cinematic moments they end up talking about for years, whether that's a desperate last stand, a plan that somehow actually works, or a door that really should have stayed closed. Right now I'm running a Tomb of Annihilation campaign with my own homebrew layered on top. I run my games in Roll20 with maps, lighting, and music, and I'm happy to help new players get set up before we start. Outside of D&D, I'm a 40ish dad living in Oregon, and I lead software engineering teams during the day. I want everyone at my table to have a great time, so I check in with players and make sure every character gets a moment to shine. Whether you remember THAC0 too or you're about to roll your first d20, pull up a chair. Let's roll!
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Rule of Cool, Beginner Friendly, Inclusive
$20 per session
Featured Prompts
My favorite books are
The Dresden Files, The Name of the Wind, the Dragonlance books, and the Drizzt series are all up there, along with Dungeon Crawler Carl, Mistborn, and Red Rising. I read a lot of fantasy and sci-fi, and I steal from all of it for my games.
My favorite system of all Time is
D&D 5th edition is what I run and play the most, and I love how smooth it is at the table. But nothing beats the sheer chaos of a high-level 3.5 campaign, when everyone's builds got completely out of hand and the game barely held together. I miss that madness sometimes.
When I'm not running games I'm...
3D printing and painting minis (often for my own games), smoking something on the Traeger, or reading (I'm a big fan of audiobooks). I'm also a dad and a Scout leader, so there's usually a camping trip or a family game night on the calendar.
How Jeff - Weaver of Tales runs games
My games lean cinematic. I use maps, lighting, ambient sound, and music in Roll20 (or through a discord bot) to set the mood, and I put real effort into descriptions so you can picture the room before your character ever steps into it. I try to keep a good balance between roleplay, exploration, and combat. NPCs have their own voices and motives, and I love it when players go off script and talk their way into (or out of) trouble. When a fight does break out, I want it to feel dangerous, with enemies that use tactics and terrain instead of just standing there trading hits. Your choices matter at my table. If you come up with a clever plan, I'll usually find a way to let you try it, and the consequences are real, good or bad. I'd much rather say "roll for it" or "explain to me how you do that" than "you can't do that." I'm happy to teach new players, and just as happy running for veterans who want a challenge. Before we start, I'll go over the tone of the game and any content that might come up, so nobody gets surprised by something they didn't sign up for. For my horror one-shots, expect atmosphere, tension, and the feeling that something is watching you... because it probably is.
Featured Prompts
I prep by
Following Sly Flourish's Lazy Dungeon Master: a strong start, a list of secrets and clues, a few fantastic locations, and NPCs worth talking to. I prep situations, not scripts, so the story goes wherever you take it. Then I spend way too long on maps, lighting, and music...trying to get that vibe!
Rules are...
<pirate>...guidelines </pirate> They give us all a common place to start from, but I want my players to feel like the heroes and the stars of the story. When things get weird, I fall back on the rule of cool and how well you can explain whatever crazy thing you're trying to do...
Jeff - Weaver of Tales's ideal table
I want a chill group of people who are there to have a good time. My table is a place of respect, where everyone gets a chance to shine and nobody gets talked over. We'll get silly sometimes, but mostly we're there for the big moments and to tell an amazing story together. You'll fit in great if you like roleplaying your character, working with the party, and cheering when someone else pulls off something awesome. New players are always welcome, and so are veterans. If you're mainly looking to min-max, argue rules, or play the lone wolf who ignores the group, my table probably isn't the best fit.