StartPlaying logo
game master profile header image
Josh

Josh (he/him)

5.0

(12)

Neurodivergent

2 years on StartPlaying

15 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Storytelling

About me

Running fun games is my passion, and I love to immerse myself in the lore of the worlds we inhabit together. I provide a safe space for women, LGBTQ+, and all players, and thoroughly enjoy interacting with diverse groups of people and their characters! I often run modules, but I heavily edit and improvise the story/campaign/world will change based on how characters act and perceive the world. I offer a premium experience on Roll20 with dynamic lighting, sometimes weather effects, voice acting, music/ambience and a committed GM who takes the time to integrate your character into the world. You can send me a message if you would like to request a specific campaign or setting! Disc Golf is my second passion and I often compete at local tournaments/events where I live. I used to be pretty competitive at Table Tennis and I am a lifelong fan of videogames and the art form.

GM Style

When you book with me, I offer: • Commitment to hosting all scheduled games • Your character’s backstory integrated into the game • Strong understanding of game mechanics and rulebooks • Expert level improvisation skills • Ambient soundscapes and music • Beautiful maps and dynamic lighting • Amateur voice acting for NPCs • Complete freedom for sandbox gameplay • Roll20 compendium access to books • Casual conversations in Discord between sessions • …and so much more!

Game platforms used
Social
Game Master Reviews (12)

Proficiencies

Players say this GM is great at:

Creativity

Inclusive

Storytelling

Nick avatar

Nick

Played 5 sessions

Josh is a fantastic GM, as a beginner Pathfinder 2e player who did not know much about the game, he made everything easy to understand. He was also super collaborative in terms of building my character and my backstory, and we worked together every step of the way to make something that I was really happy with. Josh and the group were also super welcoming to me, and made me feel included from the start. Would highly recommend him as a GM for anyone looking to play, particularly is great for beginners!

Chris avatar

Chris

Josh picked me up a bit over a year ago for the beginner's campaign Lost Mine of Phandelver. While groups with new strangers online can start rough, we found our stride super quickly and hit it off very well. What I really enjoyed about that module is that we had a very clear vision as a party of what we wanted to do and even though that is not exactly what the module envisions, Josh made it work for us. He allowed us to walk our own way instead of shoehorning/railroading us toward the encounters we "missed", with all the consequences and advantages that might bring. His DMing skills also impressed me when he adjusted magic items on the fly in order for them to fit better with the player's flavour and aesthetic vision. We enjoyed the game so much that we took a small hiatus and then immediately jumped into Curse of Strahd, which we are still playing and enjoying tremendously. The campaign has some dark topics that I felt Josh handled super well by both inquiring ahead of time and also narrating tastefully. When characters died, he found a great way to introduce a new PC dynamically without making someone wait an entire session for their chance to play again. He is super open to letting players do things that aren't fully outlined in the rules, while still knowing the rules well if there are some in place for the situation. We are closing in on 40 sessions at this point, and I am hoping for 40 more. Josh has turned Strahd into a terrifying villain and I genuinely don't know if any of us will make it out alive, which is a level of tension I love for this game. As a learning DM myself, he has also shared very helpful resources with me related to playing atmospheric music despite the regular issue of discord bots being disabled, sharing playlists and third party content on e.g. DMs guild he uses to supplement his game with amazing NPCs, items and more.

Gahntomil avatar

Gahntomil

I've been a player in Josh's games for about 3 years now and his games have never disappointed! His talent for storytelling is truly unmatched, and I think about moments from past games often. He really makes the game fun to play and knows the rules very well. He has a knack for improving storylines and plot developments on the fly and honestly, those have always been my favorite moments. On top of being a really good GM, he's a really nice guy and always fun to talk with! You won't be disappointed with Josh as a GM!

Danika avatar

Danika

I tried to get into playing RPGs several times, and each time it fell apart due to a rough DM experience. I joined a campaign Josh was running for new players at the suggestion of a friend, and now I've been playing nonstop for a year and a half. He's done a wonderful job welcoming me into the game, balancing mechanics and role play, and incorporating our characters into the larger story and world. He also goes out of his way to make sure all players are able to play the game to their fullest, no matter their particular interests, and I really appreciate that eye towards inclusion.

Florence avatar

Florence

Josh is an amazing dungeon master who is incredibly fun to play with. He balances both humour and terror, creating an exciting atmosphere for the party. He is very flexible with characters and worldbuilding and always has me excited for our next session.

Raven avatar

Raven

I've been playing with Josh for over three years now and he's one of the most solid, earnest and consistent guys you're ever likely to meet. Having been a player in his games, his DM as well as a fellow player in games run by our mutual friends, I can with no hesitation say that he's a pleasure to have at any table, and if you think he isn't worth shelling out some cash for, you're a dumb motherfuc#er. He's great at communicating with players, yes-anding things that resonate with the group, and helping players tell their character's stories. He's quite knowledgeable about 5e and very proficient with roll20, and is always helpful with helping other people learn the ropes. He's good with players at all levels of system mastery and his table always feels like a safe place for everyone(including myself as a queer Hispanic person) to get together and have fun. He's gracious, patient and kind, and a natural storyteller. He even made tragically losing my character into a thrilling and dramatic experience, and integrated my new PC into the game more smoothly and naturally than I could have asked for or expected. If you're looking for a fun, exciting narrative with a good blend of drama, comedy and action, and you want someone who can tell a story with a tight plot without feeling constrained or railroaded, you owe it to yourself to give Josh a try. 11/10 would listen to his disc golf annecdotes after session again.

What's StartPlaying?

Tabletop Roleplaying Games Run by Game Masters

  • Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.

  • Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.

  • If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.