Jo Wilkinson

she/her

Timezone

Europe/london

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Queer

Published Writer

Cosplayer

Women/Femme Identifying

Game Designer

About Jo Wilkinson

Cinematic horror & high‑energy roleplay from a trans‑inclusive 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 GM. 10+ years behind the screen. Safety‑first tables, big emotions, and unforgettable stories. I’m Jo (she/her), and I’ve been a GM for over 10 years with barely a pause in between. From day one I knew running games were where I belonged, building worlds, weaving horror, and giving players those moments that linger long after the dice stop rolling. When I couldn’t find a steady group, I built my own. These days I host a thriving Discord community and run weekly games with barely a break in a decade. My tables everyone is welcome, they are explicitly inclusive, queer, trans, neurodivergent, and everyone gets space to shine. Expect atmosphere, character driven play, and just enough dark humour to remind you we’re here to have fun even in the shadows. Where my greatest passion lies is in worldbuilding and storytelling. All of my custom campaigns exist within a shared overworld and cosmic framework I’ve been developing for years (currently being expanded into a lore book). One of my proudest achievements was running a D&D 5e campaign from level 1 all the way to 20+, a rare, full-arc 100+session story that spanned more than 3 years. Along the way I added homebrew content beyond level 20, launched one-shots in the same setting, and even ran a parallel “sister campaign” where the events of each influenced the other. I’ve designed and published my own adventures and systems, and I bring that same creative spark to every table. Whether it’s gothic horror, high fantasy, space opera, or the strange liminal places in between, I love drawing players into stories that feel alive and you can lose yourself in. Why Play With Me? I specialize in creating custom worlds built around player inclusion and adaptability, tailoring each game to different playstyles. I prep thoroughly but thrive on creating in the moment, weaving in emotional hooks to keep you, well, hooked. While much of my work leans toward horror, I’m just as comfortable running sprawling space operas or high fantasy epics, always with a touch of unsettling mystery or ominous liminal threat. I’ve run everything from RP heavy story campaigns to gritty dungeon crawls, but my sweet spot is the balance between the two. A narrative driven experience full of meaningful roleplay, tough choices (not just good vs. evil, but the morally grey in-between), and high stakes, risky combat where victories feel earned. At the end of the day, my goal is simple: for us as a group to craft an unforgettable story together.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Featured Prompts

My 3 systems I'd bring to a desert island would be

Fate Core, D&D 5e and Ultraviolet Grasslands

My favorite system of all Time is

Ultraviolet Grasslands and the Black City. Well its not a system but a setting.

People are always surprised when I tell them

I have actually finished a D&D 5e Campaign from level 1 to level 20+ with added homebrew levels of divinity beyond that.

How Jo Wilkinson runs games

My style adapts to the players. I talk with them beforehand to involve them in shaping how the party wants to play. My sweet spot is a narrative-driven experience full of meaningful roleplay, tough choices (not just good vs. evil, but the morally grey in-between), and high stake, risky combat where victories feel earned. I know players of all kinds! I know that it doesn't matter how much you prep you will do the unexpected. Thinking on my feet is something I am great at, improvising on the fly tailoring it to your experience. If you asked me my preferred style, I’d say this: we are creating a story together. It is never the GM versus the players! Crafting a story as a collective is the best way for it to work. My style includes a lot of descriptive theatre of the mind. I go into detail about scenes, almost painting them as if they were filmed like a TV show or movie. I describe sweeping camera pans and striking vistas to set the stage for roleplay. I also provide visuals and battle maps alongside this for immersion and combat tracking. At the same time, I enjoy heavy combat when it fits. Battles with real consequences, where victories feel hard won and even a character's death can become an incredible story moment to remember. I do try with the voices I have a few in my arsenal and you will hear all 6 of them ;). Horror is a passion of mine, and I love to evoke fear, awe, wonder, or even disgust, always in a way that’s fun and safe for the table. That might mean Lovecraftian tension, gothic dread, sci fi nightmares, or psychological twists. But I’m equally at home running sprawling high fantasy epics or galaxy space operas. I will always adapt to my players and tone down horror elements where needed, keeping in mind preferences and phobias to make sure everyone feels safe before we begin I want villains you love to hate, allies you grow attached to, and choices that shape the world.

Featured Prompts

I once ran a session...

Where an NPC death made members of party cry at the sacrifice and loss of the character in the campaign. This was a NPC we created together, weaving it into the narrative. Was a truly epic moment. Ask me about this story anytime.

Rules are...

There for a reason, but I will never say "No". Usually I will say "Yes, But...."

When it comes to voices

I try my best, and you will meet all 6 of them.

Jo Wilkinson's ideal table

Players who love weaving a narrative together as a group. Players who love to RP (and a good laugh along the way). Players who like high stakes combat where choices matters. Players who enjoy a touch of horror in its many forms. …not always in that order.

Featured Prompts

I am for a vibe that's...

Inclusive, happy, and serious when the RP calls for it. Simply just to have a good time loosing yourself in the characters and the world.

If you're into ___, you're going to love my table

Horror

I think min/maxing...

Is completely a personal preference. Me, I always prefer a good thematic character rather than min maxed but I cater to both players within my sessions.