James

he/him

5.0

(5)

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

Identity

Neurodivergent

About James

I had the joy of being introduced to Dungeons & Dragons at age 14 while working my first job as an assistant in a comic bookstore. What was already a dream job for a young fanatic of nerd-dom became even better when a few of the other employees invited me to join their 2nd Edition campaign. I’ve been a fan of tabletop gaming ever since. Over the years, I’ve spent much of my time running long-term (longest being 6 years) campaigns for different groups of friends. While I have the most experience with Dungeons & Dragons, I’ve also had the pleasure of playing and running games in Pathfinder, Starfinder, Blades in the Dark, MASKS, Vampire: The Masquerade, and most recently Daggerheart. As a Game Master, my focus is on fostering a welcoming environment for collaborative gameplay and storytelling, led by the players and guided by the roll of the dice. I enjoy using the rules as written as a foundation while treating them as tools to help build the framework of an engaging adventure. With a strong understanding of different rules systems, I aim to guide players as they discover their preferred playstyle and help the group create a memorable shared experience. I’m excited about the opportunity to meet new players, no matter their experience level or background, and to start new adventures with people from all over the globe.

At a glance

1 year on StartPlaying

4 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Storytelling

Average response time: 3 hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

after a group of college friends wanted to try DnD, and I was the only person who had played before. After I put that DM screen up for the first time, I haven't been able to put it down.

My favorite books are

The Hobbit, LOTR, The Wheel of Time, The Dragonlance Chronicles, Book of the Fallen, Discworld, The First Law Series, The Devils, The Gentleman Bastards (if he will ever finish it), The Expanse .... and anything else that creates a world I would want to visit.

When I'm not running games I'm...

a brewer and winemaker. If I can't help people tell stories with a TTRPG, I do it with a bottle of something refreshing.

How James runs games

My GM style focuses on collaborative storytelling and player-driven adventures. I use the rules to build a strong foundation, but treat them as supportive tools for creativity and fun! I enjoy helping players find their preferred playstyle. Starting with a welcoming environment, I strive to find the right pace, tone, and focus for both new and experienced gamers at my tables. My goal is always to create memorable stories together, guided by character choices and impactful rolls of the dice.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

conversation. In the moment I will always allow a player to explain their side of the story. If an agreement cannot be reached quickly, I will ask the player to have a one on one after the session to try and find a better solution together.

My favorite trope is...

the fish out of water. Whether a scholar forced into a dangerous jungle, or a barbarian forced to a fancy gala, this trope always puts a smile on my face.

Rules are...

the tools to get a table into a game. Like any other tool, if they stop being useful, they should be removed.

James's ideal table

My perfect table is a group of 4 - 6 players excited about an agreed upon setting, invested in their characters, and supportive of their fellow players journeys. A TTRPG adventure should resemble a rising tide that lifts all of the players boats.