Kind & Benevolent DM, Micaela

she/her

5.0

(5)

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Disabled

Neurodivergent

Artist

Teacher/Educator

Women/Femme Identifying

About Kind & Benevolent DM, Micaela

I'm Micaela, your Kind and Benevolent Dungeon Master! I've been playing tabletop games for over 10 years and have 6 years of experience running Dungeons & Dragons 5e. More recently I've been exploring games using the systems Powered by the Apocalypse and Forged in the Dark, such as Thirsty Sword Lesbians and Girl by Moonlight. To me, tabletop role playing games are the perfect tools for telling collaborative stories, making new worlds, and connecting with others in ways outside the norm. I run games because I love telling stories and I love doing it with other creative people. My goal is to create a safe and welcoming space for all who want to play and collaboratively tell stories that are fun and meaningful. If that sounds good to you, please join me at my virtual table by signing up for one of my listed games or messaging me about your game ideas.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

1 games hosted

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Teacher, Voices

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I love world building, telling stories, and making games fun for my friends. I fell in love with TTRPGs and fell into the forever DM role for my friend group, but it turns out I love that role and wouldn't change a thing.

The three words my players would use to describe me are...

creative, whimsical, and passionate!

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

hanging out with my partner and dog, working on my master's degree in social work, or doing something creative. Most recently the something creative has been watercolor art. Oh, and there is also an embarrassing amount of fanfiction reading.

How Kind & Benevolent DM, Micaela runs games

I specialize in story and character driven games that incorporate player world-building and ideas. I love introducing new players to the game, setting the mood with interesting visuals and soundscapes, and letting my players' creativity run wild. My GM style puts character decisions front and center and ensures everyone gets the chance to impact the story in meaningful ways. Players always take the lead in my games. I am simply a guide to the setting and a facilitator to make the story you want to tell a reality. While I love coming up with home brew worlds and NPCs, I am far more interested in what you come up with and how they interact in the world I bring. Roleplay, puzzles, and exploration are the bedrock of my games, and I like to reward non-combat solutions. But that doesn't mean there won't be plenty of chances to slash up some bad guys! I always aim for combat to be fast paced and exciting. I don't like getting bogged down in calculations or rules interactions. Because of this, combat must always have a story purpose. There are no random encounters, because every encounter is important to the overall plot and relationships being built in the story. I like for the stakes to be high and personal to the characters. I don't generally run games where the party takes a random mission from a bulletin board at the guild hall to kill goblins and earn gold. I run games where the party members are the only people capable of defeating the big bad, there is a sordid history between the quest giver and one party member, and the big bad is the estranged father of another one. Drama can get intense, but the pay off of getting to hear an impassioned speech from one of my players about how their character doesn't need their father's approval any more because they have a new family are totally worth it.

Featured Prompts

My favorite trope is...

the power of friendship! I am a total sucker for finding the strength to defeat an oppressive power by teaming up with your close friends.

My games focus on...

character arcs and storytelling. The narrative and the characters' impact on it are the focal points in every session. Every player gets a chance to shine and I ensure it is a safe space to explore all kinds of story beats.

When it comes to voices

I am not exactly a voice actor, but I like to have fun by doing silly voices every now and then. Just don't make fun of me when the same NPC has a totally different accent the next time the party goes to their tavern.

Kind & Benevolent DM, Micaela's ideal table

My table is a perfect fit for theater nerds, improv enthusiasts, fellow storytellers, and absolute noobs who are just curious about role playing. Sessions are often filled with laughter but players can also expect to experience some drama when it comes to narrative beats. Players who love to role play, like to solve problems by thinking outside the box, and aren't afraid to get into some shenanigans will enjoy games with me. The vibes at my table vary from cozy and whimsical to dramatic and tense depending on what the story and characters are doing at the time. I supplement the vibes with interesting visuals, relevant audio, and immersive role playing. I strive to create a safe and welcoming atmosphere for players of all walks of life. My table is a great space for neurodivergent players, LGBTQ+ players, and new players who aren't sure where they fit in the TTRPG world. I practice skills to foster a supportive environment and will not tolerate hate in any form. I am dedicated to continuously learning from my players about what makes games accessible and enjoyable for all.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

uses their character's abilities or items in a way that is creative or makes choices that are unique and interesting. I want to be surprised by my players as often as possible, so don't be afraid to try something crazy.

My perfect party mix is

chaos gremlins and no one else.

My table is not the place for...

players looking for combat heavy dungeon crawls with little attention paid to character backstory or world-building. My table caters to the story and character driven drama, so players looking for crunchy mechanics will probably be disappointed.