Lee
she/her
5.0
(47)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Lee
Please come in, have a seat, may I offer you a beverage? Welcome to my table, where the story never goes where anyone intends it to. I am a storyteller first and foremost, and players are the reason for the story. My games are a balance of combat and roleplaying, with a focus on integrating player back stories into the game. The three pillars of a game are encounters, role play, and exploration, and I try to bring a balance of all three to the table. More often than not, improv will take over my creative brain and those are the moments my players tell me are the best ones during the game. I started running games five years ago after I played at a table that left a bad taste in my mouth. And I am not talking about the coffee, it was a rough game. My spouse turned to me and said how surprised they were that I had never run a game, despite playing for over twenty years. A few weeks later, I started running games online for friends and family. I write campaigns, run my favourites, and generally have three or four games running at a time. I didn't know how much I would love sitting behind the screen and watching the players interact with the world I had laid out, but I regret not running games sooner. It's the best seat in the house.
At a glance
3 years on StartPlaying
575 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Inclusive
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
My spouse and I experienced a horrific GM, who admitted using us to write a novel. After we left the table, he turned to me and said, "You've written four novels, you're an amazing storyteller. You should become a game master." The next weekend, I ran my first D&D game and never looked back.
When I'm not running games I'm...
Reading, we have a massive personal library at home. Or I am in the garden, knitting, crocheting, sewing, or playing video games. There are days I wish I had an extra set of hands so I could listen to audiobooks, knit, and play video games all at the same time.
My favorite shows/movies are
Horror movies. I frequently rewatch The Conjuring series and I have been known to play horror movies in the background while doing game prep. I recently downloaded the Final Destination franchise when I had to take a series of flights across the country. I was amused. The person next to me was not.
How Lee runs games
I encourage players to fill out simple, or even complex, back stories so that I can incorporate them into the story arc. I will write in and modify existing story lines so that players can feel their characters are involved. I love a balance of combat and roleplaying, and I have been known to "bend" rules if it would benefit the role playing or the storyline. I prefer to go with the rule of cool because I want to have fun at the table alongside my players. I like to be the game master that says "Yes" instead of "No". There are a lot of aspects of gaming that players want to experience, but most games don't permit them at their table. If a player presents the case of what they want to do, I work with them so that everyone at the table can enjoy the game and they get to play with something they have never been able to previously. I also know my limits and my boundaries and am not afraid of communicating that so the game can continue to run smoothly. I'm the GM that will laugh first, laugh loudest, and still do my best to leave you thinking about the game long after the session had ended. In the two years since I have been running games full time, I have discovered that the best part of the game is what happens when the players cause me to improvise. I want to say "yes, and..." to almost everything, allowing the story to evolve organically. I spend a lot of time working on being better as a game master, either with reading, watching streams of games, playing video games, or learning from the players at my table. Every table is different and has different needs, I like to work with my tables help make sure that their adventure is just that. Theirs.
Featured Prompts
Rules are...
Guidelines. They are an outline to follow to give us structure, but at the end of the day, if you can pitch the concept to me and I think it's cool enough, we will find a way in the rules (even if we have to bend them) to make it happen. The Rule of Cool is the first rule at my table.
I prep by
reading the previous sessions notes, filling out a template that has taken me years to craft and perfect, and then filling in the details of what I think may happen. I over prep. Usually, this involves a horror movie in the background while I contemplate NPCs, places, scenes, and at least one combat
My games focus on...
The story. It's always about the story and the direction that the main characters (the party) are going to take. I will rewrite modules to fit backstories and any curveballs the party might throw my way. I'm just reacting to the decision the characters make, making it fun for them.
Lee's ideal table
My tables accommodate all gaming styles. Want to play a min/maxer? Sure! Want to play a back story heavy character with lots of trauma? Welcome! I promise the emotional scars I leave will be lasting memories. They key is to find a balance that makes everyone happy. If combats turn into lengthy slogs, then a couple of sessions will focus on exploration and story to balance it out. One quiet person at the table? I am always checking in to see how they are doing. I love role players that really want to get into a good story, to see their characters grow and develop organically. This is probably why none of my campaigns are shorter than six months. My average campaign runs 10 months, but I have had level 1 to level 20 campaigns last 18 months. And rarely do I have a campaign not finish. I am the one that NEEDS to know how the story is going to end. So I will do whatever it takes to see the story through.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
Role plays with other players. I get to sit back and watch the bonding, the drama, and the comradery between players unfold.
I think min/maxing...
shows a depth of knowledge that I deeply respect. I find it frustrating to run because it often leaves one player taking very lengthy turns in combat and everyone else getting frustrated that they don't get to have a turn at combat.
If you're into ___, you're going to love my table
Shenanigans. I have tried running serious tables. I try often. But for some reason I get people showing up that want to laugh and escape reality. And I am the first to laugh. Want to steal one of the player's spell books behind their back and hide it somewhere in the haunted house? I'm in!
Lee's Preferences
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