Kyle
he/him
5.0
(2)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Kyle
I've been playing D&D since long before D&D was cool. I got my start in the late 70s with the Basic box set, which at that time included module B1, In Search of the Unknown. I prefer to DM and have run every version of D&D since Basic/AD&D. I mostly run 5E games but also enjoy ShadowDark. My longest-running D&D campaign, set in the World of Greyhawk, has been running for 10 years now and is still going strong. I try to combine the best of Old School and Modern in my games, from dungeon crawling to diversity and inclusion.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Teacher, Creativity
Featured Prompts
My favorite books are
Ooh, so many. The Gormenghast books, by Mervyn Peake. The ghost stories of M.R. James. The Willows, by Algernon Blackwood. The Dune books, by Frank Herbert. I also love nonfiction books, especially science, nature, and environmental/justice.
My favorite system of all Time is
Dungeons & Dragons, in all its incarnations. I've run/played them all. Which is also why I love ShadowDark; to me, SD combines the best of Old School and Modern.
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
From my awesome 10-yr+ gamers: Deanna (Bard PC): Authentic. Creative. Believable. Jason (Druid PC): Creative. Flexible. Challenging. Kari (Ranger PC): Narrative. Creative. Engaging.
How Kyle runs games
I try to combine the best of Old School and Modern in my games, from dungeon crawling to diversity and inclusion. To me, the most important thing is for ALL my players to have fun. I tailor my games to many different playing styles and preferences. It's all about collaborative storytelling.
Featured Prompts
My favorite trope is...
Since I got my start with the OS Dungeon Crawl "In Search of the Unknown," I still have a soft spot for dungeon crawls. But I have seen many improvements on OS in my almost 50 years of DMing, and I try to incorporate them all in my games. So, my favorite trope is where my loves meet my players!
My games focus on...
That collaborative storytelling "sweet spot" where my player wants and expectations meet my DM style and game strengths! I love old-school dungeon crawls, modern Western Marches campaigns, political intrigue ... I love it all (except for railroading or pure hack & slash).
Rules are...
A way of meeting player expectations for collaborative storytelling as well as a way to facilitate a broader shared gaming experience (i.e., making it easier to change gaming tables). But rules should not be (too) rigid. They should facilitate player fun and engagement, not limit it.
Kyle's ideal table
My tables are diverse and inclusive. All are welcome, so long as you play nice and well with others. My players are collaborative. They work with other players and the DM to ensure fun for all. I have found that, in diverse and inclusive tables with committed and collaborative players, "The whole exceeds the sum of the parts."
Featured Prompts
I am for a vibe that's...
Entertaining to all and engaging to each player. I'm continually striving to improve my DM style with proactive gaming, engaging PC backstories, and ensuring that no player is ignored or overlooked.
I love it when a player
Surprises me! Some of our most fun gaming moments have occurred when my players have "ruined" my best-laid plans and gone off-script (and off map). Sometimes, "Evening at the Improv" is better than following a script.
I think metagaming...
Has its place, but I also will limit metagaming when it detracts from the "here and now" gaming moment. For example, if the PCs are surprised, I might limit player response times and intra-party communication. But when the round timer isn't running, metagaming can actually enhance player fun.
Kyle's Preferences
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