lady_0f_pain (Paul)
he/him
4.9
(12)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About lady_0f_pain (Paul)
Greetings and Welcome! My name is Paul and I want to be your DM! With over 30 years of tabletop gaming experience, I bring decades of storytelling, lore, and game-mastery to every session. I am actively running the D&D 5e (2024) ruleset—and because we are all settling into these updated rules together, my table is an extraordinarily patient, welcoming, and low-pressure space for new and veteran players alike. What to Expect at My Table: Seamless Tech & Tools: We use Discord for clear voice communication and Roll20 as our Virtual Tabletop (including shared access to my digital compendiums for character creation). Visually Rich & Organized Play: As a neurodivergent DM (ADHD), I rely on tight organization, clear visual aids, custom battle maps, and tokens to keep the story moving smoothly. Players often tell me these visuals make a huge difference—even during "Theater of the Mind" encounters! Immersive Storytelling: Expect dedicated prep, engaging tactical encounters, and yes... plenty of character voices! Cooperative Gaming: I welcome anyone—from absolute beginners to seasoned adventurers—who wants to participate in the collaborative, heroic storytelling that D&D is all about. Until then, I return to the shadows...
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
7 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Beginner Friendly, Knows the Rules
$25 per session
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 50%
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
This is my passion. I love storytelling and all the unique connections that can come about from it. Plus it's great to have people remember you through the wonderful adventures you've been on together in your minds.
I got started GMing...
When I was 15 years old my cousin introduced my brother and I to the Basic D&D red books. He gave me the books and I DM'd my first session with my brother playing a cleric. That's how it's been since with me continuing to love DMing and he still loves his support characters, Clerics especially!
When I'm not running games I'm...
I'm almost always prepping new material on Roll20 for future games and I love to play video games as well.
How lady_0f_pain (Paul) runs games
I'm a Forever DM with 32+ years of experience—and honestly, I don't hate it. My baseline philosophy is to run the game Rules-as-Written (RAW) whenever possible. I believe that keeping the "game physics" predictable makes for better, more creative problem-solving. However, I also recognize that D&D 5e (2024) encourages homebrew and the "Rule of Cool," so I remain flexible when it makes the game more epic. I love the many moving parts that go into running this game. While I won't reveal my weaknesses, here is what you can generally expect at my table: Dynamic Combat: I am absolutely blown away by how amazing and tactical combat has become in the new 2024 ruleset, and I am committed to bringing that energy to the table. Expect challenging, thrilling encounters! Meaningful Roleplay: NPCs are great, but time will always be carved out for the player characters to interact with one another and forge those lasting party memories. Consistency: The rules will be applied fairly, and the narrative will make sense. The villains will be terrifying, but ultimately, they are defeatable. Shared Spotlight: Adventure should be fun! I want to help your character shine. Especially in long-term campaigns, I custom-tailor encounters to your heroes so everyone gets their legendary moments. Villainous Motivation: I am quite good at playing Devil's advocate and keeping players highly motivated to seek out and CRUSH my villains. It's a gift, really. (Plus, treasure and XP help!)
Featured Prompts
I prep by
I'm work a lot to add new modules, maps and encounters to my Roll20.net account. I've been a paid member for many years and have quite the collection amassed on there. Additionally, I'm always reading rulebooks and watching YouTube videos for new ideas.
My games focus on...
I like to feel that I'm going on a heroic journey with the players. I want to challenge their characters to grow and celebrate each victory along the way. I tend to focus on how the PCs relate to the story and giving them the chance to feel like heroes in the end!
Rules are...
I feel like the rules of the game create a predictable sense of physics for players and DMs alike. They're necessary but also must remain flexible as circumstances dictate. I tend to play RaW unless otherwise necessary.
lady_0f_pain (Paul)'s ideal table
My Table Style D&D 5e is a cooperative storytelling experience that requires cooperative storytellers. If you genuinely want to learn the rules, be a supportive team player, and embark on grand adventures, you are absolutely welcome at my table! My gaming style is heavily inspired by the classic era of deep, isometric RPGs like Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale. You can expect a finely tuned, highly visual environment where tactical combat, meaningful social interaction, and rich exploration all share the spotlight. If you enjoy behaving like a true hero and want to feel like your choices are making a tangible difference in an epic, living world, then you belong here. (And yes, I do character voices! You are more than welcome to try them out too if you are feeling adventurous, but there is zero pressure.)
Featured Prompts
I think min/maxing...
is intelligence at work. Where there is a collection of rules there will be a mind that is compelled to exploit those rules. When building a character I encourage players to build the one that makes sense for them and sometimes that involves a little min/maxing. Don't worry, you can still die.
My perfect party mix is
Literally the character options produce either a combat-focus, skill-focused, or magic-focused character. The perfect balance usually contains at least one of each type - with each type containing a number of options. Plus, some way of healing the party is needed.
My table is not the place for...
No one PC can be the center of the story in a cooperative experience that involves multiple individuals. So, players that insist on dominating the experience, strong-arming the other players (usually by telling them how to play), or behaving as villains don't belong at my table.