
Kevin Haulsee(Lighthearter) (he/him)
5.0
(12)
2 years on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Inclusive
About me
I have been a DM for over 15 years, with experience in D&D(3.5e and 5e), FATE, Deadlands, the Star Wars RPG, and plenty of homebrew systems besides. If it can happen at a table, I've probably dealt with it, good or bad. As a DM, I love picking elements out of player backstories and making them play significant roles in the plot of the story we tell as players together. One of the games I remember most fondly was one based around superheroes, where everyone supplied a 3-6 member Rogues' Gallery and thus saved me from having to make basically any villains for the entire campaign, because anything I could want was right there! I'm actively looking to run games in 5e and Deadlands, but could be persuaded to look at settings such as V:TM if there was interest!
GM Style
My style is collaborative: I love picking ideas from player backstories and concepts to rework into my own plots. I tend to enjoy roleplay a bit more than combat, as I'm a Theater of the Mind GM above all(mainly due to having an online group many years before any of us discovered common tools for virtual tabletops LOL) but I love a good fight just as much as anyone. All in all, I'm pretty laid back and just love a good RPG.
Games played
Game platforms used
Kevin Haulsee(Lighthearter)'s Games
Game Master Reviews (12)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Storytelling
Inclusive
I’ve been playing in Kevin’s games for nearly three years now. Due to time zones from 2am to 5am on Monday mornings. Voluntarily. Repeatedly. If that doesn’t tell you something about how good he is as a GM, I don’t know what will. We’ve gone through two full campaigns together—one being the classic Lost Mine of Phandelver, the other a briliant original campaign set in Theros that ran nearly two years. He also ran several one-shots that somehow managed to emotionally compromise me in under four hours. Kevin has this great way of running theater of the mind that actually works. He paints scenes with enough detail to pull you in, but still leaves room for player imagination and chaos. He’s also incredibly good at weaving character backstories and motivations into the game, which means you don’t just play—you end up telling a story with the whole group. Would absolutely recommend playing in one of his games. Sign up, people—I need this next campaign to get rolling. (And if I’m going to keep sacrificing sleep and sanity, it better be worth it. Kevin always is.)
The best GM I've experienced, Kevin is a master storyteller and and unselfish collaborator. Good with beginners and experienced alike, he can help you craft a backstory that fits the campaign and then bring elements of it into the narrative to keep you interested and engaged. You never have to search around for the reason your character would continue on the journey because he's made it matter to them. Don't expect a free emotional ride either. Some of the decisions your character will need to make are just choosing the lesser of two bad choices (looking at you, Kevin, for that Damian ultimatum. hahaha). All that said, it's *collaboration* so your role is equally important. Engage with the world, make relationships with NPCs, and *above all* embrace whatever Kevin tosses at you and your character. You can trust that both of you are in good hands.
Aside from having a knack for storytelling, world building, and characters, Kevin LIVES for backstories. He’ll take your character’s origin and seamlessly weave it into the overarching narrative. Got an arch enemy? You’ll fight them. An old wound? He’ll dive into it and force your character to confront their metaphorical and literal demons. Just an Average Joe who wants to stay that way? No problem. You’ll still be in for a treat.
I’ve had the pleasure of playing DnD with Kevin and I can’t recommend him enough! He brings a perfect balance of structure and freedom to the table, giving us players real agency while keeping the story fun. His creativity in game is fantastic and his ability to improvise turns the smallest moments into unforgettable ones. No matter the role play situation, he knows how to make it land. Kevin creates a space where enjoyment is always the priority. Every session feels like a collaboration guided by someone who loves the game and wants everyone at the table to shine.
What's StartPlaying?
Tabletop Roleplaying Games Run by Game Masters
Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.