Manu
he/him
5.0
(73)
Timezone
Language
About Manu
🎲 Hi, I'm Manu! I'm a professional Game Master with over 350 sessions hosted on StartPlaying, a 5 star rating, and more than 65 player reviews. What I enjoy most about tabletop RPGs is watching players become part of a living world, making their own decisions, pursuing their ambitions, and leaving a lasting mark on the story. I specialize in open world campaigns with meaningful choices, memorable characters, political intrigue, exploration, and challenging tactical encounters. Whether you're exploring Exandria, navigating the politics of Westeros, or discovering an entirely different universe, your character has the freedom to shape their own adventure. 🗺️ I put considerable effort into preparing custom maps, artwork, interactive environments, and encounters that give players plenty of opportunities to experiment, investigate, and find creative solutions. 🎭 I particularly enjoy long campaigns where characters grow, relationships develop, and the world changes in response to the party's actions. My tables are relaxed, friendly, and welcoming to both newcomers and experienced players. If one of my adventures catches your interest, feel free to join us or send me a message. I'd be happy to have you at the table! 🌐 playwithmanu.com
At a glance
2 years on StartPlaying
359 games hosted
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, Beginner Friendly
$90 per session
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
I enjoy creating worlds and seeing what happens when players are given the freedom to explore them. Some of my favorite moments come from unexpected decisions that take the story somewhere I did not anticipated and I'm allowed to build on players idea so that we tell the story together.
I got started GMing...
I started DMing because I loved the idea that a group of people could sit around a table with nothing but their imagination and create a story none of them could have written alone. That freedom to build something together, surprise each other, and turn a simple game into shared memories is what mad
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
Creative, welcoming, and flexible. I enjoy giving players the freedom to shape their own stories, making everyone feel comfortable at the table, and adapting to whatever unexpected ideas the group comes up with.
How Manu runs games
How I Run My Games I enjoy giving players the freedom to explore, make decisions, and approach situations in their own way. My campaigns are usually open world, with plenty of opportunities to follow personal goals, develop relationships, and discover stories beyond the main plot. I prepare detailed locations, characters, encounters, and maps, but I also enjoy improvising when players come up with unexpected ideas. The world continues to evolve as the campaign progresses, and I try to make the consequences of your actions feel consistent and believable. Roleplay is an important part of my games. NPCs have their own personalities, motivations, and interests, and I enjoy seeing how relationships develop over time. Combat is tactical and can be challenging, with opportunities to use the environment, positioning, and creative solutions. I like keeping sessions relaxed and friendly. Players have room to joke around, discuss their plans, and enjoy the company of the group. I also make sure everyone has opportunities to participate and contribute to the story. I welcome different levels of experience and I'm happy to explain rules, help with character creation, and introduce new players to the campaign. My goal is to create a table where people look forward to returning every week.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
Talking to the group and trying to be as transparent and possible and I ask all my players to do the same. Good communication is what keeps a group together for long campaings and enjoyable stories.
My games focus on...
🎭 Meaningful roleplay ⚔️ Tactical combat 🗺️ Exploration 📖 Storytelling with lasting consequences ✨ Player agency above all
Rules are...
📚 RAW first, flexible when it improves the story, pacing, and everyone's fun.
Manu's ideal table
A relaxed and friendly group where everyone feels welcome and comfortable. Players who enjoy sharing a story, respect each other, and have fun together without taking things too seriously. I want my table to feel like a group of friends getting together for a great evening of gaming.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
Takes initiative, engages with the world, develops their character, and creates unforgettable moments for the whole table.
I think metagaming...
We usually discuss metagaming and other expectations during Session Zero. I'm generally tolerant of it unless it becomes disruptive to the game or affects the table's immersion.
I think min/maxing...
Optimized characters are welcome as long as they can enjoy the story as well as the mechanics tigether with the rest of the group.
Manu's Preferences
Systems
Game Mechanics