Maeceus

he/him

5.0

(4)

Timezone

Europe/london

Language

English

About Maeceus

Hi there! I’m Malcolm, an American-accented half-Brit living in the UK, and I’ve been running tabletop RPGs for over a decade. I actually started GMing before I ever played... worldbuilding and storytelling hooked me early and never let go. I’ve run and played across a wide range of systems. On the D&D side, I’ve helmed Lost Mine of Phandelver (expanded with a homebrew postgame), Curse of Strahd (also expanded with original material), and a custom Eberron campaign blending open-world exploration with elements from classic 3.5e modules. In Pathfinder 2e, I’ve run The Fall of Plaguestone and Age of Ashes (both also reflavored in the Eberron Setting, using optional Pathfinder2e suppliments for the setting), and several homebrew campaigns that emphasize character-driven narratives and player choice. I’ve also built and GMed a Savage Worlds Adventure Edition sci-fi setting that I plan to adapt into a future Starfinder 2e campaign. As a player, I’ve been part of countless one-shots and half a dozen long-term D&D campaigns. I’m currently in a four-year run of The Enemy Within for Warhammer Fantasy 4e, using enhanced house rules for deeper roleplay and tactics. My GMing style is roleplay-heavy, story-focused, and high-energy, balancing immersive worldbuilding with fair but meaningful challenge. My favorite systems include D&D 5e/5.5e, Pathfinder 2e, Starfinder 2e, SWADE, Warhammer Fantasy 4e, and I'm excited to get into Starfinder 2e. I can’t wait to bring those worlds to life for new adventurers on StartPlaying!

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Teacher

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I started GMing because I was shy but wanted to play TTRPGs. Running games let people come to me instead... and it worked! A decade later, I’ve built worlds, made amazing friends, and found my confidence, both behind the screen and in front of it. Now I hope to bring that magic to you all as well.

My favorite shows/movies are

I love fantasy and sci-fi epics... stories with vast worlds, history, mystery, and power struggles. Tales where a handful of nobodies rise to shape the fate of entire worlds, and the adventure stays with you long after the credits roll.

My favorite system of all Time is

My favorite system of all time is Pathfinder 2e. I started in 5e, but soon wanted more than “flavor” choices. Pathfinder doesn’t just give you options... it dares you to make them. Some call it choice paralysis; I call it creative freedom.

How Maeceus runs games

My games focus on story, character, and consequence. I run worlds that feel alive... places where your choices shape the story and your victories mean something. I love bringing cinematic energy to the table: vivid descriptions, character voices, ambient sound, and emotional storytelling that makes every session feel like part of a larger tale. Roleplay comes first. I want players who enjoy getting into character, forming bonds, and making decisions that matter, whether that’s in the heat of battle or over ale in a tavern. I adapt to your playstyle... quiet introspection, bold heroics, or dark moral choices all have a home at my table. Combat is challenging but fair. Expect tactical encounters where teamwork, planning, and creativity shine. I’m not here to punish you for no reason, but danger is real, and triumph feels better when it’s earned. If you poke the dragon, it will probably poke back a lot harder. But if you outwit it or survive, you’ll have a story worth bragging about. I always check in about comfort levels, language, and tone before we begin. I favor mature storytelling, gritty, emotional, and occasionally dark, but never at the expense of player safety or fun. Will include a check-in system should content come up in play that anyone at the table is uncomfortable with, typically referred to as 'Veils and Lines'. Above all, I want my players to leave each session grinning, shaken, or inspired, thinking: “I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

Featured Prompts

My games focus on...

My games focus on deep, interconnected stories where your choices matter. Follow a rumor, and it might lead to an unplanned quest on another continent. Ignore it, and you may face the ripple effects twenty sessions later... when it’s far too late to undo them.

Rules are...

Rules are important. They keep the game fair. But there’s always room for the Rule of Cool. Just because you can’t normally leap off a wall, dagger in both hands, driving it point down into the boss as you fall, doesn’t mean I won’t reward the creativity and risk of trying it.

When it comes to voices

I’ve used voice acting for years in my games, for both PCs and NPCs. It brings characters to life in ways the words on their own can’t. I love using distinct voices, and encourage players to join in the fun... but I will never require it. Comfort always comes before performance.

Maeceus's ideal table

My table is built around shared fun. You’re not just here for your own story... you’re here to enjoy and uplift each other’s. I’ll work with every player to expand their character’s backstory and find ways to weave it naturally into the campaign. Everyone deserves time in the spotlight. Some players are naturally talkative, others more quiet, and that’s okay. If I notice someone getting overshadowed, I’ll draw them in; if you prefer to hang back, just let me know and I’ll adjust. The goal is simple: a table where everyone feels seen, heard, and part of something unforgettable.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

I love it when players get excited about the story... sharing theories on Discord, guessing what’s coming next, and building off each other’s ideas. Even better is when that energy spills into creativity: custom spell words, rich backstories, and perfect character art.

I think metagaming...

I think metagaming ruins the fun. Embrace bad choices! Maybe your hero attacks an ally who startled them on the stairs, or gives in when mind-controlled. Sometimes, a chest isn’t a mimic. The best stories come from imperfect decisions that feel real to your character.

I think min/maxing...

I think min/maxing is fine... up to a point. If it starts overshadowing others or breaking the game’s balance, it’s time to rein it in. I know some combos are famously strong, and I won’t ban them, but I also won’t balance encounters around needing them, so there's not really a reason to min/max.