Keith (aka Maestoso/The Old Bard)
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About Keith (aka Maestoso/The Old Bard)
I’m Keith Richie, the creative force behind Other Worlds Than These — a universe where music, stories, and adventures collide. For decades I’ve been a composer and sonic storyteller, crafting immersive soundscapes inspired by science fiction, fantasy, and myth. My music has been compared to Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, and Hans Zimmer, and now I’m bringing that same cinematic atmosphere to the tabletop. I’ve been running TTRPGs for about three years, with a focus on Dungeons & Dragons 5E. While my GM journey is still new compared to my musical career, my lifelong background in storytelling and composition lets me create immersive worlds where players feel like they’re stepping into a living soundtrack. As a GM, I focus on story-driven adventures, atmospheric immersion, and player agency. Rules are respected, but the story and your character moments come first. Every session is infused with cinematic soundscapes and narrative depth to make it unforgettable. Currently, I’m running my original adventure, Runes of Ruin: Secrets of the Forgotten Vault — a homebrew one-shot that typically spans 1–3 sessions, depending on how far the characters advance. Players explore ancient elemental vaults filled with danger, mystery, and lore. New players are welcome, and experienced adventurers will find unique challenges beyond the typical dungeon crawl. At my table, everyone’s voice matters, everyone gets spotlight time, and the dice always serve the story.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
because I love the dance between story and spontaneity—how every player choice reshapes the world in unexpected ways. My favorite sessions are when creativity sparks both ways, and we end up telling a story none of us saw coming.
People are always surprised when I tell them
that beneath all the music, maps, and monsters, I’m just a storyteller who loves creating emotional connections through sound and imagination.
When I'm not running games I'm...
composing cinematic electronic music, designing new TTRPG worlds, or producing cross-media stories through my creative studio, Other Worlds Than These—where music, myth, and imagination intertwine to inspire adventures across every realm.
How Keith (aka Maestoso/The Old Bard) runs games
My games are story-first, with a focus on immersion and collaboration. I love weaving player backstories into the adventure so that every choice feels meaningful and connected to your character’s journey. Roleplay-Heavy: I like to encourage players to step into their characters and interact with the world as if they’re truly there. NPCs have personalities, secrets, and motivations that evolve based on how you engage with them. Balanced Combat: When battles come, they’re tactical and challenging without bogging down the story. Combat isn’t filler — it’s an extension of the narrative, where choices matter and creativity is rewarded. My Elemental Vaults one shot requires lots of thinking in order to figure out the puzzles presented. Cinematic Atmosphere: As a composer, I bring custom music and curated soundscapes into every session. Expect an experience that feels like you’re adventuring inside a film score. Immersive Worlds: I build detailed, living environments filled with lore, mystery, puzzles and consequences. I like to see how players think, and adapt the session accordingly. Player-Focused: Every player deserves spotlight moments. My table is welcoming to both new and veteran adventurers, with safety tools in place to ensure everyone feels comfortable and heard. If you’re looking for a game where story, atmosphere, and collaboration drive the adventure — and where the dice serve the drama — you’ll feel right at home at my table.
Featured Prompts
If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...
If my games were movies, they’d be directed by John Carpenter, Steven Spielberg, or Christopher Nolan—equal parts eerie atmosphere, emotional storytelling, and mind-bending twists. Expect tension, wonder, and those unforgettable moments that stick long after the credits roll.
I prep by
I prep by keeping things light but focused. You can plan for days, but one unexpected player choice can rewrite everything. I come prepared with the world, the tone, and the tools I need—but I stay flexible enough to follow wherever the story leads.
Rules are...
Rules are the framework, not the focus. I use them to support story, pacing, and creativity—not to restrict them. When the dice roll and the action flows, I’ll always favor what keeps players engaged and the narrative exciting over strict technicality.
Keith (aka Maestoso/The Old Bard)'s ideal table
My table feels like stepping into a living soundtrack—cinematic, emotional, and unpredictable. I welcome players who love immersive worlds, deep choices, and music-driven storytelling, where every roll can shift the rhythm of fate and reveal new layers of the narrative.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
I love it when a player takes a wild idea and runs with it—like turning a bag of flour into a flash bomb or leaping onto a sandworm yelling, “I am the Kwisatz Haderach!” Those unexpected sparks of creativity are what make every story unforgettable.
I think metagaming...
I think metagaming pulls players out of the story. The best moments come when you think as your character, not for them. A new adventurer might not even know what a goblin is—so I track what your character knows, not what you know.
My table is not the place for...
My table isn’t the place for rules lawyers or anyone hung up on perfection. I value the rule of cool—fun, story, and flow come first. I don’t have every rule memorized (though I try), but I’ll always choose what makes the game more exciting over what slows it down.
Keith (aka Maestoso/The Old Bard)'s Preferences
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