GM Manny
he/they
5.0
(49)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About GM Manny
Hey everyone, I'm Manny. I’ve been obsessed with tabletop RPGs since the mid-1990s and I still love this hobby just as much now as I did back then. Outside of GMing and playing TTRPGs, I’m usually at concerts, playing board games, getting lost in strategy games and RPGs, camping, traveling, trying good food, wandering through museums and aquariums, or playing with my two cats. As a GM, I lean hard into strange mysteries, creepy places, emotional roleplay, and NPCs that stick with people long after the session ends. Some games feel cozy. Some feel awful in the best way possible. Sometimes both happen in the same night. If you like character-driven stories and worlds that react to what you do, you’ll probably fit in just fine at my table. --- What to expect at my table and in the community: • Story-first sessions with a big focus on character growth and roleplay • Fast, cinematic combat that stays tense and easy to picture • A world that reacts to what you say and do • Group storytelling and shared worldbuilding where your choices leave marks behind • A relaxed, inclusive space where people can show up as themselves • $5 community one-shots for active members that mix players from different campaigns together • Community hangouts outside the games too: video game streams, board game nights, watch parties, and more! So pull up a virtual chair and let’s tell some stories together!
At a glance
3 years on StartPlaying
467 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Voices, Storytelling
$25 per session
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
Featured Prompts
People are always surprised when I tell them
I am a successful full-time professional dungeon master! People honestly cannot believe it most of the time. Hell, I can't believe it either!
When I'm not running games I'm...
-Playing Video Games -Playing Board Games -Attending Concerts -Hiking/Camping -Going to Museums/Aquariums/Zoos -Dining at various styles of restaurants -Hanging out with my cat -Drawing and painting -Watching horror flicks -Going to an arcade -Surfing or Swimming at the beach
How GM Manny runs games
• Story comes first Choices matter. Actions leave marks. The world pushes back. • Character-focused play I like messy characters with flaws, history, and strong connections to the group. • Built around the party Modules change. Homebrew changes. The story shifts around what your group cares about. • Shared worldbuilding Backstories matter here. Player ideas become part of the setting. • Open and welcoming tables Queer, trans, neurodivergent, BIPOC, and disabled players are welcome here. No hate tolerated. • Memorable NPCs Friends, rivals, creeps, disasters, mentors. People you will probably quote later. • Everyone gets spotlight time Big moments. quiet moments. dumb moments. Everybody gets room to play. • New player friendly Happy to teach rules, answer questions, and help people settle in. • Fun matters Some sessions get emotional. Some get chaotic. Usually both. • Always working on the craft I keep learning new tools, rules, and ways to run stronger sessions.
Featured Prompts
My games focus on...
My games focus on in-depth roleplay, cinematic combat, collaborative storytelling/worldbuilding, & character development. The world responds to you and your party members' choices, the NPCs always feel real, the setting is filled with wonder, the stories have twists, & the experience is immersive!
When it comes to voices
I can and oftentimes do a ton of them! I intentionally use voice acting to make roleplaying scenes with NPCs more immersive. However, I also believe that roleplaying isn't necessarily dependent on voice acting, and that some of the best role-players I've played with don't use them.
GM Manny's ideal table
I prefer to play with people that are accepting of others in a myriad of ways, collaborative in the way they tell stories, cooperative in the methods in which they pursue in-game goals, and friendly in the way that they conduct themselves out of character.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
Makes an effort to include others at the table in scenes where they may be getting talked over, or overshadowed in some way! It's so incredibly helpful for me as the GM.
I think it's a red flag when players...
Talk over others during their turns in combat, telling them what to do, instead of letting them make their own decisions.
My table is not the place for...
TRASH individuals (Transphobic, Racist, Ableist, Sexist, Homophobic)
GM Manny's Preferences
Systems
Platforms
Game Mechanics
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Dungeon Crawl
Rules as Written (RaW)
Sandbox / Open World
Hexcrawl / Exploration