Matt Ramos
he/him
5.0
(8)
Timezone
Language
About Matt Ramos
I have been playing TTRPGs for about 35 years and running games for over 30 of those, starting with AD&D and dabbling with other systems (GURPS, Robotech, Shadowrun 2E, Pathfinder) before finally coming back to D&D 5E after a hiatus during COVID. I have a regular home game with the same group I've been playing with for nearly 20 years, but I have run games for several different groups during that time. I tend to stick to published material for my games, as I consider myself more of a storyteller than a composer of stories. As an accomplished vocalist, I am also experienced with using my voice as a tool, and I do try whenever possible to give distinct voices to the more significant characters I have to portray. My proudest moment as a GM was when I took the story and events of Baldur's Gate 2 and converted it to a tabletop version for D&D 3.5E as a passion project. That game ran for a little over 2 years, and was a great time for all.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
1 games hosted
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Knows the Rules, Voices
$20 per session
Average response time: 2 hours
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
I love to tell a good story. Having a group who are helping me tell that story makes it all the more fulfilling.
I got started GMing...
...because I wanted to know what it was like to be on the other side of the screen after playing for a few years. I still play from time to time, but GMing is more fulfilling to me. Knowing I have created something that other people enjoy is a great feeling.
When I'm not running games I'm...
...spending time with my family and/or friends, playing video games, singing, or working.
How Matt Ramos runs games
I try to strike a balance between RP and action in my games, as I believe that pacing is very important to keep not only my players engaged, but myself, as well. Combat for me tends to be more on the tactical side for the most part, but there is a time and a place for the theater of the mind when it comes to fantasy fights. Since I tend to stick more with published source material, I also tend to utilize the maps contained therein, though I have been known to source other material when necessary (a random encounter or a written encounter for which there is no map). Roleplay is important to me, and good roleplay should be rewarded. Not every player is going to be able to roleplay a given situation well, though, and I always try to take that into consideration.
Featured Prompts
I prep by
planning what I think will happen and how I would like that to go, and then planning for deviations for that and where to go from there. Can I shoot from the hip? Sure, but any improvisational thinker still started with a plan.
Rules are...
...important, but not set in stone. We're playing a system with rules, but the system, itself, states that they are more intended to be guidelines. If it's cool, and not blatantly ridiculous, I may consider it. Or I may not.
When it comes to voices
I feel like they are one my most important and versatile tools. I don't come up with a specific voice for every NPC, but I do my best to make the ones memorable that need to be.
Matt Ramos's ideal table
My tables tend to be fairly laid back. I want people to have fun. More importantly, I want people to have fun TOGETHER. Divas have little place at my table. If you want to be the center of attention all the time, you will likely be disappointed at one of my games. Of course, there are always times when someone is the current center of attention (for example, the party is letting the bard charm the pants off the person they need something from, or the rogue is off scouting solo), but it's intended to be an overall group effort, in game and out. I'm going to do my best to make sure everyone feels like they had something meaningful to contribute, even if that's just being the party stickjock.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
surprises me. I tend to plan for a lot of contingencies in most of my scenarios, so when a player comes up with a course of action I did not expect to achieve a desired result, it's a great feeling, and I will respect, and often reward, such creative thinking.
My perfect party mix is
just that: a mix. Unorthodox parties tend to come up with more creative approaches and solutions. The party in my current home game is a bard, a druid, a cleric, and an artificer. No one has a strength higher than a 10. It has made for some interesting solutions.
Matt Ramos's Preferences
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