Michael

he/they

4.9

(25)

Timezone

America/new York

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Neurodivergent

About Michael

Hi! I’m Michael — a 30+ year Dungeon Master who loves cinematic storytelling, emotional character arcs, detailed ambiance, and just the right amount of chaos. I bring custom lore, deep worldbuilding, atmospheric music, and player-focused storytelling to every session. My goal is simple: create a space where players feel excited, supported, and completely immersed. Come for the story, stay for the chaos.

At a glance

2 years on StartPlaying

72 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Knows the Rules

Average response time: 6 hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

I began DMing in high school AD&D when our group lost its DM. We each claimed a realm, and I chose Ravenloft. With my love of horror and storytelling, stepping behind the screen felt natural — and I’ve been running games ever since.

The three words my players would use to describe me are...

Cinematic, player-focused, chaotic-good.

When I'm not running games I'm...

Researching lore, building NPCs, tweaking soundtracks, or diving into worldbuilding rabbit holes I absolutely didn’t need to go that deep into.

How Michael runs games

Roleplay: While role-playing isn’t my primary focus, I’m more than happy to match the players' enthusiasm. I make sure to give characters plenty of opportunities to interact with NPCs and shape their own stories through their decisions. I aim for roleplay to make up about 33% of the game, striking a balance between character development and action. Character Voices: I’m not a master of voices, but I’m pretty decent at it! I enjoy using different accents and speech patterns to bring NPCs to life. It helps differentiate characters and adds a bit of extra immersion to the world. Combat: I prefer to stick closely to the rules during combat for a consistent experience. It helps keep things fair and predictable, while still allowing some flexibility for creative player actions within the rules.

Featured Prompts

My games focus on...

High-stakes combat, emotional character moments, tense atmosphere, and just the right amount of chaos and humor.

Rules are...

Rule-of-Cool. If it makes sense and doesn’t break the game, I’m usually in favor.

When it comes to voices

I use them where I can — especially for dramatic or comedic effect — but I’m not auditioning for Critical Role.

Michael's ideal table

I enjoy a table that can make fun of themselves. Once a table (party) can do that, the game turns into a laugh riot. Not to the detriment of the game, but to allow for shenanigans that some people might not being comfortable with doing, normally. That openness between party members can lead to some of the most thoughtful and beautiful roleplay moments.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

Gets emotionally invested, follows their character’s heart, reacts to the music or a custom map, or takes a bold risk that makes the whole table lean forward. Character-driven choices are my favorite moments to build around.

I think min/maxing...

Is totally fine — as long as you’re not overshadowing others. D&D is a cooperative storytelling game, not a competition. Bring the build you love, but bring the heart to go with it.

My table is not the place for...

Mean-spirited play, spotlight hogging, rules-lawyering battles, or anything that makes the table feel unsafe or unwelcome. We use Session Zero, lines and veils, and breaks during intense scenes. Everyone deserves to feel valued, seen, and included.