NickTheDM
he/him
5.0
(17)
Timezone
Identity
About NickTheDM
Howdy! My name is Nick and I've been rolling dice nearly as long as I could read, so I feel like I can say with confidence that Tabletop RPGs can be some of the most fun experiences to be had with your friends, or to make new ones! I've been running games professionally for about 2.5 years now, but I've also Hosted a podcast, Ran an annual charity drive that has raised over $25000 in its lifetime, and even appeared as a guest on Dragon Talk (Feb 18th 2020) so I can definitely keep up with the folks who have been doing this a bit longer. Outside of D&D, I would love to explore the space of other systems. I've run successful games of Pokemon Tabletop Adventure and Vampire the Masquerade, and dabbled with an assortment of Powered by the Apocalypse games before. If you want to try something new together, I'm more than happy to take a crack at it! If you have an idea, a question, or would like to be provided examples of my GMing style, please contact me through the site and I'll get back to you ASAP. I hope we can tell some memorable stories together!
At a glance
4 years on StartPlaying
476 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Storytelling
Average response time: 24+ hours
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
I’ve always been a storyteller at heart, and it’s just extremely fun to play pretend with friends.
When I'm not running games I'm...
Either working on some ridiculous long term project, or exploring new media to find more ideas. My motto has been “Commit to the bit, or die trying.”
How NickTheDM runs games
For Dungeons & Dragons I am a flexible DM and can run basically anything, though I do have a preference for more Narratively driven campaigns over Combat grinds or Dungeon delves. My favorite thing to do is to take a group of characters and help them make a memorable story together in a world that's perfect for them. TTRPGs are primarily a collaborative storytelling device, and I find that fascinating. I'm a big fan of homebrew settings, and would love to introduce you to one of mine or work together to create a new one! I also believe that the rules of the game are meant to be a jumping off point and not a strict limitation, though any edits should always be discussed with the group. Because of this, I tend not to run as many premade modules, but I've very much enjoyed the ones I have ran. I enjoy running games for folks who already know one another because there's less initial discomfort, but I'm more than capable of bridging that gap myself and have done so dozens of times. If you want examples of my GMing style, check out my youtube link below. For a good snapshot of my style in a long term campaign, I would recommend Land of Life and Story, Episode 8. If you're looking for an example of something a little snappier with a fixed end point, check out The Monstars.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
Trying to find what the actual rules are, but if that’s slow or impractical I usually just rule in the player’s favor and look it up between games.
I prep by
Trying to guess where my players are likely to take the plot and figuring out what lies in that direction. In my downtime, I tend to flesh out the game world as a whole so that I can make it feel like a real place populated by actual people.
My games focus on...
Narrative. Specifically the narrative stories of the player characters. While I’m certainly capable of doing more grindy combat based games, my work shines when it gets to tell a story where everyone is participating.
NickTheDM's ideal table
My table is extremely flexible, I’ll do my darnedest to craft an adventure that is what I think my players would enjoy and appreciate. As long as you are clear and open with me about what you do and don’t like, I’m confident I can make a game you’d have a blast participating in.
Featured Prompts
I am for a vibe that's...
Fun and friendly. I want my games to be a positive experience for every player at every session. Sometimes that means a tense fight to the death against a vile enemy, and other times it means spending a session at a carnival or a dinner party. Depends on who is at the table and what story we tell!
I love it when a player
Surprises me narratively. When someone takes their character in an interesting or dramatic direction, I’m always excited to go on that journey with them, even if it scuttles a chunk of my prep.
My perfect party mix is
Anything where the players aren’t stepping on one-another’s toes. I can easily run for a table of all the same class or clan, but only if that’s what all 5 players *want* to be doing.