Nick Mac

he/him

5.0

(3)

Timezone

Asia/shanghai

Language

English

Identity

Neurodivergent

Educator

Multi-lingual

No Gen AI

Parent

About Nick Mac

I'm Nick! I'm originally from the US, but I've lived and worked in China for about a decade. I love tabletop games in all shapes and sizes, and I've been playing and GMing for about 20 years. After years of playing D&D 3.5 and Pathfinder 1E and some time away from the table in college, I reconnected with the game through 5th Edition in 2017. Since then, I've pivoted into a constellation of new systems like Shadowdark, Dolmenwood, Mothership, Mythic Bastionland, and Legend in the Mist. These games reminded me of learning to play at twelve around my friend's kitchen table, or huddled late at night in bed, poring over a rulebook and dreaming of adventures. Now, those systems inform much of the way I run games. I split my time between old-school dungeon crawlers (like Shadowdark and Knave), rules-light, flavor-heavy systems (like Cairn, Mothership, and Mythic Bastionland) and narrative-first games (like Legend in the Mist and Stonetop.) I'm always looking to try new systems, meet new players, and suit the table to the group playing it. Introducing people to new games, suiting my GMing to diverse playstyles, responding to creativity, and fueling improvisational play are my favorite things to do. My table is LGBTQ+ Safe, Anti-Hate, Beginner-Friendly, and Deadly as Hell. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏴‍☠️ Come roll dice sometime!

At a glance

1 year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Rule of Cool, Inclusive, World Builder

$20 per session

Featured Prompts

My 3 systems I'd bring to a desert island would be

A Land Once Magic, Legend in the Mist, and Mothership

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

big-hearted, dynamic, and collaborative

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

Playing with my son, teaching literature, or cooking up some ramen

How Nick Mac runs games

I run improv-heavy, flavor-rich, human-made games; I bring total commitment to game immersion, but also a streak for gonzo nonsense. At my table, you'll find puzzles, obstacles, and tensions to explore; memorable, tactile NPCs, settings, and landscapes; and worlds to invest in, explore, and shape through your choices. I am very reactive to the people at my table, and I love to spark improvisation and shared worldbuilding. Whenever I prep, I think of a playground. Here, you'll get to explore the edges of your creativity. I've taught high school English and Theatre for years, so I pride myself on being attentive, supportive, and engaging—get ready for wild voices and obscure literary references—but I'm most excited when players get inspired, run with their own ideas, and collaborate to overcome challenges. Newbies are welcome, and veterans too. I play to find out what happens: I adore being surprised, relish emergent narrative, and present stakes-driven, fast-paced combat and juicy roleplay for players to pick up and run with. I run modules new and old, tweaked to taste, as well as original, bespoke stories, and take particular pleasure in matching the game to the people before me.

Featured Prompts

My games focus on...

playing to find out what happens next!

Rules are...

the net across which tennis is played.

When it comes to voices

I cannot be stopped.

Nick Mac's ideal table

I like players who invest in... 1. The world we create together. 2. All the players' characters, including your own. 3. Emergent story, not predetermined arcs. 4. Shared spotlight, shared fun, and collaboration. I'm happiest when my players... 1. Get creative and surprise me. 2. Celebrate and uplift the other players. 3. Let themselves get lost in the world. At my table, we all NEED to... 1. Be generous, honest, respectful, and kind. 3. Follow the fun, even into the monster's jaws.