Rafael Veloz

he/him

5.0

(5)

Timezone

America/new York

Language

English

Identity

Hispanic/Latinx

Neurodivergent

Game Designer

About Rafael Veloz

Hey Gamers, I'm Rafael (you can call me Raf if you join my tables) and I see myself as a very passionate builder of worlds and teller of stories. I am an aspiring game designer/developer for physical and/or digital games and through my tables, I hope I can spark a passion for adventuring and stories similar to - or surpassing - my own. My journey began fairly recent in the history of the hobby, the "great" year of 2021. Well into the COVID-19 Pandemic and my first semester in university, a void of fulfilling creativity and entertainment needed to be filled as I learned to live away from home and all that. Thankfully, D&D 5e has filled that hole and then some and now I am a passionate fan of all things D&D and other TTRPGs like Call of Cthulhu or Kids on Bikes or the Fallout TTRPG.

At a glance

1 year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, World Builder

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

through a mix of stranger things and a random introduction from one of my cousins which led to a deeper introduction from a now close friend. As the COVID-19 pandemic warped the world and isolated many, I found solace in D&D as a means to connect to others and to escape from the distorted world.

People are always surprised when I tell them

I am a second-dan black belt in Taekwondo (the olympic WT style for those familiar with the distinctions in the martial art). The discipline, techniques, and camaraderie fostered through this martial had seamlessly translated into the ttrpg DMing scene.

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

tinkering away with game rules and principle while also studying game design. Originally, my focus was towards videogames but it has since expanded into ttrpgs and videogames. I am still in my infancy as a game developer but I look forward to blooming in that craft.

How Rafael Veloz runs games

I have a flexible narrative style depending on player feedback. If the players want a heavy-roleplay game where there is a complex web of relationships and worldly events, I can oblige. If we want to get some beer and pretzels and crawl through classic dungeons, I am all there as well. My default preference is to have lots of action and interesting characters that doesn't force me to be "plot heavy". I love character voices and definitely try my best with various cultural accents or silly tones.

Featured Prompts

I prep by

careful analysis of the core material (if our campaign from a published campaign) and weigh on the options as default or with a spice of homebrew changes. For intergrating players into a campaign, it takes considerable player-to-DM collaboration and experimentation.

Rules are...

a major focus in my games for they are the foundation of the game's functionality and a great guidance for roleplay. When they become an obstacle for cinema or pile on too much for a scenario, that is when we dampen their importance or change things around.

When it comes to voices

I am no thespian but I certain do my best to demonstrate distinct voices and impressions that are both familiar and foreign to traditional western-fantasy. I approach more distinct accents and tones with care and fun.

Rafael Veloz's ideal table

I like for my tables to be a well-knit collection of creatives aspiring for adventurers and stories through gaming. I've had a mix of more casual tables and tables with true friends. We love to joke about, share our stories together, and bring in many open-minded newcomers to show them the light of D&D and to other ttrpgs from there.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

is open and free from fear to propose unorthodox solutions through either pure imagination or a clever use of established game rules.

I think it's a red flag when players...

try to hog the spotlight, harrass the GM about major rules changes or complicated homebrew, or shut down other players from having their moments in game.

I think min/maxing...

Is a fun pursuit as long as you keep in mind that optimization is for yourself and the table (including the GM). A wholly selfish approach to optimization will not sit well with the table.