Rob Duke
he/him
5.0
(36)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Rob Duke
Hi, I’m Rob. I’ve been running tabletop RPGs for more than 17 years and have hosted over 120 games on StartPlaying. What I Run Daggerheart is my current system of choice. I also run Legend in the Mist, OSR games, Tales of the Valiant, and D&D 5e. My games cover a range of fantasy genres, including cozy fantasy, dark fantasy, nobledark, and grimdark. Most of my games take place in Taeval, my system-agnostic fantasy world. A Player’s Guide is available for anyone who wants to explore the setting before joining a game. What to Expect My games are character-driven and roleplay-forward, but they aren’t short on danger. I enjoy complicated relationships, difficult choices, dangerous fights, questionable bargains, and letting player decisions change the direction of the story. New players are welcome. I teach systems through play and provide guidance without turning the session into a lecture. I use Foundry VTT, Zoom, and Discord. My tables are inclusive and collaborative. Everyone is expected to share the spotlight, communicate openly, and treat one another with respect. Adventures by Request Private one-shots and campaigns are available for groups, duos, and individual players. All prices are per player, per session. * One-shots: $20 * Campaigns: $25 * Duos—two players: $25 for one-shots | $30 for campaigns * Duets—one player: $30 for one-shots | $35 for campaigns Custom Adventure Request Form: https://forms.gle/quHRe6qDiGqi2eQc9
At a glance
3 years on StartPlaying
126 games hosted
Highly rated for: Beginner Friendly, Creativity, Inclusive
$25 per session
Average response time: 2 hours
Response rate: 100%
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
Featured Prompts
My favorite books are
The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie. My favorite is Best Served Cold. The Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch. The Lies of Locke Lamora is my favorite in the series. Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
When I'm not running games I'm...
When I’m not running games, I’m usually spending time with my Discord community — helping players build characters, sharing worldbuilding ideas, and planning new adventures together. Outside of gaming, I unwind with manga, anime, and a steady diet of fantasy audiobooks.
How Rob Duke runs games
I prepare situations, not scripts. I bring the world, its characters, and its problems to the table. The players decide how they respond and where the story goes. Character histories, relationships, and goals become part of what happens next. My games are usually roleplay-forward, but not action-light. Depending on the adventure, you can expect dangerous encounters, exploration, political complications, mysteries, and consequences that carry beyond a single session. Games are run through Alchemy or Foundry VTT, depending on the system, with Zoom and Discord for communication. Maps, music, and visual handouts support the game without turning it into a performance. Nobody needs to be a voice actor or expert roleplayer to belong at the table. New players learn through play, with guidance when they need it. Everyone is expected to share the spotlight, communicate openly, and treat the other players with respect.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
If a rules question comes up, I’ll make a call in the moment to keep things moving — usually in the player’s favor. After the session, we’ll confirm the correct interpretation together. Story first, teamwork always.
My games focus on...
The journey of character and growth — how people change when tested, what they cling to, and what they’re willing to become for the sake of others.
Rob Duke's ideal table
My ideal table is made up of players who are curious about the world and about one another’s characters. They make decisions, accept what follows, share the spotlight, and build on each other’s ideas. You don’t need years of experience, perfect system mastery, or a character voice. You do need to be present, communicate openly, and give other players the same space you would like for yourself. There is room at my table for serious character moments, terrible plans, dangerous fights, and laughing together when the dice make everything worse.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
I love it when a player really leans into their character — exploring who they are, what they want, and how they change — while still making space for others to shine.
My table is not the place for...
My table isn’t the place for spotlight-hogging, metagaming, or min-maxing. I care more about good stories than perfect builds — impress me with your character’s heart, not their stats.
Rob Duke's Preferences
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