Danielle
she/they
5.0
(4)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Danielle
TTRPGs changed my life for the better, and it's an honor to share a table with you! As a "forever GM" of systems like Powered by the Apocalypse, Into the Odd, and 5(.5) D&D, I firmly believe games help us communicate better, live more fully, and generate joy and community. My play style is flexible and highly improvisational, focusing on character motivations and narrative arcs that help us examine ourselves and feel braver (at the table and in the real world). Come play at my table if you're... 🐣 a beginner who doesn't know how to get started but has a twinkle in their eye 🏆 a well-seasoned player who approaches each session with curiosity and humility as well as confidence and vulnerability 👀 a parent who wants to learn more about what their kids are playing 🪄 a Dimension 20, Critical Role, Adventure Zone etc fan who is ready to put their extensive knowledge to the test
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Storytelling, Rule of Cool
$20 per session
Featured Prompts
I started running games because...
I wanted to play more table top than what was offered to me. Running my own games not only allowed me to play with more frequency, but also helped create new tables and spaces for more people (especially newcomers) to integrate TTRPG play into their own routines and lives.
My favorite shows/movies are
Shows: The Wire, Sharp Objects, The Good Place, Scavengers Reign Love Death & Robots, Killing Eve, Fleabag, Pen15, The Bear, Fringe Movies: Arrival, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Boy and the Heron, Anora, But I’m a Cheerleader, Akira, Mad Max: Fury Road, Parasite, Perfect Days
When I'm not running games I'm...
walking with my dog around the neighborhood park, watching lots of movies at small local theaters, hosting dinner parties with friends, and ruminating on and prepping for the games that I am running.
How Danielle runs games
If I am your DM, you should expect an emphasis on generative and collaborative roleplaying with fully-dimensional characters. I encourage creative problem solving (maybe a persuasive argument is mightier than a sword or spell), and enjoy games that celebrate characters' different strengths, motivations, skills... and senses of humor. In a session with me, I almost always include vibrant environments, engaging NPCs with daunting quests and motives, and (in longer campaigns) the open worlds that make TTRPGs so magical. Often TTRPGs aren't about winning or losing—but we do win if we all have fun, and we do *lose* if we break trust. As a GM, I hope players work with me to communicate proactively, come prepared to embody their characters, and assume good intentions. Together, we can tell a story that is memorable, enjoyable, and unlike any other. I especially celebrate and welcome players who identify as LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, and/or BIPOC. Diversity and inclusivity are core values of mine, which I hope to bring to the world of TTRPGs.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
assuming good intentions! I'll check the rulebook to see if I am mistaken (or if someone else is). If the interpretation is unclear, I'll weigh the "rule of cool" and the long term effects. I'm overall very flexible, but expect my tablemates to accept the GM judgment at the end of the day.
I prep by
reviewing what my players' characters growth trajectories are (what do they want, are they progressing, etc) and then building a tentpole outline that identifies potential sequential scenarios they could encounter. I prep to make sure your character has appropriate challenges to scale!
My favorite trope is...
when a party adopts a lil random guy who was definitely created on the spot... but then inevitably becomes an integral part of the story.
Danielle's ideal table
My TTRPG table is like my dinner table. Everyone is expected to share and not "overeat" or steal the spotlight. Folks will have a good time the more they contribute to the "meal," by showing up authentically and prepared. Players who enjoy my DM style tend to be open-hearted, playful, curious, and silly—without abandoning the real stakes that make TTRPGs special. I enjoy players who help each other out in learning rules, and who are deeply and consistently embodying their characters. I especially love playing with people who know that TTRPGs are a great way to build social skills, communication skills, empathy, and creativity. In real life, my tables are covered in snacks, dice trays, dry erase markers, bluetooth speakers, miscellaneous minis, seltzer waters and Diet Cokes.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
speaks directly to another player character instead of having every interaction filtered through the GM. It makes my heart swell when characters dialogue with each other and feel immersed in the world. (And it allows me a breather to check my notes!)
I think min/maxing...
is very fun, and makes for brilliant and flawed characters. It feels great when a max skill crushes the competition, and I think it makes for great storytelling when there's a "dump stat" that is not as powerful. How can we use the character's backstory to explain why that stat so low?
My table is not the place for...
lone wolves with no room for growth; capital E Evil characters who work in direct opposition to the party; people who want to use TTRPGs to live out violent fantasies; players who cannot extend the "golden rule" to treat others as we wish to be treated to the other people at the table.
Danielle's Preferences
Systems
Game Mechanics