shevek1312

they/them

5.0

(55)

TOP GM

Timezone

America/new York

Identity

Queer

Disabled

Neurodivergent

Voice Actor

About shevek1312

Stay awhile and listen! After a career change, TTRPGs became my new third place - and eventually, my vocation. What grew out of that is a diverse, queer community for folks from all stripes who are looking for connection as much as adventure. What draws people here are politically driven stories where your character has something they deeply want, and a world that makes that want complicated, costly, and worth fighting for. The tension between who you are at the table and who your character is in the world - that gap is where the story lives, and it's what we're all here to find. If that sounds like your kind of table, come on in. Top 1% GM

At a glance

4 years on StartPlaying

1261 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Inclusive

Average response time: 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Top Game Master

One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I've worked a lot of non-traditional jobs, turns out I'm better at being my own boss!

My favorite books are

written by: Ursula K Le Guin S.A. Corey David Graeber Gabrielle Zevin bell hooks

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

wondering what happened to the Dwemer.

How shevek1312 runs games

Here's some common themes for my groups: Roleplay Focus - Players drive the story through meaningful choices in a world that responds to them. Storylines are personal - every character has threads worth pulling, not just the main quest. Content doesn't happen to you - you are the content. Choices, Choices - A wide selection of personally vetted player options, and a table culture that actively encourages you to use them. Spell slots are for spending. Abilities are for using. We've moved well beyond "HP bar goes to zero" as the definition of a good session. Emergent Play - We play to find out. The story isn't pre-written, it emerges from what your characters want, fear, and choose. That uncertainty is the point. Grit. Tactics. - Wily rivals, unique challenges, and interactive environments that make the moments of conflict feel earned. Social Contract ➕ Collaborative storytelling ❌ No PVP (okay maybe a cheeky insight check) ✔️ There's no stupid questions 🛡️ Safe and inclusive tables 🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQIA+ & Neurodivergent Friendly (♾️🦋 GM) VTT Experience + Assets 🧰 Playtested and vetted 3rd party content 📜 Motley maps of every taste 🐉 Much more than bog standard monsters 🎶 Curated playlists and dynamic soundscapes 🛠️ Premium D&D Beyond with all content 🛑 No AI theft machine content Overall Style 🌟 Let's find out WHO your character is 🎞️ Cinematic storytelling 🏰 Responsive worlds 🤝 We're here to tell a story - I'm here to help Community Benefits 🖼️ PC portraits and custom token art 🟪 Your character exists beyond your table - NPCs, legends, and ghosts of past adventures live on across the community's ongoing stories 👥 A community of like-minded adventurers Frequently Asked Questions I'm signing up for a game that takes place today - can I play tonight? I'm not a "right now" GM. I'd like to spend some time getting to know you before bringing you into the community, but I'll have you set up by next session. Can I audit or sit in on a session to see if it's for me? Space at the table belongs to players who've signed up and gone through onboarding - that space matters, and I keep it protected. How much combat can I expect? If that's at the top of your list, this probably isn't your table. Please scroll on. Can my character be evil or difficult to work with? Player chemistry is something I think about carefully when putting a table together - it's not an on-the-fly decision, so the short answer is no. Hey, I have a homebrew thing I REALLY want to play... Nothing personal kid *teleports behind you* - I have years of playtested, well-designed options that I've seen in action. We're covered.

Featured Prompts

I once ran a session...

with a Hamburglar NPC who the party immediately hated. Totally worth it.

Rules are...

good to have and know, but I also know when to bend or break them - especially if they are preventing us from having fun at the table.

When it comes to voices

they're not necessary and don't take the place of a lived in character.

shevek1312's ideal table

Tabletop games are collaborative storytelling - you get out what you put in. We've moved away from hyper-crunchy gameplay. Based on opinions within the server: we're all theatre kids who think winning at D&D means everyone kisses by the end of the adventure - but we know how to emotionally and mechanically terrorize the bad guys (and each other). Our tables actively seek out RP scenes with one another and with NPCs, internal monologues, and out of session banter. Interaction is exposition. Conflict can drive a story, but the relationships are what's at the core of those conflicts. Brennan Lee Mulligan put it well in the dreaded stove interview about Worlds Beyond Number - the argument being that because D&D has combat mechanics, people assume it's destined to tell combat stories. It's worth interrogating. Combat is the least interesting thing to simulate through improvisational storytelling, and handling emotions, relationships, and character development is where the story lies. The stove isn't the food. He's bringing the food. So are we. Playing with emotional intelligence sometimes means giving way for others, sitting in discomfort, or playing outside your comfort zone. That's not a bug - it's the whole point. Read the interview here: https://www.polygon.com/24105875/worlds-beyond-number-narrative-style-adventure/