Shiv

he/they

5.0

(6)

Timezone

Europe/rome

Language

English

Italian

Identity

Educator

Multi-lingual

No Gen AI

About Shiv

Heyo, I'm Shiv! I've been playing D&D for over a decade now and have DMed regularly since 2018. I have since branched out to other systems, to learn lessons from all of them that i can bring to the table. The main thing I would say about myself is that I tend to really take to heart what my players tell me, and i try to manage tables where everyone knows they have their own say where the story is going. I truly believe that as the GM you should always challenge your players while being their FIRST and BEST fan; because of this difficult balance of challenge and heroism, I tend to check up on my players often as a sort of mini session 0: How's it going? How's your character feeling? Did you like that one side quest? Should we change that backstory of an NPC to maybe connect it to you? These are all questions that are in my mind when preparing a session and beyond. I've had experience as a tutor and teacher so I like to teach new people how to play RPGs together, so I have an easy time explaining the rules and helping players create characters that best fit their ideas.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Inclusive, Beginner Friendly, Knows the Rules

$20 per session

Featured Prompts

I started running games because...

I love using TTRPGs as my creative outlet, and having fun with friends, creating something together at the table is unrivaled!

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

Inclusive Diligent Cooperative

How Shiv runs games

As a GM, I would say my strongest side is my descriptions and immersive high stakes combat. I love to throw a challenge at the players and see them succeed. I want to storytell together and explore a world and see how it reacts to what the players at the table doi. Sometimes some DMs get a bit too stuck up in the rules, and I totally understand, but I always feel free to ask myself "is this servicing the story the Players want to tell at the table?". I come from a decade of experience and research on how to be a better DM and I always try every session to do better than the last. I'm also an avid Worldbuilder, and I always rack my head trying to find a way to fit the player's backstories in the world, or make a new faction / nation / area connected to them.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

talking to my players. Usually I give a ruling and go on, and before next session we can see what to do about that ruling. 99% of issues can be solved by letting the player read aloud their ability and deciding together what makes sense in the moment.

My games focus on...

immersion, improvisation, and the story. I try to keep the players grounded in the setting and challenge them in a way that reminds them the world is alive.

Rules are...

a tool to use to tell and enhance a story, nothing more, nothing less.

Shiv's ideal table

Inclusive, friendly table that can sometimes crack jokes but still keep on rolling with the adventure. I DO NOT CONDONE BIGOTRY IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. If you like to roleplay and immerse yourself in a living world that reacts to you at every move, while still having to eek out every victory then my table is for you. I like to remind my players they are the protagonists and anyone else would probably have failed by now.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

takes initiative describing what they see, and wants to integrate their character into the story in an organic way.

I think metagaming...

is a good thing when done right. What's better than the reveal that the paladin was evil? Knowing they're about to betray you but never know when! OOOOH the AGONY!

My table is not the place for...

bigotry