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Stephen

Stephen (he/him)

5.0

(5)

3 years on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Inclusive, Creativity, World Builder

About me

I've been DMing various systems for the last 20 years. I believe that the most important aspect of any game is for the characters to be able to affect and be affected by the world. If you choose to play in one of my games, I'll work with you to create a character that is tied to the setting in some way - typically by means of membership of an organisation, or guild giving your PC a unique resource of quests, hints, services and allies to call upon. When I run a purchased adventure I always try to expand upon the options the players have creating other locations and NPCs for the group to explore and use to their advantage to create a more unique experience instead of it feeling like you're just one of millions treading a preprepared path. When I'm running a homebrew campaign, I like to ensure that there is always a lot of plot for the characters to become interested in - local politics/tensions, individual goals from the PCs, requests from allies and a main plot that will extend through the campaign. No one particular 'quest chain' is vital to pursue, as I believe that a fundamental aspect of the game is to be able to choose what ways you want your players to shape the world.

GM Style

I believe that there are 3 core things that a DM must ensure are present for any session to be a success. 1. A safe environment where everyone can feel they can have fun. 2. The opportunity for all the players/characters to get involved. 3. An immersive experience using high quality maps and audio. Aside from this I tend to craft sessions which tend to be narrative heavy with lots of options for memorable roleplaying and some climatic battles. As I always try to ensure there is a lot of different activities for the players to carry out and different ways to achieve their goals the exact balance of RP/Combat and Exploration is largely over to the group. If the group feels like getting themselves into a big messy fight, then why not finally take up the offer from Baronet DuPon and head out to the royal hunting grounds to track down that vicious griffon. If the group is looking for a more RP dedicated session then why not track down the leaders of the royalist rebels and see if you can defuse the political cold war that is brewing in the city. Finally, if you'd prefer a bit of exploration you could try and locate the hidden tower of Alabastor which supposedly sank into the ground when he died 100s of years ago. As a GM I believe my biggest strength is to create engaging plot to entice the characters into so they can feel they are part of a living breathing world. I feel most proud when my players spend time discussing what they believe my NPCs will be doing, and thus how their characters can outwit them.

Game platforms used
Game Master Reviews (5)

Proficiencies

Players say this GM is great at:

Inclusive

Creativity

World Builder

The Storyteller avatar

The Storyteller

Stephen is a great game master. He works with you to create a great story that fits with your character and with the group as a whole!

David avatar

David

Stephen builds deeply interconnected worlds and gives us a ton of freedom to explore and discover the kind of hero we want to be. He finds a nice mix of players that are truly a pleasure to game with and get to know in a relaxed and fun environment.

C avatar

C

This was my first time playing Pathfinder 2e and they made it fun and easy for me to get into the game. I always look forward to our weekly sessions, knowing there will be tons of laughs, great encounters and lots of time for us to role play and enjoy our time together (both in and out of character). He is fair, open to creativity, and really brings the ideal of collaborative storytelling to life every week.

Laurie Athey avatar

Laurie Athey

He GMed a 2 year long PF1E campaign where we played as servants of hell trying to take over a country. I didn't find out until after that he'd never played PF1E before, and you wouldn't have believed it. It was also my first real campaign and he basically got me hooked on TTRPGs, they're now a permanent fixture in my life and the people I met in that group are some of my best friends now. You can't go wrong with him as a GM :)

Steven avatar

Steven

Stephen runs a great game, building off of character backgrounds & ensuring everyone gets a chance to shine. Frequently (in campaigns) checks for feedback to try to ensure the balance is right for everyone.

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