Suz PhDM
she/they
5.0
(11)
Timezone
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Identity
About Suz PhDM
My partner jokes that becoming a GM my final pokemon form. I started playing TTRPGs in 2017, but has been a lifelong sci-fi and fantasy nerd and actually wrote her doctoral dissertation on TTRPGS. I am a professional GM I bring over 20+ year of acting and improvisation to my GMing and I love teaching folks new games and creating stories that spark their excitement. I'm a huge fan of indie games and loves to introduce new and seasoned players alike to creative one-shots that help folks build confidence around their own ability to role-play and (hopefully) GM. When I'm not rolling dice, I am improviser and ensemble member of Malarkey Comedy. You can usually find me scouting locations for her ongoing four year campaign of Monster of the Week that’s set in an alternative spooky Chicago.
At a glance
2 years on StartPlaying
4 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Storytelling
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
my background as an improviser lets me feel comfortable when I'm behind the screen. I love bouncing off what my players give me and thinking of creative ways to pull players into the game.
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
Flexible, creative, TOO good of a listener. I love to incorporate the decisions my players make into the warp and weft of the game. Every choice has consequences and I love to pay off decisions that players make.
When I'm not running games I'm...
writing about them! I wrote my dissertation on TTRPGs and I love thinking about how the hobby helps us learn more deeply about ourselves!
How Suz PhDM runs games
Let's Tell Incredible Stories Together! My love for indie games along with D&D helps me create atmospheric experiences in any game session. I'm just as comfortable with digging into eerie unreal narratives in a spooky game as I am with a hijinks filled heist in 5e. My love of folklore and local history also comes through especially in Carved in Brindlewood and Vaesen. Truth is almost always stranger than fiction.
Featured Prompts
Rules are...
a great scaffold to help us tell a great story together. I think having a good sandbox to play in helps players work with each other and think creatively about solving problems. They are far less important than finding ways to work together, but sometimes constraints help us be really creative.
Suz PhDM's ideal table
When I run a game, I’m building a space where story and self-discovery meet. I love crafting sessions that are emotionally rich and thematically layered—where players don’t just confront monsters, but wrestle with memory, identity, and moral complexity. Whether it’s a séance in *Brindlewood Bay*, an eldritch reckoning in *Old Gods of Appalachia*, or a mirrored confrontation in *Daggerheart*, I aim for encounters that feel personal, collaborative, and meaningful. I value: * **Narrative depth**—I want every choice to matter and every encounter to carry emotional or ethical weight. * **Collaborative storytelling**—players are co-authors of the world and the tone, not just participants. * **Moral and emotional complexity**—I rarely offer black-and-white answers; instead, I make space for reflection, tension, and growth. * **Thematic cohesion**—I weave in elements from folklore, book references, philosophy, and lived experience to ground the story. * **Safety and clarity**—I use safety tools, session zeros, and clear communication so players can take emotional risks in a supported environment. * **Humor**—no matter how dark or dramatic the story gets, humor is always welcome. I believe laughter builds trust, breaks tension, and reminds us that joy belongs in every story. At my table, I want players to feel seen, challenged, and creatively energized—and to leave the game thinking about it long after the session ends.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
swings for the fences and isn't afraid to fail. It means they trust me as the GM to work with them if the die doesn't tell a story of their glorious success.
My perfect party mix is
players that try to spotlight each other. Finding ways to lift other players up (especially folks who may be quiet) makes for a rock solid table culture.
Suz PhDM's Preferences
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