The GM Philosopher

he/him

4.8

(6)

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

Identity

Podcaster

About The GM Philosopher

Greetings! I'm a seasoned D&D gamemaster with over 20 years of experience running games. I started in my teenage years running Classic Marvel. Then I ran homebrew Star Wars... then transitioned to homebrew Fantasy, and eventually was gifted Dungeons and Dragons 3e in my early 20s, and I've never looked back! I've run dozens of games over the years, several of them lasting for more than 2 years and running all the way to epic levels. One game saga in particular spanned a decade and was made up of 3 epic level interlocking campaigns. Today, I run D&D 5e/2024 almost exclusively, and I love it. My style is very roleplay heavy. I like to let the player characters push the spotlight and create the story. I believe that my job, as the gamemaster, is to help them tell the epic stories of their characters by filling in the 'pixels of the world' around them. I never approach any story, session, or adventure with a predetermined outcome in my mind, and I believe that this encourages creativity and increases the 'magic' of TTRPGs. I love exploring dark, gritty, and existential themes in my games. I love exploring complex moral and ethical choices, and giving player characters the opportunity to run complex moral characters in a very 'grey' and oftentimes 'terrible' world. I also believe this empowers players to 'shine' brighter as heroes. I'm also a D&D YouTuber. My channel name is 'GM Philosophy,' and the mission of my channel is to empower gamemasters to run better games.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

6 games hosted

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, Inclusive

Average response time: 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

At 15 years old. I logged onto my parents' dial-up internet, found the Classic Marvel Core Rulebook online for free, printed it out, stuck it into plastic sleeves in a binder, and wasted ZERO time recruiting my friends to play games with me. And it hasn't stopped since!

My favorite books are

I've loved so many books. These include: 1. The Emberverse Series — begins with *Dies the Fire — by S. M. Stirling. 2. The Inheritance Cycle — begins with *Eragon — by Christopher Paolini. 3. The Kingkiller Chronicle — begins with *The Name of the Wind — by Patrick Rothfuss

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

1. Intuitive (I pick up on subtle things and run with them). 2. Imaginative (I NEVER expected that to happen!) 3. Dark (OMG... the NPC does WHAT???? *eyes wide with shock)

How The GM Philosopher runs games

I love both combat and roleplay, but my games tend to be a bit 'combat light' and 'roleplay heavy.' I'm definitely not afraid to explore dark, gritty, and existential themes in my games. I love giving player characters the opportunity to explore complex moral dilemmas and roleplay through complicated social and ethical situations. I am also a huge fan of running complex NPCs, animal companions, and sometimes, at higher levels, even sentient weapons. I believe that this adds a lot of fun engagement to the game. I also pride myself on crafting villains that my players LOVE to hate. My villains tend to be very morally grey, compelling characters that actually make a lot of sense, but that simply tend to take things too far. I'm also a very 'sandboxy' GM. I'm not at all afraid of my players going in the direction they desire most, and I never set out with any 'predetermined outcomes' in my mind. I simply start, show the players the pixels of the world, introduce adventure arcs, and let them push the narrative forward in the manner they desire. My games tend to be filled with a lot of blood, gore, violence, and some 'PG-13' level mature content. But there are some things I absolutely DO NOT ever put into or allow in my games. These include sexual violence of any kind (outright banned) and graphic sexual content (we fade to black for such scenes).

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

I deal with rules issues by using common sense. I try to honor the rules as written, but I also weigh player creativity and intent. If something makes the game better and fits the moment, I’ll usually allow it. The goal is to keep things fair, fun, and moving.

If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...

If my games were movies, they'd be directed by the Russo Brothers for the epic scale of Avengers: Endgame, Eric Kripke for the dark grit of The Boys, and the early Game of Thrones team for those grim, high-stakes fantasy vibes. Cinematic, character-driven, and not afraid to get heavy.

My games focus on...

My games focus on the story arc and emotional journey of each individual character. Those arcs—and how they echo, clash, and converge—become the foundation of the collective narrative. I center theme, transformation, and meaning over mechanics or spectacle. The goal is always a story with a soul.

The GM Philosopher's ideal table

My ideal table is made up of players who are present, engaged, and excited to tell a story together. I don’t expect perfection, but I do value preparation. That means showing up on time, staying off your phone, knowing your character’s abilities, and having your combat turns ready before they come around—especially once we hit higher levels. If you can keep your turn under five minutes (unless we’re deep into high-level play), we’ll all have a smoother time. I love players who want to dig into their characters—who think about their backstory, personality, growth, and how they fit into the world. You don’t have to be a professional actor or a master optimizer. Whether you’re here to roleplay hard or swing a big sword, what matters is that you care. That you’re in it. That you want the table to feel alive. Teamwork matters a lot at my table. I’m not into needless party splits, long solo side quests, or characters who refuse to engage with the group. I want players who find creative, in-character reasons to work together—who prioritize the story over individual spotlight. Group cohesion isn’t just a tactical thing, it’s an emotional one. It keeps the session flowing and the story grounded. I also ask that players separate in-game conflict from real-life emotions. It’s okay if your characters argue or clash. That can make for great story moments. But everyone at the table should feel respected, safe, and like they’re part of something collaborative. If you're the type of player who helps elevate others while exploring your own character deeply, you’ll fit right in. And just to be clear—romance is an expected feature at my table. Not everyone has to pursue it, but opportunities for in-game love, connection, and romantic storytelling will be there for anyone who wants them. I love exploring those themes, and I’m always here to collaborate with players to make sure they’re handled in a way that’s fun, respectful, and emotionally rewarding.

Featured Prompts

I am for a vibe that's...

I am for a vibe that’s focused, collaborative, and emotionally rich. We laugh, we go deep, and we stay present in the story. It’s all about respect, immersion, and shared storytelling momentum.

If you're into ___, you're going to love my table

If you're into a GM who sees the kind of story you want to tell with your character—and helps fuel, shape, and empower that journey—you're going to love my table. I care about your themes, your arcs, and the emotional beats that matter to you. I want collaborative storytelling, not just a game.

My table is not the place for...

My table is not the place for players who check out, stir up drama, or treat the story like background noise. If you’re here to argue, hog the spotlight, or ignore the group vibe, this probably isn’t your table. I’m building something meaningful—and that takes buy-in.