Tommy Z

he/him

5.0

(7)

Timezone

America/new York

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Queer

Teacher/Educator

Game Designer

About Tommy Z

DMV-based game master who likes a good balance of combat, puzzles, social play, and more. Game mastering since 2010, including a paid freelance position at Gamers Corps. Mostly running Pathfinder 2e but occasionally Pathfinder 1e, World of Darkness, Fate Core System, and others. Wrote the Spark of Genius RPG, if you're into near-future sci-fi. I primarily run on Roll20 but I'm learning Foundry VTT. I will NEVER use AI in games.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

2 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Teacher

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I like showing people a fun time (like hosting a party), creating interesting challenges, and teaching people how to play.

My favorite books are

American Gods, the early Dresden Files series, and the Circle of Magic series.

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

Studying game design, going for long walks with my dog Strudel, and advocating for human rights.

How Tommy Z runs games

I run games with a mix of tactical combat, role play, puzzles, social intrigue, and more. I stick to middle-of-the-road difficulty unless there's a lot of new players who are still learning to play or experienced players who want a challenge. I stick the rules generally but occasionally have a house rule that I'll let you know about in session zero. If something is killing the fun, we can change it as necessary. Happy to teach new players, run adventures customized for the party (so you can really focus on your collective story), and run for smaller groups (including solo adventures of 1 player). I will NEVER use AI in games.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

trying to find the answer within 2-3 minutes, but if I can't then making a temporary ruling until we confirm what the answer is.

My games focus on...

themes based on the story arc, what the players want, and what is an appropriate challenge for the game at that point.

When it comes to voices

I'm no Matt Mercer, but I try to make each NPC distinctive so you know who you're talking to and what their vibe is.

Tommy Z's ideal table

My table is for those who want to have fun playing rpgs, making friends, and telling a fun story together. These are the guiding stars of what we're here to do together and what I use to make and run the game. Players who fit in well at my table engage with the premise and story, work collaboratively with other players, and put in some effort to understand the rules.