Erin (aka TravelNerding)
she/they
5.0
(16)
Timezone
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Identity
About Erin (aka TravelNerding)
My name's Erin, also known as Travel Nerd Erin. I'm a nurse educatorby trade who also has a deep love for storytelling. I've been a GM/storyteller for over 15 years. My deep loves are gothic horror and Asian folklore inspired stories. I've had the opportunity to DM stories of my own making at events like Gen Con and D3 at Sea, and it is an honor to have such a variety of opportunities to facilitate weaving incredible stories with people from all over the world. While D&D tends to be my primary focus as a GM, I also love other systems! I'm particularly interested in Through the Breach, Vampire the Masquerade, and a number of Powered by the Apocalypse games. Exploring diverse settings and systems is a love of mine, and I love to introduce folks to new options in gaming.
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
101 games hosted
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, Inclusive
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
I love telling stories, but I truly thrive off of the collaborative input that TTPRGs offer. No story is ever the same twice, and I get a constant input of inspiration by planning storylines centered around characters written and played by others.
I got started GMing...
by running SciFi LARP style programs for both children and adults. I ran simulators set up like a Star Trek ship's bridge, which included voicing NPCs, using lighting and sound effects, and even writing new storylines.
My favorite books are
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (my all time favorite book) along with a host of YA fantasy books like the Song of Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.
How Erin (aka TravelNerding) runs games
I want to create as immersive an experience as possible where players can truly feel that they get to become their characters during the game. I love using visuals like character portraits and maps alongside detailed narrative descriptions. I also utilize sound effects and music where possible to increase the level of immersion and am known for plenty having an array of NPC voices as my disposal. My games focus heavily on roleplay, centering around character actions and decisions (though I do love a healthy dose of what are hopefully interesting and challenging combat in systems like D&D that are built for it). I believe that players should feel that their characters are the ones driving the story and their decisions matter. My core style as a DM is that character actions should matter and drive the story, character development takes front and center, and success in a game looks like creating a satisfying and immersive story supported by the system and mechanics.
Featured Prompts
I prep by
crafting the world and knowing the motives and goals of my NPCs. I know what is happening in the world and with the NPCs, allowing me to react to the player characters' choices. I thrive in the chaos of improv at the table.
My games focus on...
detailed narratives that are driven by character choices. Despite the fact I run largely the same module across the board, my games are all widely different because I want player characters to take the driver's seat.
When it comes to voices
I am constantly learning and practicing new accents. I'm no voice actor, but I love the immersion that being able to do different voices gives to the narrative and the life it gives to characters. I'm good at the silly voices, though.
Erin (aka TravelNerding)'s ideal table
I want my tables first and foremost to be a safe space - especially to women, POC, and the LGBTQ+ community. I expect my players to have buy in and come ready to engage not only, with the world and the story, but with each other. TTRPGs are a collaborative experience, and I want each player to have their moments to succeed and shine, and I expect my players to hold space for both themselves and for each other. My games focus on character driven narratives, and I firmly believe that you get out of a game what you put into it.
Featured Prompts
I think it's a red flag when players...
try to steal every moment for themself. A good player chooses their moments and watches for chances to give a moment to others at the table.
I think metagaming...
can have it's place when it comes to trying to move a story forward, but I will always be the first to warn my players that I rarely utilize a RAW stat block.
My table is not the place for...
sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, or any other kind of bigotry and harassment - in or out of character.
Erin (aka TravelNerding)'s Preferences
Systems