StartPlaying logo
game master profile header image
Michael

Michael (he/him)

5.0

(11)

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, World Builder, Inclusive

About me

My name is Mike and I would love for you to bring your characters to life at my table! As a Game Master with over 20 of experience and a keen interest in learning different systems, I have a firm understanding of what helps make these games work and, most importantly, where to bend those systems to fit YOUR story. I'm very comfortable making adjustments to the world and the playstyle to conform to what my players need; that includes sensitivity discussions, trigger considerations, and reflexive changes for in-the-moment issues. I pride myself on being very chill and adaptable as well as LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC-friendly. I tend to run RP-heavy games- though a good dungeon crawl is always something I am interested in. I enjoy solid backstories and character motivations and I want to build the best world your character can experience. I love to help players integrate themselves into the world- whether that is in Faerun, Eberron, or my own homebrew world. Many of my paid games are Dungeons and Dragons 5E (2014/2024 agnostic) but I have experience in World of Darkness (5E), Mothership, Cyberpunk RED, and an interest in expanding into games like Star Wars: Edge of the Empire, Pathfinder and more.

GM Style

I bring full maps on Roll20, honest attempts at character voicing with deep and interesting roleplay and characterization with evolving character narratives. There is music, there is art and I work with you to help bring your unique character tokens to life. Character stories are considered and incorporated into the game and accounted for in the overarching gameplay. Character concepts will be discussed and explored in a group Discord chat on my server as well as in DMs. Character creation can be done solo or as a group with any character not created before the first session being built at the beginning of Session 1, acting as the groups session zero.

Game platforms used
Social
Game Master Reviews (11)

Proficiencies

Players say this GM is great at:

Creativity

World Builder

Inclusive

chaoticsleepy avatar

chaoticsleepy

After being a player in one of Mike's campaigns for years now, I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a DM for their table! Beyond being highly knowledgeable in all things TTRPG, he has a clear passion for character-driven storytelling and rich worldbuilding that make his games a delight to play in. He's always excited to work with you to bring your character's story to life. Furthermore, he's committed to making sure everyone at his table is not only having fun, but feeling safe and comfortable as well.

Eli's mom avatar

Eli's mom

I have been part of Michael's ongoing homebrew world D&D campaign for years now and I am always amazed with the detail of his world as it is revealed to the characters. I am also very appreciative of the logic of his decision making when we are flying by the seat of our pants and the rules in the books don't quite cover the situation. He's never afraid for one of the players to ask: "can I do this?" For those who are LGBTQ, he does also create a safe space for you to play, and his focus is always on the players having a fun immersive experience. He is also very open and responsive to any concerns or feedback, he is a GM that enjoys being a GM but also enjoys his players having a great time! And he has a wonderful enthusiasm for learning new games and settings if he is not familiar with it. I highly recommend Michael as a GM.

Lamelac avatar

Lamelac

Easy to work with. Open to player feedback. You got something you want to incorporate into your character? He'll help make it work with the parameters of the world you're in.

Amy Meszko avatar

Amy Meszko

Michael actually taught me how to play tabletop games. I'd always been interested, but I had no idea where to start and my social anxiety kept me on the sidelines. When I told him some of my character ideas, I was pretty surprised by the genuine interest he took in translating those ideas into a character that fit the system, but still maintained the original flair I had described. He also presented me with an entire cast of backstory characters that completely fit the vibe I had described, and were so much fun to play with, I was almost sad when our session zero ended. His GM-style is what I'd describe as Firm-Creative. From my experience, he's firm when it comes to the rules of his world and anything he made clear from the outset. He knows the rules of any game he's running and has done the research. It has never come as a surprise when he stated a particular plan of action would not work, because I kind of already knew that, but it was worth a try to ask. He's also firm but kind when it comes to enforcing any rules or boundaries that players have put in place, and he's skilled at conflict resolution. On the Creative side, I have asked to do some wild things in game. Diegetic, perfectly in-character, wild things. Every time I have done this, I can hear the co-conspiratorial tone in his voice as he allows me to roll on it, and I can tell that he's having just as much fun. Even if what I'm doing seems like it's about to derail the story train, he finds a way to incorporate whatever madness we did to the world, and often says the story and the world are better for it. He really loves collaborative story-telling, and sees his players as just as important to writing that story as himself. If you choose to play with Michael, you will likely find him to be: a fun co-conspirator, a storyteller with a hearty enjoyment of his player's participation, a creator of well-made and complex npcs (and he'll love it if you love them or hate them), a skilled time-manager, a helpful resource, and a caring collaborator. I couldn't recommend Michael more; he really does love the worlds he creates, and the players who want to make messes in that world.

Lach avatar

Lach

Mike has spoiled me. I wish I could have grown into a tabletop player with a crappy GM but, alas, I began with Michael- now, no other GM can compare. Truly, he's inventive, flexible, innovative, curious, enthusiastic, and absolutely down to educate himself on all the new content available. He's phenomenal and I have insanely high standards for how games can and should be run. 100/10. Would recommend heartily and thoroughly.

Gray avatar

Gray

Patient, safe, and fun! On top of Mike's incredible creativity and world building, he ensures everyone gets a share of the spotlight. I've played with friends as GMs, but the difference an experienced GM makes is night and day. Mike brings incredible worlds and characters to life that will both make you laugh and move you to tears. And I cannot emphasize enough how safe I felt coming to him with any issues and how quickly he would shut down anything that started to get uncomfortable.

What's StartPlaying?

Tabletop Roleplaying Games Run by Game Masters

  • Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.

  • Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.

  • If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.