About me

Hi, I’m Zak—storyteller, instructional-design nerd, and recovering punk rocker who traded stage dives for dungeon dives. I started GM-ing for the same reason I build learning programs in the corporate wilds: I’m addicted to that aha! moment when a group of total strangers turns into a tight-knit crew with a shared story. Twenty years of designing workshops means I run games with ruthless clarity—clear goals, smooth pacing, and safety tools baked in from session zero. What makes me different? Pedagogy meets pandemonium: I scaffold adventures like lesson plans—so the chaos feels epic, never confusing. Radical inclusivity: LGBTQ+-friendly, trauma-aware, X-Card on the table. Your fun never comes at another player’s expense. Cinematic flair, punk heart: Expect custom soundtracks, animated maps, and the occasional battle cry that would make my old rugby coach proud. Actionable recap. Every session lands in your inbox within 24 hours—highlights, loot, character hooks—so you’re never lost when life gets busy. If you want a table that balances tight mechanics with loose-hipped storytelling—and you don’t mind a little clever sass—you’ve found your GM. Grab a seat, roll some dice, and let’s tell your story together.

GM Style

Role-play First, Dice Second My tables run on character drama and big feelings. Expect 70 % in-character banter, moral dilemmas, and “wait, did the bard just propose?” moments—punctuated by the occasional d20 heartbeat that decides whether love letters arrive or burn. Full-Throttle Voices & Vibes Yes, I do voices. From gravel-throated hobgoblin warlords to a dwarven grandma who’ll guilt you into finishing your veggies, you’ll know who’s talking without looking at Zoom tiles: ambient soundtracks and bespoke handouts round out the immersion. Tactical but Cinematic Combat Grid maps, dynamic lighting, flanking rules—the crunchy goodness is there for the tactically inclined. But I keep the pace brisk: rules explanations are concise, turns stay under 60 seconds, and I’ll bend reality for a jaw-dropping stunt if it makes the table cheer. Safety & Structure Lines/Veils, X-Card, and Stars & Wishes are baked in. Session agendas follow a three-act flow—Hook, Rising Chaos, Cliffhanger—so you always know where you stand in the story. Post-game recap hits your inbox within 24 hours. Player-Driven, Punk-Hearted You’re co-authors, not the audience. Bring wild backstories, big swings, and off-the-wall ideas—I’ll weave them into the plot. Rule of Cool applies, but consequence is king; heroics land harder when failure bites. If you crave emotionally charged role-play, crunchy-yet-kinetic combat, and a GM who balances instructional-design clarity with punk-rock energy, pull up a chair. Let’s roll the dice and tell your story together.

Games played

Game platforms used