ZanDood
he/him
5.0
(5)
Timezone
Language
About ZanDood
Hi everyone, I'm ZanDood but you can also call me Alex! I have been running Dungeons and Dragons games for the past few years, and have been playing in other campaigns as well since early 2021. I primarily run a homebrew setting that I have been extensively building out over the past few years. My main focus in game is making sure everyone has fun, and that the experience is tailored to the players at the table. I love to help new players learn the game and explore their creativity.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: World Builder, Rule of Cool, Visual Aid
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
I was inspired watching my friends run their games and I have a deep love for worldbuilding. Once I got started, I discovered how awesome it can be to help create these experiences for my friends in turn, and to give my Forever-DM friends a chance to be players as well.
When I'm not running games I'm...
Probably adding to the lore of my world, playing games with friends, watching hockey, or spending quality time with my wife and our cats and dog.
How ZanDood runs games
I always try to tailor my games to who is at the table, but what I do best is crafting fun and challenging combat encounters that go beyond the basic "throw a too-strong enemy down and hope they survive" mindset. I work to balance encounters to allow for meaningful decisions and creative approaches while still making it exciting and sometimes deadly. Unique terrain, homebrewed combatants, and in-fight quests/goals all help contribute to making my fights challenging and special. I run primarily in a homebrew setting, which I continuously grow and adapt to the stories at hand and the choices players make in game or via their backstories. This world is ours to build and enjoy, and it is important to me that player choices have a strong impact. It is filled with fun and interesting characters to interact with, as well as unique and custom landmarks to explore. Whether you love rewarding fights, learning new lore, or navigating the exciting world we've built together, my main goal is to make sure everyone has fun.
Featured Prompts
I once ran a session...
Completely on the fly. Another friend was supposed to DM that night as we were alternating campaigns and as such I hadn't finished my next session. I had a vague plan and a dream, but it quickly became some of the most fun we had all campaign.
I prep by
Looking at what is coming next, what I can/should include for the purpose of plot, backstories, etc., and by immersing myself in the world to figure out what the stories of that location are.
ZanDood's ideal table
I prefer a more fun, lighthearted style with a balance of what players engage with in terms of roleplay, puzzles, exploration, etc. I am a sucker for a challenging combat with some unique elements and tactics though, so my campaigns do have frequent combat encounters.
ZanDood's Preferences
Systems