Morgan

I'm surprised I haven't left a review for Nikki yet but I guess I was busy having too much fun! Nikki is a wonderful storyteller with experience over a variety of games. From your classic 5e, to the relatively rules light PBtA systems, to fun and silly one-shots like Hometown Holiday! Whatever you are looking for she has got a game running to tell any kind of story. And considering how I like to play, there is also plenty of chances to romance an NPC or two across any of her tables. Even if it's not your style, she is super accommodating and open to people of all kinds at her table. She makes sure that everyone has fun!

I played in their oneshot and even for someone who is still learning Dungeons and Dragons, they are patient and willing to roll with the unusual punches of a new player. Their story is very creative, and although not typical horror, was still fun to explore with a character I've had in my back pocket and how they would react to everything from body horror, reality breaking, and other creepy stuff like uncanny valley faeries with unhealthy body image issues. I can't commit a lot of time currently, but if another opportunity comes up where I can play a oneshot with them again, I'll jump on it! And you should too!

Very creative GM who is open to different types of characters and play. Very beginner friendly and patient with veterans who may be a bit rusty with the rules. If you're looking for a fun afternoon with a concise one shot or a riveting campaign, would recommend giving them a shot! I know I'll be returning to them if they have more one-shots in store for the future!

I'm leaving an updated review as it has now been multiple sessions and a completed campaign. My original review is still below past the break separation. Ben is a phenomenal game master and if you have the chance to play at their table you would be wise to take it. We have completed my first ever campaign where Ben ran Curse of Strahd and I have so many feelings it's hard to prioritize but I'll do my best. The players at the table were amazing, and Ben makes sure that everyone is included, their voices are heard, and their choices and stories matter. Even with new players they always answer questions when they come up and help explain things clearly, making sure that questions are answered to full understanding about mechanics, rules, and lore. Their ability to personify NPCs has been an amazing pleasure for me. I love character interactions and drama, and from romanceable NPCs, to complicated friends, to diametrically opposed foes, to terrible hated antagonists. They are able to fully portray that character to make the game immersive and their lives believable and important. Even when they don't realize how important they are to a PC. We just finished the campaign and I have a lot of feelings about it, but they are all overwhelmingly positive. The story from start to finish has been filled with twists and turns, drama, horror and tender moments. The final confrontation, the aftermath, and the conclusion to the characters in the world they inhabit was both rewarding and heartbreaking. I will miss this group terribly, but will look back at this amazing story with fondness and a joy that I can not describe. Whether it's for a one-shot, or a full campaign, give Ben a chance to share a story with you at the table and you will never regret it. ~~~~~ Ben is a very creative and accommodating game master. He's very open to player ideas and input while also balancing surprises and improv. We've spoken before when trying to run a gender bent Curse of Strahd campaign since my primary reason was to learn Dungeons and Dragons properly but in a safe environment. With that in mind, this also means they are exceptionally great at handling new players who don't know what they're doing! That game ultimately fell through but of no fault of his own (I had sudden life changes that required my full attention and left me zero ability to keep to a schedule), but this also meant that having interacted with him before, I knew I wanted to return to this GM when I could. For this game I reused a character I created for that previous CoS game, but instead of fighting vampires I got to do one of my favorite activities! Tell a romance story! My favorite game is Starcrossed by Alex Roberts, so when Ben was offering 1v1 Valentine's special games I knew I had to grab one. I'm glad I was able to play with him again, and that he was willing to accommodate my late reply times when discussing what kind of story we were going to have. Overall his storytelling, openness with players, tools for gameplay, and the ambiance brought to the (virtual) table, make him an excellent first choice for any player wishing to try out. Thank you again for the great time! And I'm sure we'll talk again soon!