Jess

I started playing with Herb almost by accident. I joined in the middle of an ongoing campaign knowing next to nothing about how to play Pathfinder or use Foundry. Not only was Herb UNFAILINGLY patient, he cultivated a table that fostered growth and learning without ever making anyone feel like a burden or a weak link. I could truly ramble for days about all the things Herb does that make every game an exceptional time. He has been a reliable source of knowledge, rules, and lore, yet can gracefully admit when he doesn't know something and is willing to put in the time and effort to fill in the gap. Even running pre-made modules, the time and love spent preparing for every session is on full display in a million little ways that truly makes his games feel every bit as customized as any homebrew setting. Even going as far to periodically check in with his players just in case he needs to adjust. And I consider myself lucky to be someone who's gotten to sit at his tables.

I've loved D&D since my very first game. I've picked up games every night of the week, and not thought twice about it. So when I had an opening in my schedule and stumbled across Beth's game, I was just excited for the chance to start a new story from the beginning. I had no idea what was waiting for me in that first session. A world, vibrantly rich and alive, created with so much love and care that it becomes something more than maps and tokens in a VTT. She encourages players to engage with the world, to integrate themselves into it and become a vital part of the story beyond simply being the chosen heroes of the hour. More than that, Beth knows how to tell not just the heroic epics of glory and grandeur, but also a story of struggle and loss where the heroes can fail and must choose to pick themselves back up and press on. I do not know when the last time was that I shed actual tears during a session, but I did in Beth's game from the sheer depth of emotions she was able to evoke during the course of our campaign so far. It takes only a single session with Beth to see the incredible amount of planning and care that goes into her games. Maps are more than just 2D pictures, instead beautifully rendered 3D terrains within Talespire, giving the feel of actually being back at the table with friends. Ambiance is pristine, with music feeling almost tailor-made for each and every situation. She writes characters with interests and motivations outside the scope of the party that makes each and every game feel like it is taking place in a world that never truly sleeps. Stepping into one of Beth's games is to learn you are only a part of something so much larger, and she is there to be your guide and invite you along to becoming something that will leave an indelible mark on this world she's made to share with you.