Sholeh

Garion brings such a welcoming and joyful energy to the game. He is consistently inclusive and makes sure everyone feels comfortable. His positive attitude is infectious, and he keeps things moving while making space for laughs and fun at the table. It is clear that he genuinely loves the game and cares about the experience the players are having.

The DM created a welcoming, safe space and made sure everyone got a turn to contribute, which is important and appreciated, but the session suffered from avoidable preparation and rules problems that repeatedly broke immersion and slowed the game to a crawl. The DM had not read the one-shot ahead of time and repeatedly had to stop and read the adventure. This caused long gaps of silence and "wait while I read" moments that killed pacing. She didn’t know the rules well enough for the table’s needs and frequently couldn’t adjudicate outcomes quickly or confidently. She insisted we use pre-generated character sheets, but didn’t actually know those sheets or the characters well. Several players (especially new ones) needed her help to use their own pregens, but she wasn’t familiar with them. We spent more time looking up spells. We were forced to keep rolling the same puzzle checks over and over, even when the party lacked proficiency in the relevant skill which was made worse because we were missing players and the check was clearly inappropriate for our current party build. That felt punishing and arbitrary. The game was not strictly RAW and often used “ROC/RAF” (as run at the table) to allow players to try off-rules actions. This could have been fine, but because it was inconsistent and the DM didn’t know when or why she was bending the rules, it created confusion about what would be allowed. No music, no voice change (pitch/pace/volume) between NPCs (she even admitted at one point "You probably can't tell the difference between who's talking"), and no pacing cues or scene control. These are optional, but without them and with the frequent reading/stalling, the session dragged. The DM did create a safe, inclusive environment and made sure everyone had a chance to speak and participate. That was a big positive and kept the social side of the game healthy. This is a friendly DM who clearly wants players to have fun, but the session would have been far stronger with a little preparation: Reading the one-shot once beforehand, familiarizing herself with the pregens she asked us to use, brushing up on the Core Rules, and learning how to adapt when everyone doesn't show up. If she can do these things in the future, the social strengths she brings would shine and the mechanical rough spots would disappear.

Unique strengths lie in ability to tell a story and make players feel like they're a part of the world. Enjoys seeing creative approaches to problems; however, tries to ensure the creativity stays within the rules and the spirit of the game.

If you’re a new player looking for a kind and friendly introduction to D&D, this DM could be a solid choice. He’s incredibly patient, approachable, and has a good sense of humor, which helps create a welcoming and stress-free environment for first-timers. He’s clearly passionate about the game and genuinely wants everyone to have fun at the table. That said, this DM may not be the best fit if you're hoping for a more polished or immersive experience. Sessions often feel a bit unprepared—things like placing tokens on the map, setting up encounters, or clarifying rules for him frequently cut into game time. While his casual nature is charming, it can lead to distractions, such as discussing off-topic subjects while trying to handle basic logistics during the session. The DM also tends to make up homebrew rules on the fly, such as granting advantage for having “high ground,” without much consistency or clarity. This can confuse players, especially those trying to learn the actual rules. He doesn’t seem fully confident in the system’s mechanics and has occasionally overlooked fundamental aspects like which ability governs a skill check or how to manage combat efficiently. Character backstories and development aren’t really incorporated into the story, so players hoping for a personalized, story-driven experience may be disappointed. Additionally, the sessions lack certain immersive elements, such as music, effective use of the Virtual Tabletop’s (VTT) features, or thoughtful preparation to make combat smoother—he doesn’t even keep track of basic stats like player AC, which slows things down. Unfortunately, when these issues were brought to his attention, he was unwilling to address them and ultimately decided to shut down and cancel the game instead. In short, this DM is a great choice for new players looking for a lighthearted introduction to D&D without the pressure of a more structured or rule-intensive experience. However, more experienced players or those hoping for a deeper, more immersive game may find themselves frustrated by the lack of preparation, consistency, and focus.