I’m an experienced TTRPG Game Master with one 2+ year (and counting!) Dungeons & Dragons campaign under my belt, as well as several mini-campaigns and one-shots in the D&D system. I love playing with experienced players and total newcomers alike.
Check out this video for a behind-the-scenes look showcasing the tools I use, including Syrinscape for music, Talespire for combat scenarios, and Airtable to database character units.
My players and I also built a Notion wiki for our campaign, which includes pages detailing each important NPC, a breakdown of the items players are carrying, and of course, copious notes from each session. It’s incredible to have, and enables me as a DM to be extra considerate of the details that come up in each session!
Whenever I start a new campaign, I like to prep all participants on how to ease into the experience, to ensure we can eliminate as much self-doubt as possible, and focus on contributing and having fun!
The way I go about this is by first having conversations with each player directly to better understand not just what they want out of a D&D experience, but also to discuss what kind of art and stories they connect to. When I feel everyone is serious about the commitment and enthusiastic to go further, I’ll facilitate a get together where we talk as a group, and I’ll put on my “Session Zero” presentation. In this presentation, I cover some basic reminders about how to play D&D, an overview of our campaign world, and a whole section on how to relax into the play environment. Here’s an example from the slide titled “Nervous about Improv??”
Finally, once the sessions are going, I continue to deepen my understanding of what players are looking for in both the game world as well as the dynamic at the table. It’s not surprising to encounter a scenario where before a session begins, a player feels strongly about wanting to play their character a certain way, but then when the day comes, that preference begins to transform into something else entirely. Adaptation and listening are key, and the best way to ensure that when you do think of something surprising, that it’ll be met with delight!
Want to start playing?
Email me!