TWHTraveler

Hello, my name is Bill. I am 43 from California (PST), and I go by he/him/his pronouns. My journey into D&D began when I started working nights and spent over a decade listening to people talk about the game or play it working that job, and the escape to other worlds became a thing that kept me sane during that time.

I did not start playing D&D until 2018, as I could not find an in-person game that worked. I tried a local game shop, but it was such a horrendous experience that I never returned there ever. I started looking for alternate means of play and found Roll20. Luckily for me, a group was just starting, and the DM didn’t mind a brand new player joining a bunch of veterans or more experienced players. I had a blast in that game, which lasted two years from levels 1-20. After that, I graduated into running for others myself, with a smattering of small campaigns and other things over that period. I’ve wanted to return to a long-term game for quite some time, however.

I’m a very openhearted and optimistic person, though I have my bouts of anxiety. I work to help others, to learn from them, to take notes, and to understand the game. I’m not afraid to ask questions, to get messy. Sometimes I might throw things at the wall and see if they stick, but in general I want to help others make their story as wonderful as I hope they might make mine. I tend to like face characters, quirky personalities, unusual races, backstories, and substance. I tend to not want to fit into a box so much as transform it into a circle that can support others and stretch the world around me. At times I can be a planner; at times I listen to others plan. I like to show my creative abilities. I might do voices or keep an in-character journal, or both. If there are concerns, I voice them privately and/or politely. I will joke and post memes if they are relevant, but I try not to distract from people’s fun.

In terms of the game, my hope is that a player has a wonderful story in mind and is willing to listen to my own hopes and dreams and forge something out of them. That there can be a bit of give and take. I prefer games that have maps and tokens for me to look at, where if we’re in voice, people have microphones, so I can understand them and they don’t make rude noises such as burping into the mic. If we talk too much, and sometimes people talk over, it’s a nice way to handle it by posting “Raises hand” in a chat so the DM can see and the DM can cut to that person who might want to talk. It’s also good that people don’t bend rules too much or bring real-life problems into the game, such as politics or religion; that never goes well. If character death happens, I hope we can deal with it in a creative way rather than just “that’s the end.” Finally, it is my hope that players are open and help me learn. I know I’ve been doing this a while, but I know where my skills and faults lie. Patience and kindness are appreciated.

I think a game master should expect players to take notes, be prepared for the game, be creative, and be focused. I hope to grow and develop as a player by trying new things, by learning new rules, and by exploring new places. Everyone should be excited to play, and you should sense that in my gameplay style. As I mentioned, I like to stretch the world and throw ideas around. It doesn’t always work, but it’s my hope to spark in others a creative spirit as well.

I like fantasy settings. They can have aspects of magitech or an industrial age or even sci-fi, but they should have diverse races, places, and ideas. There should be magic, mystery, and mirth. I hate dark and depressing without any hope (Curse of Strahd) seems to come to mind, though I may be wrong about it.

I mentioned I’ve been creating worlds and characters of my own, and to that end I’ve written and created many books that I’ve self-published for friends and family over the years. I just finished a YA novel, which I hope to officially publish in the near future. I enjoy video games of all kinds, from RPGs to FPS games such as Final Fantasy, Lunar, and Xenogears, which gave me many inspirations, as did books like LOTR, Narnia, etc.

It is my hope you like the sound of me. I am certain I might be leaving something out, but maybe you will reach out and we can talk. If not, I hope for all the best of journeys for you