Dungeons & Dragons

For the past four years, I’ve been the Dungeon Master of an original long-form Dungeons & Dragons 5e campaign that blends narrative design, visual world building, and collaborative storytelling. This homebrew world has grown into a custom setting I’ve developed and run continuously since 2021: a gritty, jazz-tinged world inspired by 1930s America, where magic is nearly extinct, and power lies in the hands of corrupt politicians, underworld bosses, and fading legends.

I build each session with care, writing lore and prepping encounter material to support a player-driven story. The world is one I designed from scratch, drawing inspiration from my favorite video games, books, and films. It's a setting where actions have consequences, stories evolve with player choices, and the tone blends fantasy realism with high-stakes emotion.

This map was created for an attempted jail break scene. I researched jail design through photos and building plans I found from the 1930s, then used Dungeon Scrawl to create my own jail, being sure to include as many relevant details as I could to distract and split my party as the enemies tried to escape.

Over time, my DM style has grown to balance structured planning with flexible improvisation. I’ve learned how to guide narrative arcs while giving my players space to shape their characters' stories. Several started with little to no tabletop experience, and it’s been rewarding to watch them become confident storytellers in their own right.

My process often includes visual worldbuilding and digital design:

  • Maps: Regional and location maps created in Inkarnate and Dungeon Scrawl

  • Graphics: Image editing and layout in Photoshop

  • Notes & Prep: Lore tracking and game planning in Notion and Evernote

In addition to the ongoing campaign, I’ve occasionally run one-shots for my friends and played in other short campaigns. I’ve begun to explore and learn about other TTRPG systems such as Lancer, Cyberpunk, Delta Green, Ultraviolet Grasslands, and Mythic Bastionland. These experiences have helped me grow as both a storyteller and a designer, deepening my understanding of tone, pacing, and world building across genres.

My party, The Crowbars

My party, The Crowbars. Beginning four years ago at level one, the group has grown into level 15 adventurers.

From left to right: Eddy Spade, A-17, Kit Todd, Lily Hollow, Mikkael Darski, Meera Howland, and Naomi Valdi

Art by demekiiart/Daniela Sanchez

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