Alex Maude: Dungeon/Game Master
"How do you tell the difference between a nerd and a kinkster?
You ask them what a Dungeon Master is."
One of my very distinct childhood memories is of playing a Star Wars RPG (role playing game) with my brothers. I was playing a Jedi, my middle brother a smuggler, and my eldest brother the GM/villain. I remember lying on the floor, yanking my brother's trouser leg to pull him down next to me, and holding a sheathed lightsabre to his head like a gun. This move, annoying though it was to my brother because I'd hurt his leg, won the day for the good guys!
I think one of the reasons I love RPGs so much is for the same reason I love performance, as I believe they share many elements: Storytelling, character creation, improvisation, and of course collaborative storytelling. I'm sure every TTRPG (Tabletop role playing game!) player has a story of when things did not go the way either the GM or the players expected... but it still created an amazing and memorable story (I know I have plenty!)
I didn't actually play my first game of Dungeons and Dragons until my very early 20s, when several of my friends were like: Hang on, we're all nerds! Why haven't we tried playing D&D yet?! Naturally I loved it, and very quickly fell in love with the DMing (Dungeon Mastering) side of things. I love the ability to weave narratives and watch the expressions of my players as they uncover my twists... but also the aforementioned crazy, left-field ideas that the players sometimes try!
I started DMing over ten years ago, and for the last four or so I have been doing so professionally, and actually getting paid for it! A good DM/GM can make or break a game for players; and my talents and training as an actor serve me very well whilst doing so! Players want to search for an ice-cream merchant that I definitely didn't prepare ahead of time? No problem! Make it up on the spot and create the highly memorable and beloved Abli from the Zephyreen Archipelago!
I am a massive fan of Critical Role, and have been since the very beginning! So when one of my players once described my DMing style as "Mercer-esque" I was as happy as a dragon on a mountain of gold!
Below you will find a list of RPG and other systems I am immediately familiar with, though if you'd like a game with a system not on the list email me anyway and we can discuss it further! I'm always up for learning a new, interesting system, and a lot of my skills as a GM are highly transferable!
Psssst. Critical Role! If you're reading this... hit me up! It is an absolute career goal to work with all of your wonderful selves!
Familiar Systems
Dungeons and Dragons (5th Edition)
7th Sea
Call of Cthuhlu
Star Trek Adventures
Fate
The Dresden Files RPG
Honey Heist
Blood on the Clocktower (Social Deduction)
If your system of choice isn't listed that doesn't mean I can't run it! It just means I don't know how to run it yet!
Player Testimonials
But don't just take my word for it...
"Alex was excellent - as a person, friendly and welcoming, and as a DM everything you’d want to see. We’d asked for a little of everything - some roleplay, some combat, some puzzles - and Alex absolutely delivered, all in his own engaging world."
"Had an absolutely brilliant first D&D experience with Alex. The world he has created is incredible and he gave us all the help we needed character wise before the game. When playing he was patient and explained everything clearly while still going for it and giving us a true D&D experience. An absolute blast and will definitely be booking again soon!"
"We had Alex as our DM and he was so fab! He gave us an adventure with a little of everything. The world felt immersive and in-universe while also feeling fresh and new. He was a pleasure to have commanding the ship and his voice acting skills added so much to our experience!"
"We had the most wonderful sessions of Star Trek adventures with Alex. The storyline, setting, side characters and performance were brilliant and kept us immersed in our characters. He was tolerant of our side roads and general in-character shenanigans, which added to the fun! Definitely would recommend, especially to groups not used to the mechanics of tabletop adventures"
"Just had a 6 hour one shot with Alex and I would whole heartedly recommend! He was a fantastic DM and incredibly knowledgeable about the game. He was great with building out the setting and very descriptive with the effects and actions of each character/enemy."
(All quotes taken from https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/rolldark.co.uk)
See me in action...
Pro Tip: Law enforcement really don't like it when you cast mental magic on them...
Let's Play!
If you'd like to hire me to run a game for you, the best way to contact me is by email. Just click the button below and I'd be more than happy to discuss your needs!
But in the meantime... may you roll well!
