Loren the GM

Hi, I'm Loren. I worked for over 15 years in film and television production before becoming a full time professional GM in 2017. I try to bring that storytelling experience to the game table every time I sit down to play D&D.

I love helping my groups have epic adventures. My DM style tends to be collaborative and inclusive. I like to say "yes" to my players as a means to create exciting, memorable moments. I like to bring characters alive through voices (I'm always happy when I can pull out my Scottish dwarf voice), and I like to use music to set the tone for each scene. To me, the more I can do to emotionally involve my players, the more immersed in the world they will be, making the game better for everyone.

I live in Charlotte, North Carolina with my wife and two cats named Pixel and Fiona.

• No DM bailing.

  I'm here for the long haul, and your payment helps make sure of that. I run multiple on-going groups with long-term players. This is my full-time job, and I take it seriously.

• Committed players.

  Players who pay are invested in making this work financially. Everyone at the table has some stakes in making this a good experience. You'll be playing with other players who love D&D and want to see a campaign through from start to finish.

• Avoid the difficulty of getting into a game.

  There are tons of players on Roll20, and significantly less DM's. You can beat the odds by more easily joining a paid game.

• A good DM. Let's face it - even if you get into a game, the quality levels of DM's can have a significant variance. With my games, you know what you are getting. Check out my videos to see how I DM, and remember that the first session is always free so you can evaluate the game.
• Quality preparation.

  Your payment not only helps pay for the session time, but also the preparation I put into the game. That includes not only things like thinking up fun new encounters or extending the pre-built story with custom content, but also stuff like answering your questions outside of game time, and helping develop your character as the game goes on.

• High quality Roll20 modules.

  Many of the adventures that I run are expensive Roll20 modules, with tons of art handouts, great maps, and other bells and whistles.

• Module conversion.

  Your payment also helps me convert specialized content into playable modules on Roll20. I have several adventures I have  carefully handcrafted from books or PDFs into a fully built Roll20 campaign. This work creates modules on par with any official Roll20 products, complete with all the features you have come to expect.

• Pro Roll20 features.

  I'll be using API scripts, dynamic lighting, custom music, and other Pro features that will enhance the gaming experience.

• Shared Compendium.

  I purchase all compendium content and share it with my games. This provides easy access to all official 5e resources that are currently supported by the Roll20 Compendium system.

• DNDBeyond Access.

  All players in my games are invited into one of my DNDBeyond groups, providing legal copies of all published books and adventures to all players, as well as access to the robust character building tools on DNDBeyond. ​

• Community.

  Gain access to a private Discord server exclusively for players in my paid games. Meet some cool people and talk about all things D&D!

• I will be on time to games, every session.
• I will communicate clearly and in a timely manner any schedule abnormalities or other issues.
• I respect all players equally.
• I will be thoroughly prepared for each session.
• I will be fair in my rulings.
• I will work to give each character opportunities throughout every session and the longer-term campaign to shine.
• I will listen to player feedback and tailor the gaming experience to the group's desires.
• I will provide a high quality collaborative experience which entertains and challenges.

All subscriptions take into consideration that people will occasionally need to miss a game session for various life reasons, and refunds will not be provided for single missed sessions.

Refunds for sessions will occur for the following reasons:

• If the DM is notified of an extended need for absence over multiple weeks (such as vacation, illness, etc.)
• If there are technical issues with Roll20 that cause the game to be cancelled.
• If the DM is forced to cancel a session for any reason.
• If holidays will create more than one skipped session in a month.
• At the DM's discretion for any other reasons. While I depend on subscriptions for my livelihood, I also understand that life happens. Like most things with D&D, open and clear communication is the best way to make sure everyone is having the best time possible, and this extends to payments for the game. If you are facing a specific issue or hardship regarding payment, please talk with me.

As the DM, I reserve the right to accept, deny, or remove players from the game, as well as the right to cancel the campaign at any time. Should any of these extreme situations occur, outstanding subscription balances will be refunded in full to all effected parties.

All games observe standard US Holidays and no games will be held during these times unless otherwise determined by a group decision. Depending on the geographic group makeup, other holidays will be considered for inclusion in this list.

Currently these holidays include:

• The weekend prior to Christmas through the weekend after New Years Day.
• Memorial Day
• Easter
• American Independence Day (July 4)
• Labor Day
• The week of Thanksgiving

Time change occurs differently for various parts of the world, which can cause some confusion for international players. Games will always meet following US Daylight Savings changes. During the summer months this is GMT-4. During the winter months, this is GMT-5. Exact dates for time change vary by year, so more information will be available to individual groups.

Applying to one of my games is very easy. If I am currently recruiting for specific games, please visit the Contact page and follow the Apply prompts.

If I am not currently recruiting, then that means all my games are full. You can add your name to my waiting list, and when I have spots open up in my games (or if I start a new game) I'll check that list before opening up applications to the public.

To add your name to my waiting list, please visit the Contact page and use the Send Me A Message form to let me know you are interested in a Weekly Online Roll20 Game.

If you are looking to hire me for another reason such as an event or training, please use that same Contact form to get in touch with me.

Online Games

For my online games, there is some special equipment required. You will need:

• A computer with Discord installed
• A quiet room (that has the computer in it) to play from.
• A good internet connection
• A good microphone with headphones
• A free Roll20.net account run in either the Chrome or Firefox browser.
• A webcam for games marked as Video Streaming (most of my games do not require a webcam)

In-person Games and Events

For in person games, I will generally provide any needed gaming equipment. I will need a large table and chairs for everyone who will be playing to be provided. Any other items that may need to be provided will be discussed at the time of booking my services.

Roll20 is a suite of easy-to-use digital tools that allow you to play tabletop role-playing games online, all from your web browser. It includes dynamic character sheets, automated dice rolling, text chat, shared battle maps, and many other features that combine to create a very robust gaming platform.

Roll20 was launched in 2012 through a successful Kickstarter campaign, and has grown into the largest online Virtual Tabletop with over 4 million users. It provides official support for many Dungeons & Dragons products, as well as many other game systems.

My pricing is currently as follows:

• Weekly Roll20 Online Game - $125/month subscription
• Learn to Play Workshop - $99/person
• Team Building or Special Event - $500+ (custom quote required)

If there is a special request that doesn't fit one of these categories, please contact me so we can discuss and I can provide a custom quote.

I can provide the following services for your event or party:

• Character Workshop. I'll work with your group to help develop characters to play in the game. Or, we can customize some pre-built characters to get to the game faster.
• Learn to Play. We'll take some time as a group to help everyone understand the basics of play. First time players are welcome!
• Battle maps. Depending on the specifics of your location, we will use either digital battle maps (preferred) or theater of the mind. We might even use some classic grid paper to catch that old-school feeling.
• Free dice. Every player will receive a free set of dice, which they can play the game with and then take home as a souvenir. I'll also bring my big bag of dice, in case anyone needs a loaner if their new dice keep rolling critical failures.
• One-shot adventure. We'll play a one shot adventure designed to give everyone fun individual moments, but also to encourage teamwork and cooperation. By the time we're done, your group won't just be co-workers or friends, they'll be a heroic adventuring party.
• Time. We can play for as long as you schedule me for, generally a minimum of 4 hours.
• Players. You can have as many as you want. Generally smaller groups of 12 or less are easier to work with, but the dynamics of the game can still scale to larger groups. We'll work out those details when we discuss your specific needs.
• Large groups and major events. We can also put on a show for your large group or event. D&D can be great entertainment for huge groups, and I can custom design a story that reinforces your theme or business venture. If you think your audience would enjoy watching your CEO, CFO, and Bob from Accounting battle a terrible dragon on stage, we can make that happen.

I can teach you how to play 5th Editions Dungeons & Dragons, as well as how to use the Roll20 online platform. The skills you learn will help you be ready to play in any online or in-person games.

My player training usually takes about 4 hours. It consists of:

• Meeting a group of other new players who all want to learn how to play D&D.
• Working through how to choose and build a character.
• Building a character on Roll20, and understanding how to use the digital character sheet.
• Discussing how to use other features of Roll20 to play the game.
• Instruction on how to play D&D.
• Practical hands on experience playing a short adventure that will include role play, exploration, and combat.

D&D works best when players share mutual respect and trust with each other. Being comfortable at the table is earned by knowing you can trust the players around you. To facilitate that, here are a few expectations I have from my players.

• As a player, I realize this campaign is designed for both new and experienced players, and will work to make sure everyone at the table has a good time, regardless of skill level.
• I will be on time to games, every week. My weekly participation is vital to the group's progression, safety, and overall enjoyment of the game.
• I realize that life happens, and am able to communicate on a timely basis anything that may come up to cause me to miss a session. I will also be gracious to others in the group if they need to miss a session.
• I will stay engaged with the story and other players while we are playing.
• I will cooperate with the DM during the game and accept rulings that are made at the table. Unless it is something that can be resolved very quickly during the game, I'll talk with the DM afterwards instead of breaking the flow of the game if I believe a ruling is in error.
• I will not be rude or disruptive.
• I will abide by table rules defined during our Session 0.
• I will assume that my character has a reason for adventuring with the others, and will act in general cooperation with them.
• I will meet the technical expectations of playing in an online game by having a microphone with good sound quality and a stable internet connection.
• I will have fun!