Devin

About Devin

Hello! I'm Devin, and I've been playing tabletop roleplaying games for over 30 years, both as a player and a Dungeon Master. For the past two years, I've also had the privilege of running a weekly after-school Dungeons & Dragons club at my local library for 4th - 8th grade students. Working with younger players has been a very rewarding part of my experience as a DM. My goal isn't simply to teach kids how to play D&D; it's to create a safe, welcoming environment where they can build confidence, make friends, and use their imaginations. The program had three main goals: Introduction to Dungeons and Dragons: Covering the basic rules, character creation, and game mechanics. Community Building: Creating a safe and welcoming space where kids can work collaboratively with their peers, forging friendships and having adventures. Group Formation: Helping kids gain the skills and confidence to eventually join or start their own D&D groups, fostering teamwork and social interaction. I try to carry the spirit of these goals into every table I run with kids. D&D can be a lifelong hobby that brings so many wonderful things with it. I really want kids to find the same joy I've found with the game and to take that with them well beyond my table.

My game style

As a DM working with kids, I try to adjust my style to match the energy and interests of the players at the table. Normally my ideal table would have a healthy mix of action and roleplay, but some tables lean more in one direction over the other, especially depending on the age group. With roleplay I want the players to care about their characters and enjoy adventuring with them. This really gives kids a chance to step out of their own shoes briefly and to safely flex their social muscles. Asking someone, "Well, what would your character say in this situation?" really yields some great, creative interactions. With combat, I want kids to have heroic moment and challenges to overcome, but to also leave plenty of room for shenanigans. Let me tell you, there are always shenanigans. Somewhere in the middle of all that silliness, kids can come up with solutions to problems that regularly blow my mind.