About Young Dragonslayers™

Founder, Mental Health Consultant

Location: Davidson, NC ( just outside of Charlotte)

How I started playing D&D: I discovered D&D as an adult, through the D&D actual play podcast The Adventure Zone. For some reason, I assumed the game was too complicated for me to learn…and who would ever want to play with me? When I moved from NYC to North Carolina in 2018, I was invited to join a campaign. I hoped it would be a good way to make friends. It was!

Favorite D&D Class: Wild Magic Sorcerer is the right mix of rules and chaos for me. In real life I’m probably more of a cleric and I’ve really enjoyed playing that class, too.

Favorite Fandoms: We’re currently deep in a K-Pop Demon Hunter phase in my house. I love Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Broadway showtunes, and pretty much every HBO prestige drama ever created (White Lotus, The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, Alien: Earth…I love ‘em all!)

Other Games I Love: I consider myself an entry-level game nerd. I tend to like chill, easy-to-learn games like Dialect (create your own language!), Earth (create your own ecosystem!) and Pandemic (save the world!) I’ve also dabbled in Kids on Bikes and enjoy that system a lot.

When I’m Not Playing D&D: In my real life, I’m a children’s therapist who specializes in helping kids and tweens with anxiety and OCD. When I’m not in the office, I’m probably listening to a podcast (maybe about one of those HBO prestige dramas) or chasing my four-year-old around the house.

Co-Founder, Game Master

Location: New York, NY

How I started playing D&D: I came to D&D through hanging at the comic shop after middle school let out, mostly playing Magic and Pokemon. The older kids had this other fascinating game I wasn't allowed to play, so of course I wanted to more than anything; eventually, one of them offered to DM for my brother and I, and my curiosity turned into my new favorite pastime. I played from middle school through college, and, after a hiatus in grad school, I was reintroduced to D&D 5e by Ashley Johnson of Critical Role!

Favorite D&D Class: I love the flexibility of Clerics: some offensive and support spells, some tanky mace and shield combat, and some potentially strained relationships with whatever entities you worship in exchange for your powers -- great fuel for roleplay and eclectic gameplay!

Favorite Fandoms: Critical Role for sure! I'm also obsessed with What We Do In The Shadows, which was a quarantine discovery. A few other classics include X-Files, Twin Peaks, David Bowie, and, of course, Shakespeare.

Other Games I Love: Magic: The Gathering, Storybook Brawl, World of Warcraft, Portal, Sentinels of the Multiverse, Kingdom Hearts, The Last of Us…the list goes on and on…

When I’m Not Playing D&D: I act in TV, Film, and Theatre in New York City, tutor high school and middle school standardized tests, sous vide cook every recipe possible, and spend time with my girlfriend and our awesome friends throughout the city.

Video Producer, Game Master

Location: Seattle, Washington

How I Started Playing D&D: I first played D&D in 2019 when a friend invited me to play in a one-shot with 10 other people, which was delightfully chaotic. After that I wanted to create a world of my own. When the pandemic hit, I really got into D&D, creating campaigns for my friends as well as integrating the game into my job working as a Behavioral Health Technician in hospitals.

Favorite D&D Class: As someone who does everything in their power to avoid combat, I love playing Sorcerers. Their high charisma is great for smooth talking and their ability to cast subtle spells is amazing for my play style. That or druids, because turning into animals is fun.

Favorite Fandoms: I love pretty much all things, from the classics like Marvel and Studio Ghibli to weirder stuff like Frasier and everything that Lin-Manuel Miranda touches. My current obsession is the D&D show Dimension 20 which is just AMAZING!

Other Games I Love: I like other TTRPGs that have unique systems from D&D, like Blades in the Dark and Kids on Bikes. For video games, my favorites are A Short Hike, Shadows of the Colossus, Spider-Man, Helldivers, etc.

When I’m Not Playing D&D: I’m currently in school working towards getting my Master of Science in Nursing. For my creative downtime I create videos for the Young Dragonslayers™ Youtube channel as well as creating a podcast with my friends. When I’m not doing that I love to cook, tinker in workshops, and hangout with friends.

Game Master, Blogger, Social Media Manager

Location: Kalamazoo, MI

How I Started Playing D&D: In early 2017, an experienced D&D player invited everyone in our lab to start a campaign. Having spent the previous year listening to (and loving!) the Campaign Podcast, I was intrigued by the concept of tabletop RPGs and decided to give it a shot. I was surprised by how unintimidating the experience was, how much room there was for asking questions and coming up with ideas, and how genuinely fun the game was - it ran all the way from level 1 to level 20! We still play together to this day, but that first campaign is an experience I'll never forget.

Favorite D&D Class: Paladin, by far! I still remember the first time I used Divine Smite on a Natural 20, rolling a huge pile of d8s and absolutely obliterating a sea hag. The combination of magical and combat ability works so well both thematically and mechanically, and there are tons of storytelling options to explore with the available pantheons and oaths.

Favorite Fandoms: Nerdfighteria, Marvel/DC (particularly Spider-Man, Captain America, Batman, and Superman), Studio Ghibli, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Spy X Family, Pokemon, Ace Attorney, Legend of Zelda, Persona 5, and a ton more!

Other Games I Love: As far as tabletop RPGs go, I'm a huge fan of Evil Hat's Fate and Apocalypse systems, but I also love weird indie MicroRPGs like Bird Trek and Honey Heist.

When I’m Not Playing D&D: I work with LGBTQ+ youth in Kalamazoo, write about anything and everything, and make pop-culture- and Pride-themed art at Janatee Craftily.

Game Master

Location: Rochester, NY

How I started playing D&D: I actually got into Dungeons & Dragons having played about a dozen other RPGs and finally seeing a D&D setting that I thought looked cool (Spelljammer). My first TTRPG was when I was 10 in 1985 and was Marvel Super-Heroes Role-Playing by Jeff Grubb. How’s that for classic?!

Favorite D&D Class: Warlock. What can I say? I like a bargain!

Favorite Fandoms: Besides basically all RPGs and board games, I’m a comic book scholar with a wide-range of knowledge of the comic stories and the history of the industry (which has some stories that are unbelievable!), I’m also a lifelong Doctor Who fan and a pro-wrestling fan!

Other Games I Love: I love a ton of RPGs, but I’ll break it down to these - my favorite gaming genre is superhero, my favorite RPG system is the Apocalypse-Powered system, and my favorite RPG setting is Palladium’s Rifts setting (basically a gonzo melting pot of all science fiction and fantasy tropes).

When I'm Not Playing D&D: These days, I’m mostly taking care of my newborn little girl, Mickie, but I also podcast, perform comedy, and write all sorts of stuff!

Game Master

Location: Cleveland, OH

How I started playing D&D: In 2018, a friend of a friend wanted to start a Dungeons and Dragons campaign and I had been looking for a Dungeon Master for a group that had never played before. We played every week between classes and clubs and I fell in love with the game. I still play with that group and have expanded to running one-shots and DM-ing campaigns for other groups of friends as well!

Favorite D&D Class: I love the versatility of the Cleric class. You can build them for any purpose in DND - healer, tank, fighter, mage, etc. It also helps that my favorite character to play is a Cleric of Knowledge.

Favorite Fandoms: Yu-Gi-Oh, Fire Emblem, Ni no Kuni, Fate series, Fairy Tail, JJBA, HunterXHunter, SpyXFamily, any fantasy or romance anime

Other Games I Love: In terms of role playing games, I enjoy Call of Cthulhu and Monster of the Week. I am also a big fan of board games, especially Betrayal at House on the Hill and Sub Terra.

When I'm Not Playing D&D: I am currently pursuing my Master of Public Health degree and working in clinical research at a local hospital. When not working, I am spending time with my dog, Terrence Barker, reading, or spending time with friends watching anime or trying escape rooms.

Game Master, Blogger

Location: Nashville, TN

How I started playing D&D: I randomly included a D&D reference in one of my books (even though I’d never played), and a group of authors asked me to join their campaign. I was totally going to back out at the last-minute, and I’m so glad I didn’t! I fell head-over-heels in love.

Favorite D&D Class: Since I get to be a bard in real life, I love playing anything hack and slash—fighter, paladin, and especially barbarian with a tavern brawler feat. Because who doesn’t love improvised weapons?

Favorite Fandoms: I’m a sucker for beautiful stories. LOTR, Over the Garden Wall, Gravity Falls, and Arcane are a few of my favorites. I also love watching anime with my husband. We’ve really enjoyed One Piece, Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., and Delicious in Dungeon.

Other Games I Love: I particularly enjoy insight games like Chameleon and Mafia, and I’ve recently gotten into Call of Cthulhu. I also love getting lost in a good, open-world adventure like Skyrim (all-time fav), Breath of the Wild, and Baldur’s Gate III.

When I’m Not Playing D&D: I get to be a real-life bard! I’m an author, editor, and ghostwriter, so I spend my days weaving tales, crafting adventures, and helping other authors bring their stories to life. Otherwise, you can find me at the gym, tending to the whims of my dogs (Freyja and Bilbo Handsomepants) or exploring local cemeteries.

Game Master

How I started playing D&D: My first D&D game was a 1-shot (a one-session game) with a family friend! Years later, I picked it up again, but as the GM, after listening to Critical Role.

Favorite D&D Class: Artificer and/or Cleric. I bounce between these two, or find a class that combines them in whatever weird non-D&D system I’m playing that week.

Favorite Fandoms: Star Trek, Xena Warrior Princess, K-Pop Demon Hunters, The Owl House, Critical Role, and Pokemon.

Other Games I Love: Nancy Drew computer games, Escape Rooms (in-person and virtual), Pokemon, Sequence, Baldur's Gate 3, and Expedition 33.

When I'm Not Playing D&D: I’m a former engineering professor, but now roleplaying games are my full-time gig! You can find me playing other tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGS), writing and publishing my own games, speaking at conventions, and writing for my website, TTRPGkids, which provides parents and educators with resources to play games like D&D with children. I also love reading, hiking, and hanging out with my kid.

Game Master

Location: Winston-Salem, NC

How I started playing D&D: When I was working at the Baltimore Zoo in Maryland a coworker invited me to come and play D&D with some of his friends. I had heard of D&D but did not know much about it. All it took was character creation for me to fall in love with the game. I found a lifelong passion and lifelong friends all in one campaign! We played our campaign for about a year and when our DM had to take a break I offered to DM a homebrewed campaign and haven't looked back since.

Favorite D&D Class: My love of animal facts fully comes to life when I play druids. The ability to cast spells, turn into animals, and become one with nature is all I could ever ask for.

Favorite Fandoms: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Disney, DC, Marvel, Avatar (both the Last Airbender & the Na'vi), One Piece, Bleach, Naruto, HunterxHunter, and Dimension 20.

Other Games I Love: My wife and I have been playing pandemic legacy for a few years now with some friends. I've also been playing video games for a loooong time. I love Assassin's Creed, Batman Arkham series, Kingdom Hearts series, Spider-Man series, Tomba, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Chrono Trigger, Pokémon, Stardew Valley, Halo (Master Chief Collection), and so many more.

When I’m Not Playing D&D: I love spending time with my wife and daughter, writing stories, and watching 80's/90's movies or anime. I am currently pursuing my Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to help support individuals with their mental health needs. And did I mention that I like video games?

Game Master

Location: Chapel Hill, NC

How I Started Playing D&D: I started playing at my own kitchen table while serving in the Navy. It remained a big part of my personal life as I pursued a career as a behavior therapist at a nonprofit for kids with autism, and now it’s part of my work life, too, as a professional GM.

Favorite D&D Class: Druids (Circle of the Moon specifically)

Favorite Fandoms: In addition to D&D, I love Magic: the Gathering, One Piece, Gundam, and Persona.

Other Games I Love: See above! I work at a combination bar and board game store, so I know and love a wide variety of games and I’m great at making recommendations to new players.

When I’m Not Playing D&D: You can find me reading, writing, and talking into microphones as a professional comedian and storyteller for hire.

Game Master

Location: Baltimore, MD

How I started playing D&D: I started playing D&D in 2014 upon the release of D&D 2014 (5th edition) as I joined an online play group that lasted until I left for college. In my sophomore I resumed playing and was soon asked to DM, running three full-length campaigns using both D&D and Monster of the Week. Although I stopped playing once I began graduate school, I never stopped working the worlds and universe I created. I’m happy to put them to use again!

Favorite D&D Class: I love multi-classing and I am known for being a power gamer. However, my go-to class is Warlock for its versatility and utility spells, especially if you multi-class it into cleric.

Favorite Fandoms: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Inheritance Cycle, Mass Effect, She-Ra, The Roots of Chaos, and The Last Apprentice…just to name a few.

Other Games I Love: Magic: The Gathering, Halo, Mass Effect, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Smite.

When I’m Not Playing D&D: I am a School Psychologist intern in Maryland who can be found at the gym every day, cooking food with my spouse, hiking weekly, and spending time with friends at local coffee shops or music venues.

Game Master, Education Coordinator

Location: Davidson, NC

How I started playing D&D: I watched Critical Role for years before I actually found a game to play in! During COVID, a group of my friends needed something to do--so we started playing D&D! A few years later, I find myself in game shops two or three times a week, playing with strangers and teaching newbies the ropes.

Favorite D&D class: Druids, especially Circle of Stars, Assassin Rogues, and Divination Wizards! (Who could chose just one?)

Favorite Fandoms: Critical Role, Dimension 20, Teen Wolf, Captain America, Spider-Man, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Merlin (BBC), Leverage 

Other Games I Love: Everdell, Mothership, Azul, Exploding Kittens, Pathfinder 1e, Splendor

When I'm Not Playing D&D: I am an educator in every part of my life! I build online courses on professional development topics for my day job, teach my friends how to play new board games and TTRPGs in my free time, and train my cat to do tricks when I’m home.