At a Glance
My name is Michaela Kane and I am a professional Dungeon Master (DM) based in Tokyo. I have been a Dungeon Master for several multi-year campaigns, as well as numerous one-shot adventures.
Like many DMs, I began as a player. But as my interest in Dungeons & Dragons grew, I began to feel the need to create my own stories and adventures for others.
What is a Dungeon Master?
A Dungeon Master (DM) is the person who runs a game of Dungeons & Dragons. Typically, the DM is responsible for creating a world for players to explore, including the enemies they fight, the non-player characters (NPCs) they interact with, and the overall environment.
A talented DM is someone who can not only craft complex stories that integrate individual characters and their pasts, but can also think on their feet and respond to players’ choices in real time. On top of all that, a DM should be an expert in the mechanics of D&D, so less of the group’s time is spent on looking up rules in the manual, and instead playing the game.
My Dungeon Master Philosophy
It is important to note that every Dungeon Master has their own way of playing the game. Some eschew strict rulings on mechanics to ease players’ way into the game, while others believe such detail is required for a full immersion in the world. Some DMs favor a tighter overarching storyline, while others take a sandbox approach and let players’ choices take the group where they may.
My personal philosophy as a DM is: let the players decide. Do my players want a simple and clean linear story with achievable goals and specific quests? Or would they rather wander freely about the world I’ve crafted, while I just serve as a tour guide to point out interesting features on their journey? Whatever is fun for you is fun for me!
Tokyo Dungeon Master 