Ash Ely | Professional Game Master

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Last updated March 30, 2026 UTC.

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Pathfinder 2e

Season of Ghosts | Mystery | Horror | 🏳️‍🌈 & Beginner Friendly

Welcome to Willowshore—a town forgotten by the wider world, now teetering on the edge of ruin. Cursed by vengeful spirits and haunted by an ancient evil stirring from its millennia-long slumber, your home is in peril. Over the course of a single year, will you rise to protect it… or watch it fall into darkness?

Weekly • Thursday, 5:30 PM PDT

Next session • Apr 2

Campaign • 37 sessions run

4 / 5 Seats Filled

$30 / Session

Book on StartPlaying

1 SEAT LEFT

Pathfinder 2e

Kingmaker | Free Archetype | Beginner and 🏳️‍🌈 Friendly

The Stolen Lands are ripe settling but many rival factions seek to lay claim to this rich and valuable land. The race and pressure is on!

Bi-weekly • Saturday, 5:00 PM PDT

Next session • Apr 4

Campaign • 20 sessions run

5 / 6 Seats Filled

$30 / Session

Book on StartPlaying

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Not Just a GM.
A Storyteller.

You might know me as the "Resident Cynic" from the RPGBOT Podcast, but don't let that fool you. At my table, we're building something together. I've got the acting background to bring NPCs to life and enough system knowledge to keep things moving without getting bogged down in rulebooks.

Voice Acting Chops

Every NPC gets their own voice. The gruff innkeeper, the scheming noble, the eldritch horror whispering in your head. You'll know who's talking.

I Know the Rules

I co-host RPGBOT and study game design for fun. You don't need to memorize the rulebook. Just tell me what you want to do, and I'll handle the rest.

Everyone's Welcome

New to TTRPGs? Great. Been playing since the 80s? Also great. I run a table where everyone can show up as themselves and we all "Yes, And" each other.

The story comes first.

What Players Are Saying

"Whether new or old to 5e, Ash does an incredible job immersing you in the adventure. This was my first session playing DnD ever and I couldn't ask for a better DM."

— Kyle (28 Sessions)

"Ash runs absolutely amazing games, with top-tier storytelling and characterisation, and his table is incredibly welcoming and open. "

— Eóghan (89 Sessions)

"Incredibly challenging encounters with epic combat! Creepy and charismatic character voices at each and every turn! His Ravenloft homebrew is unparalleled!"

— Bigelf (45 Sessions)

Read all reviews on StartPlaying

Never Miss a Session Zero

My games fill up fast. Get on the list for first dibs on new campaigns and open seats. I also share occasional updates on audiobooks and other projects I'm working on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are you and why should I hire you?

My name is Ash Ely and I have been running D&D games since 5th edition first launched in 2014. I am a contributing writer to the Ennie Award winning TTRPG site RPGBOT.net, having written several articles on maximizing roleplay in your games as well as how to optimize your character. I am also a regular host on the official RPGBOT.Podcast where we discuss various news and issues related to the TTRPG sphere. I've been professionally running games since 2023 during which time I have run 350+ sessions utilizing a variety of systems.

What is the main focus of your games? Combat? Story? Puzzles?

I will freely admit that puzzles are not my biggest strong suit, though I do utilize them on occasion. My focus in my games tends to be on narrative and character, punctuated with visceral, challenging combat. I enjoy stories that are driven by strong characters and not just plot. I always try to give my players space to let their characters shine and feel awesome. Part of that comes from making uniquely challenging combat encounters that my players have described as "tough but fair". I highly encourage roleplay and character development between my players.

How long is a typical session with you?

My games average about 2-3 hours. I feel this is adequate time for most of my sessions without being so short that nothing is accomplished and overly long to the point of tedium. My longer sessions can push 4 hours but longer than that, I feel energy starts to take a nose dive both from a player and GM perspective.

What sorts of systems do you run?

I run a variety of systems and am constantly trying to expand my TTRPG knowledge. That said, the systems I have most familiarity with are D&D (2014 and 2024), Pathfinder 2e (My personal favorite), Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition (and Pulp Cthulhu) as well as Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition. I am currently in the process of also learning Lancer, Cyberpunk and FFG Star Wars. If there is a game you want to learn but can't find someone to run it for you, I am usually open to learning it with you!

What tends to be the tone of your games?

I tend to run more epic campaigns that see my players go from 1-20. I enjoy watching my players start as scrappy underdogs, dealing with the small issues facing their community, to eventually becoming demigods as they try to punch out the very gods themselves. My games tend to be a bit more on the serious end of the spectrum with heavy themes, but also room for silliness and comedy.

What are your inspirations?

I take inspiration from a variety of different media, especially video games and anime. I enjoy stories that have a healthy skepticism of authority, even the gods themselves, as well as considering the very nature of existence.

Do you tend to run pre-written or homebrew adventures?

I do both! Currently, however, I tend to stick to pre-written adventures that I shift and add to, as they are less time consuming to prep for and they have more name recognition. I do occasionally run my own homebrew games though, so keep an eye out for those!

Do you do private games?

Absolutely! Time permitting, I love running games for pre-established groups. The charge for such tables is only $5 more than my public rates ($35/person)

How do I sign up?

You can check out one of my publicly listed games and message me privately at startplaying.games/gm/gravenashes or you can email me at [email protected]. I look forward to playing together!