Team A DMs

Steve Sabo

Hey friends, both new and old! I’m Steve and I’m thrilled to be returning to DnD Fest for my fifth year. I was a player at DnD Fest for the first 4 years, and DM’ed for an additional 4 years. Last year marked the conclusion of an incredible four-year campaign that spanned several realms, a journey filled with unforgettable moments and player-driven storytelling. I’m now looking forward to working with a new set of Dungeon Masters to bring you a brand-new storyline. I’ve been playing Dungeons & Dragons since 2010, starting with 3.5 in a college dorm, where I quickly transitioned from player to Dungeon Master. I’ve played a few other systems, but D&D is my top preference. My goal is to make every session immersive and memorable, providing opportunities for players to interact deeply with the lore and discover their unique place in the story. I can’t promise that I can fit certain backstory elements into the game, as its difficult to determine what table you’ll end up on per session, but I’ll certainly try!

My table won’t feature room-by-room dungeon crawls, I’m not a fan of those. Expect hand-crafted terrain and 3D printed elements, painted miniatures, and unique combat scenarios that aren’t just random battles that challenge both your strategy and creativity. I rarely use by-the-book monsters and build most of my enemies by hand, so don't expect to fight the same things you've been fighting in your home games. Relationships with NPCs matter, choices carry weight that could affect future adventures, and roleplaying is highly encouraged. Whether you’re deciphering a riddle, navigating a moral dilemma, or diving into a climactic battle, I promise you a session filled with excitement, teamwork, and opportunities for character growth. I can’t wait to see you at the table and help craft this next chapter of DnD Fest!

Jim Aslinger

I’m excited to join DnD Fest as a Dungeon Master for the first time! I began with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st Edition. After a long break after the release of 2nd edition, I returned with the release of 5th Edition, diving back into both playing and Dungeon Mastering. As a DM, my style strikes a balance between engaging combat (50–65%) and storytelling, incorporating puzzles (20-25%) and role-playing (15-25%) into his games. I prefer the tactical depth of grid-based play with miniatures over theater of the mind, ensuring a visually dynamic experience for players.

Matt Somers:

After attending all eight of the previous Festivals as a player, I’ve finally decided to take the plunge as a Dungeon Master. As for my bona fides: I’ve been playing D&D for over 40 years, published two TTRPGs, DM’d at Gen Con and Origins, and run two active campaigns.

I think my primary job as a DM is to run a game where everyone can have fun by telling a good story and triumphing over evil together. I try to do this by providing the party with (hopefully) engaging scenarios, interesting NPCs, and other unexpected challenges. I am somewhat old school, but don’t consider my role as a DM to be adversarial. I am, by and large, a stickler for the rules, but they can sometimes be bent for the sake of a compelling plot point.

When playing in one of my games, you can anticipate seeing: puzzles and props, combats and obstacles that reward teamwork and inventiveness, role-playing with tough choices that come with consequences, and villains you will love to hate. Did I mention puzzles? All of this usually comes packaged with a bit of humor and a chance for each player to have the spotlight for a bit.