John Kesselring

John does an amazing job at combat, world-building, and roleplay as a DM. He also has amazing maps/assets and goes into great detail with environments. His character voices are fantastic and his style of DMing is both challenging, and entertaining.

John has been very fair, generous and helpful when it comes to new players, and folks who've been playing a while and have a particular style of playing. I actually brought in a friend of mine who has intense social anxiety and they have been having a great time at his table.

One thing I love about John is that he doesn't rely on rule-nerfs and banning feats/spells to manage personalities and works with you to generate a great experience. His entire style of DMing could be summed up as "Hold my beer!".

I would also recommend John if you are new to or want to explore live role-playing and are a bit shy or introverted. I actually had a hard time feeling comfortable with role-playing in my 6 years of playing, but I have had no issue doing it at his table.

John's fucking Rad!

For a first-time player, John is an amazing DM. He is engaging, entertaining and helpful. He is very new-player friendly, so if this is your first time, don't sweat it. He fosters a cohesive and fun environment. I would highly recommend any new player to join his sessions.

I joined John's Escape from Blood Manor one-shot and I had a great time! He was very kind and welcoming, and he was a fantastic DM. If you see a session offering that seems fun, whether you're a first time player or an old hat at the game, I think you'd have fun at his (virtual) table!

Storytelling: John crafted a great story that highlighted the traits of our characters that we wanted to showcase. He kept the right mood throughout, which can be really challenging in horror-themed games, and his battles, puzzles, exploration, and interactions all fit well with the overall feel of the game. Huge props for that, as a horror vibe can be tough to maintain!

Technology/props: The maps were fantastic, his music selection was on point, and he used Fantasy Grounds (a virtual tabletop software with a free version) in a way that made everything easy and enjoyable.

Mastery of the game: John clearly knows the game very well and found creative ways to use the rules to move the story and setting forward in fun and sensible ways. He also shared a lot of helpful knowledge, easily explaining things that we players (from a beginner to an active member of one of his campaigns) had forgotten or needed clarity on.

I played in a one-shot D&D session tailored to beginners, and John was an excellent teacher and DM. I asked him a million questions throughout the session, and he always provided clear, thorough responses. John is funny, patient, and so knowledgeable about D&D. I highly recommend him as DM!

It was an excellent introduction to playing DnD online. The DM was knowledgeable, entertaining, and fun. Highly recommended for new players.

For the record, had never played D&D beforehand and yet, John made learning incredibly simple! He is an exceptional storyteller and as DM has a real gift for teaching the fundamentals. His campaigns are immersive. Would encourage inquiring new players to check out his stuff. Can't miss!

I recently had the most amazing experience diving into the world of Dungeons and Dragons for the first time, and I owe it all to the fantastic Dungeon Master at the table. From the moment we began our adventure, I learned a lot about how to develop my character and backstory.

The Dungeon Master's guidance was invaluable and made the learning process incredibly smooth. He patiently explained how to work with each dice, helped me create my first character, and set the stage for an epic adventure. His passion for the game was evident, and his storytelling skills were truly impressive. I felt encouraged and supported throughout the entire game, and as a beginner, I never felt overwhelmed or lost.

I cannot recommend this Dungeons and Dragons experience enough to anyone who is new to the game or looking to explore the world of tabletop role-playing. It's an incredible journey of discovery, and with a DM as talented and supportive as this, you're guaranteed to have an unforgettable time. Five stars all the way!

John helped me troubleshoot my computer/connectivity issues and he answered all of my newbie questions about the game. His character voiceovers had our party laughing the whole way, even while we were getting pounded on by goblins. Start with John and you won’t be disappointed.

When I expressed interest in wanting to learn about D&D but not knowing where to start, John offered me the chance to watch his campaign to learn how the game worked; taking the time to answer any questions I had. It eventually lead to me joining said campaign and since then I've been having a wonderful time.

He's patient and open to hearing his player's ideas/reasons behind why we think our plan would work and if our idea doesn't work he takes the time to explain why. He also does a great job of making sure everyone is involved and has the option to do something. If they wish, all players will have the chance to be in the spotlight and get their chance to shine.

I can safely say John will make sure all his players are having a fun and enjoyable time in his campaigns; his storytelling and settings have yet to disappoint and I doubt they ever will.

I came into one of John’s campaigns relatively new to D&D and fresh out of a negative RPG experience. John seamlessly integrated me into the rest of the party and got me invested in the story, other PCs, and my own character instantly. I’d come in scared to voice when I was confused, but John patiently explained what was going on (several times, when needed) as I tried to figure out the nitty gritty of how D&D worked. He constantly checks in with his players and gives us tons of freedom to explore what we please. His stories are electrifying, his NPCs are diverse and wonderful, and his combats are incredibly dynamic. Absolutely the highlight of my week!

John has a talent for giving life to a setting and the people within them, encouraging players to think beyond themselves and really live into their characters and relationships. He knows exactly how to best challenge and highlight every player at the table, all while communicating openly and ensuring everyone is having a good time.

I came to our one shot with a goofball character concept and left mourning. Not just because some careful nudges on John's part let our party feel historied and dynamic in so short a span of time, but also because it was established as a lethal one shot beforehand and my character died horribly! (RIP Erastus Longaevus Aeternus)

It was unironically one of my favorite experiences with Dungeons and Dragons, and there is no doubt in my mind that John's future players will have unforgettable memories as well.

I joined one of John's campaigns as a completely new player, no idea about gameplay other than the things I picked up from Critical Role. He made sure I got time to familiarize myself with the game and the character I was playing.

He's welcomes creative ideas with skills, spells, character creation and conversation options and managed to somehow tailor-make an experience for everyone at the session! I later had the pleasure of joining a horror-themed one-shot he did and he made sure to check in with all players to see what their limits were and to make sure it would be fun for everyone.

the combat is always fairly balanced and even during times where the dice were completely against me, I left the session with a smile because it's always a good time.

Just typing this makes me want to create a new character. Hope we can roll again sometimes :)