LFP
Paid
D&D Beyond
Historians measure Ptolus’s age in centuries, but every resident knows that the fortress atop the impossibly tall Spire is far more ancient still. Recently, explorers also discovered extensive catacombs beneath the city’s streets. When word spread of the treasures and magic to be discovered in this labyrinthine undercity, adventurers flocked to Ptolus. The enterprising folk of the city quickly adapted to this influx, adding a boom-town atmosphere to the age-worn streets.
But the dungeons aren't Ptolus's only secret. First and foremost is that which hangs above every head in the city. The ancient fortress of Jabel Shammar was not built atop a rocky spire—in fact, the fortress came first. The vaunted spire resulted from the very earth attempting to thrust the evil within that dread place as far from it as possible.
Care to come to Ptolus, City by the Spire? Dare to try your luck in the catacombs below the streets? You might find great treasure, but you will almost certainly encounter deadly danger as well. Perhaps you’d rather pursue intrigue and adventure in the city’s streets, alleyways, pavilions and temples—for there’s plenty to be experienced there. No matter what you choose, you’ll likely find something far more intricate and complex than you ever expected.
And should you survive it all, will you hone your skills and find power and knowledge that might allow you to explore the infamous Jabel Shammar at the top of the Spire itself? Such an undertaking would certainly be the most epic of all—and it seems as if the road of any truly great hero ultimately points in that direction.
Ptolus, City by the Spire
What You Can Expect from the Jovial GM's Games
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Why Pay a Professional Dungeon Master?
It's a question I hear about as often as you would imagine: "What's the point of paying for a dungeon master? My cousin Tony does a bang-up job!" And I'm here to tell you that if your cousin Tony is a good DM and enjoys constantly running games for your group, you should lean into that. You don't need a professional DM. Unfortunately, not everyone shares your good fortune; there are plenty of people out there who don't have a DM interested in putting together a fun, exciting, unique adventure for their players week in and week out. It's a fact: most RPG aficionados prefer the role of player, and very few enjoying running games at all.
Enter the professional DM, who provides the following benefits:
About the Jovial GM
Ah, yes! I remember it like it was the day before yesterday. A group of friends sat on the porch of a row home in Gilbert, Arizona. The sun rose lazily over the Superstition Mountains, and though it was summertime, the day was not yet scorching hot. None of the friends had ever played Dungeons & Dragons before, save for the nerdy guy from across the street who had gathered us together. He owned one book and one set of dice, but it was enough to get us started. That day, Fre Talis was born, a sneakthief and cutpurse in the classic and noble line of Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.
That day changed my life forever.
Ever since that day, I have been in love with roleplaying games! It's a hobby and a lifestyle and running games, especially games for new players, is a dream job I never thought might one day happen. And yet here I am. And there you are. If you're still interested, read on!
I am Simon of the House Fiasco, first of my name, the jack of some (but really, not many) trades, the most jovial of game masters, regent of hooligans and rapscallions, lord of nothing in particular, scribbler of words, eater of Hawaiian pizza, protector of small fur-bearing animals, breaker of chairs, and speaker of dad jokes!
The name is just a nom de guerre, of course. (Isn't that a great phrase? Say it with me. Nom de guerre. You can feel the italics tickle your nasal passages, vibrating with arrogant titillation as the idiom instills a certain degree of superiority into the left frontal lobe of your cerebral cortex, can't you?)
My real name might be the unfortunate, bland, and pedestrian "Scott" or "Patrick" or "Brian." But you have to be realistic, nobody wants to be named Brian, except maybe Brian Blessed, who has really ruined the name for the rest of us with his history of sparring with the Dalai Lama, climbing Mt. Everest while handcuffed and blindfolded, and keeping a full grown grizzly bear hidden behind his massive beard. If you're going to be named Brian, you must be Brian Blessed. If you aren't Brian Blessed, what's the point?
I am not Brian Blessed, and the strange alien overlords that talk to me through a psychic eggplant insisted on a more exciting name for their Earthbound representative, so Simon Fiasco, the Jovial GM it is.
When not sitting in front of my computer creating inspiring campaign worlds (no doubt with my mouth hanging open like I just saw the ghost of someone almost (but not quite) interesting), I spend my time on a balcony overlooking the Arkansas River, playing Death Metal's Greatest Hits on my diamond-studded kazoo. I don't pretend to know the meaning of life, but I know the meaning of "sesquipidalian", and that makes me feel all extraordinarily exceptional on the inside.
If I am at my computer (and, let's face it, that's the majority of my time), mostly I'm either playing video games, devising dastardly villains, or doing something equally as silly, like pretending the Photoshop skills of someone with no true artistic talent really matter.
Just wanted to give a quick thank you to those who have responded so far! This is looking like it's going to shape up pretty nicely!