Last week at one point, as I was sipping coffee, I opened up my YouTube studio and discovered that I had hit 4000 subscribers! I’ve got some shout outs to make, and a giveaway to announce!
When I first started DM Tales, over four years ago, I had no idea what it would become. I figured I’d share some stories, my friends would get a chance to laugh at their antics, and maybe I’d share a video or two that some folks found helpful.
But, wow, what a journey it’s been. I’ve got to interview some amazing creators, I’ve made a bunch of friends, I’ve been able to go to a couple of conventions, and I’ve been able to meet some of the incredible people who make the tabletop role-playing game hobby such an amazing thing. I’ve even held my own convention, but more on that in a bit.
So, thank you. All of you
Thank you who watch the channel and have not forgotten to “like, comment, and subscribe!”
Thank you, “Coffee Contributors” who support the channel and help me keep doing what I’m doing.
Thank you to the folks who have come on DM Tales to chat with little old me. And there are too many to list them all, but if you go here you can see the playlist for yourself!
Thank you to all the folks who have played with me at tables both physical and virtual. Without you I’ve got nothing to talk about!
Thank you to the friends I’ve made through this channel. Dan, Jacob, and Dave Ward—from Avenue Studios and Grimwood games, respectively. You are awesome and without you conventions would be no where near as fun.
Great Moustache, thanks for coming along for the ride—I can’t wait to see the d6 version of OpenLegend!
Skrat, you’re a squirrel and your game is NUTS.
Dave from Gamers on Games, you offer me far more kindness than I deserve.
John Fredericks from Sharp Mountain Games, words cannot express how much I appreciate your friendship and the kindness you’ve shown me.
Derek White (AKA The Geek Preacher), thanks for the work you do, the kindness you show folks, and for being my Gamehole Con roommate!
Elise, you came to the first Ecclesicon wondering if you’d be welcomed and I’m so glad you believed me when I said, “Yes!” It’s been amazing to keep up with all you’ve been doing in the hobby and I am psyched that you took to plunge to become a GM!
Ron, the brains behind the Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo, thanks for all your help as I stepped into unknown territory and planned Ecclesicon—it wouldn’t be what it is without you.
Speaking of Ecclesicon, thanks to everyone who has helped make it so much fun and allowed us to do some good with our hobby! A huge shout out to the GMs, the volunteers, the staff, the people who didn’t know they were staff, the special guests, the vendors, the sponsors, and all the players. I can’t wait until May 1&2 in 2026!
Thanks also to some of my fellow Dungeon Tubers and TTRPG creatives who have been such an encouragement for me. Jorbin from Elder Goblin Games, Tanner from Paladin Prose (who invited me to sit at the cool kids table at PaxU), Todd from Hexed Press, all the folks at Cypher Unlimited, Preston from The Nintendads, Bruce Ballon from Hounds & Jackals, The Dungeon Minister, and Heather Ashcroft (AKA valygirl_heather). You all make me smile.
Thanks to all the folks who looked at me and thought, “Hey, I think I want him to review my game.” I don’t want to forget anyone—so I’m not even going to try list folks. I’m grateful to everyone who has sent me anything for review. And I’m very thankful for folks who are being patient as they wait for me to get to their stuff! I’m trying to read everything and I will get to it!
And a couple of shoutouts to some folks who made me feel like DM Tales was something worth doing.
Martin from Daddy Rolled a 1. First, you’re one of the kindest people I’ve encountered through TTRPG social media. And I love it when we get to catch up. Second, I will never forget you reaching out to see if I’d accept one of your tee-shirts and give you a shout out on my channel—that blew me away. And now you’ve leapt way past me on YouTube with your amazing retrospectives on the hobby. For anyone who’s interested in the history of Tabletop Role-Playing Games you’re a must watch channel, and that is incredible.
Chris Gonnerman, the man behind Basic Fantasy RPG. The community you made, the integrity you have shown managing it, and the kind words you’ve shared on any video where Basic Fantasy RPG is mentioned mean a lot to me. BFRPG remains one of my favorite games and communities. I’m grateful for what you’ve helped create, and even more grateful for you as a person. One day I hope I get to shake your hand (or give you fist bump) in person.
Kelsey Dionne, the Arcane Librarian. Every time I’ve been in contact with you, for numerous reasons, you have gone above and beyond. And that’s not because of me, it’s because of who you are—which is something anyone who’s met you will echo. The encouragement you sent me when I was working on a project proposal last year meant so much to me I still have your email printed out and displayed in my workspace/studio! Thanks for being you, Kelsey.
Doug Shute, transformers obsessionist and Victory Condition Gamer, wow. I’ve said many times on this channel but your insistence that I was not a nuisance to creators when I asked to speak with them or review their games was a much-needed wake-up call! Had you not given me that I’d have never reached out to the good folks at publishers like Monte Cook Games or Chaosium. You also personally got me connected with the folks at Free League, and introduced me to Rico and Simone from Two Little Mice and Luke Stratton from Limitrhon. Doug, thanks for your friendship! You’re awesome.
Wow that’s a lot of name drops.
But here’s the thing. Playing Tabletop Role-Playing Games is about making friends and telling stories. Many of the folks involved in this industry—game designers, publishers, dungeon tubers, event organizers, and folks who are “just players”—recognize this and encourage it. So the connections I’ve made say less about me as they do about this hobby in general—it’s meant to create connections between folks. I’ve just been fortunate to do it this way, through DM Tales.
And none of this is to say that the TTRPG hobby is this perfect, welcoming, space. Because it’s not. Anytime you get a bunch of humans doing anything there are going to be bad actors involved somewhere—and you don’t have to dig that deep to uncover some in this hobby. But the majority of folks, in whatever way they’re involved in TTRPGs, are just looking for the connection that being part of a shared story creates. I think that’s amazing, and I’m glad I get to be a small part of helping those connections form.
Here’s to the next 4000 subscribers, folks!
To celebrate this milestone, I’m giving away this 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Players handbook. To enter the giveaway go to my celebration video begin a comment with this phrase,
My favorite TTRPG is
Be sure to type it in just like that, because it’s how I’m going to filter comments for the entries! And, while I love comments here, be sure to share yours on the video to make it eligible for the giveaway!
I’ll leave entries open for a week, and then I’ll announce the winner on a live stream!
Thank you, everyone. Until we see each other again, “Happy playing, everyone.”
