A Tales From the Tavern Q&A with Wes Allen of DM Tales
NOTE: the opinions expressed in interviews are those of the guests, not necessarily those of shadomain.com.
Today we talk to Wes Allen, the creator of the YouTube channel and blog DM Tales. You can find him here:
Youtube: https://www.Youtube.com/@dmtalesttrpg
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dmtales.bsky.social
Mastodon: https://dice.camp/@dmtales
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmtalesttrpg/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dm_tales
Now let's hear from Wes!
How did you get started in TTRPGs? What came first: board games, card games, TTRPGs, video games?
My cousins had picked up B/X and after staying with them for a weekend I was hooked. They played a mish-mash of B/X and AD&D, though. My first character was a chaotic good thief.
When I got home from my cousin’s house I insisted my Dad take me out and get the game for myself. We actually drove around to several different stores and found the Moldvay Basic Set. That started me collecting through the 80s and into the early 90s. My cousins stopped playing soon after they introduced me to the game!
To this day I have no idea why my dad decided to give in to my demands to get D&D.
What made you decide to create your YouTube channel? Did you have a background in performing before starting your channel?
I’ve got some background in media creation, yah.
I’ve been fascinated by web-communication since I first connected to the web in the 90s, and while I was in seminary I worked as a Technology Assistant for a local middle school right at the time when iMovie was being introduced and that began my fascination with video editing.
My use of video and self-publishing in my pastoral work landed me a gig as the communications coordinator for my denominational region. I held this position for about a decade and in charge of all publications, promotions, videos, presentations, and media coordination for our annual event… “part time.” I learned a ton while doing this. But resigned shortly after the pandemic hit.
I started the channel because I’d gotten back into TTRPGs during the pandemic, and started DMing at the end of 2020. A couple of months after that I thought it would be fun to talk about my sessions.
I was also looking to see if I could do it. I’d always worked on promoting the brand for other groups. I wanted to see if I could make something for myself that folks would find interesting. It’s been fun.
Can you describe your channel? What are its goals and what do you have in mind for the future?
I shifted toward reviews and short commentaries a while back, and that’s most of what folks will find on the channel. I’m told my reviews are thorough, though I never set out to make them so. My secret is I write my reviews in a way that lets me go back and watch them to learn a system when I decide to run it!
I also do some live streams with folks who I find interesting and have something interesting to share. These conversations are some of my favorite things to produce for the channel, and I’ve met some wonderful people because of them.
The overall theme of the channel is “honesty and kindness.” I’m sick of unkindness being confused with “strength” and controversy being confused with “compelling.” I don’t chase the algorithm, but I do enjoy having people interact with my content.
In the future I’m hoping to host some actual plays so I can test out more systems with my friends!
Do you prefer being a GM or being a player, and why?
Good question. For the most part I find I have come to enjoy GMing more because I’m always involved in the game. I do enjoy playing a specific character and developing who they are, but gravitate toward rules lite games so I don’t have to wait forever to have my character take a turn.
What other hobbies are you interested in?
I was into photography for about a decade, and will still take out my camera every now and again to capture some cool scenes. Three things have caused me to drive away from it a bit. First, getting camera gear is expensive, and getting the pieces I’d like is beyond my means. Second, the more I do video the more I’m fascinated with that process over photography. Editing photos and cataloging them is time consuming! Third, my phone started taking better photos than my changeable lens camera, so I drifted toward “the best camera is the one you have” mentality and just stayed there.
I also love writing. It’s therapeutic for me.
What is your current favorite ttrpg?
In my current list it’s Dragonbane, though it’s really a coin flip between that and Cypher System/Numenera.
What TTRPG would you like to play, but haven’t had the chance to try yet?
The Electric State is right at the top of my list. I’m going to play that before the year is out.
Do you prefer playing TTRPGs online or in person, and why?
I started online during the pandemic and there’s a lot I appreciate about it. For one thing, the commute is to my computer so I can put my little to bed and get on to play, no problem! Online play also broadens my play group beyond my geographic region and allows us to play near-weekly.
In person gaming, though, is a whole other experience, and I love it. Rolling real dice, playing off other folks at the table, and watching people as they go through the adventure is amazing. With schedules, however, we only get to play monthly.
I denigrate neither style, but I do love an in person group.
What creation (show, writing, game/adventure, sermon, anything really) are you most proud of?
Oh…let’s see
I wrote an ICRPG sci-fi/horror adventure that my friend, Dave Ward, tweaked. He’s doing a fantastic layout for it and it’ll be published in the near future.
But my bucket list item was to write a novel, and I did! In The Land of the Penny Gnomes is about a young boy being sucked into The Realm of Imagination and having to stop an invasion of rogue copyright lawyers.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to get into YouTube or streaming?
Do not chase the algorithm. It’s a joy-sucker. Make something you want to make, and enjoy sharing. You’ll have more fun with it, and TTRPGs are supposed to be fun.
Well, that’s advice if you just want to make something you enjoy and want to share with others. If you want to make a career out of YouTube you do have to chase the algorithm.
What haven’t we asked you that you’d like everyone to know about?
I’m a left-handed, middle child, Gen-Xer. I am varsity Gen-X.
