As much as we'd all love to get paid to play, a majority of us have to do something other than rolling dice for a living. Welcome to another installment of Nice Job, DM! where we talk to cool DMs about their cool jobs.
Today's interviewee is Howard, an avid boardgamer you can find on Insta, who is also a detective! That's right, a real-life Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, or Miss Marple! Let's investigate...
Can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Howard and I am a fellow DM, dice roller, and dungeoneer.
Hello, Howard! I already spoiled it but, you tell us, what is your day job?
So cool!! How did you come to be a detective?
After attending college and majoring in Criminal Law and Society, I applied to be a police officer without really knowing what I was getting myself in to, but after working for a couple years, I realized how much I enjoyed being a police officer. It is such a rewarding of a career. It was fulfilling knowing that I was helping the community through my service. Some time later, I promoted to the rank of detective where I have investigated violent crimes, gang crimes, domestic violence, and narcotic crimes.
What's your favorite part of being a detective?
The favorite part of my job is when I get to investigate a crime from beginning to end. There is the thrill of the chase, but the most rewarding part is when a victim receives justice. Sometimes it’s a thankless job, but I know that I am making a positive impact in the community.
All most of us know of detectives we learned from TV. Do you have any advice for someone interested in becoming one?
First, my advice to anyone doing any job is to take pride in what you do. Work hard at even the smallest tasks. If you can complete even then most menial tasks well, you can be entrusted with so much more. When applying this principle to my line of work, I would say, first work hard at being a police officer, because that is where you learn the preliminary skills to become a detective. The attention to detail and interpersonal skills that you develop can pay dividends in your investigations when you become a detective.
When did you start playing D&D?
I’m relatively new to Dungeons and Dragons, but have always been into board games. I was introduced to DnD during Covid where I played a warlock amongst a group of coworkers. We played 5e and I really enjoyed being able to “escape” from some of the realities of what was happening in 2020.
Welcome to the hobby! How often do you DM now?
After finishing that campaign, I decided to run a home game with my friends. We are currently playing in Wildemount and it’s been about 4 years. I run it for a group of six friends about once a month at my house.
What's your favorite part of DMing?
Maybe it’s my inner detective, but I love when the the party comes up with creative ways to solve a problem in game.
Makes sense, do you find being a detective translates at all to DMing?
Absolutely, I feel like a lot of the real world scenarios I face are somehow incorporated into our game. For example, one of the clandestine organizations in our game is running an underground drug lab. I feel like even in our fantasy world, I can make that seem very realistic because of the experience I have in the real world.
Can you tell us about your favorite table moment so far?
My favorite memory in game was when my 10 year old son decided he would try to befriend an owlbear instead of slaying it. They encountered the imprisoned owlbear which was captured by a necromantic cult. The owlbear attacked the party and dealt a decent amount of damage. It was endearing to see my son have compassion for the owlbear and attempt to befriend it mid-combat. Unfortunately, the dice were not in his favor but the gesture itself was so sweet. Later in the campaign, I allowed him to befriend a warthog. Hakuna Matata
Adorable! Last, but not least, what advice or house rules do you have for new DMs?