Team A DMs

Steve Sabo

Hail adventurer, DM Steve here! I’m thrilled to return to the DnD Fest for my sixth year of service. I participated in the very first four-year campaign as a player, and I immediately knew that first year that there was something really special about this event. It’s been a privilege watching it grow and evolve over the past decade, and I look forward to bring you a truly unforgettable DnD experience this year.

As a DM, my goal is to make every session immersive and memorable, providing opportunities for players to interact deeply with the lore and discover their unique place in the story. My table won’t feature room-by-room dungeon crawls. While dungeon crawls have their place within D&D, they just aren’t my style. Expect a mixture of hand-crafted terrain,3D printed elements, painted miniatures, and a hand-made 32” TV map table. At my table you won’t find yourself in a random battle that is meant to fluff for time. Each encounter is hand crafted as a larger part of the overall story and is meant to challenge both your strategy and creativity. I rarely use by-the-book monsters and build most of my enemies by hand, so don't expect to fight the same things you've been fighting in your home games. Relationships with NPCs matter, choices carry weight that could affect future adventures, and roleplaying is highly encouraged. Whether you’re deciphering a riddle, navigating a moral dilemma, or diving into a climactic battle, I promise you a session filled with excitement, teamwork, and opportunities for character growth.

One important note regarding the players who choose to purchase a ticket for Team A. The DM’s of Team A take pride in crafting a unique storyline that involves all three parties within Team A. As such, you are strongly encouraged to talk to the other parties that make up Team A between each session. We are not just creating 3 unique storylines independent of each other. Each session may hold clues to help understand the greater storyline and perhaps even give you an advantage at the next table.

I look forward to seeing you in September!

Pat Collins

Greetings, Adventurers! Back in the summer of 1983, my buddy, Paul, introduced me to the game known as Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. I fell in love with the game. Since then, I have been a player and DM in multiple campaigns through 1st, 2nd, 3/3.5, and 5th edition D&D as well as the first and second editions of Pathfinder. I playtested 2e D&D and helped design another fantasy TTRPG. I like to run a game with a nice blend of people interaction, combat, puzzles, and environmental challenges. I query the parties running with me and will adjust the adventures accordingly. I love good terrain and scenery to set the mood, as I am a visual learner and presenter. I am thankful for Matt Somers and Jason Cannata, who invited me along to the Festival in the Forest circa 2018, where I have been a Player for seven wonderful weekend sessions in the woods. I have two delightful daughters who also play on occasion, and a wife who gladly supports my whimsical wanderlust into fantasy realms. May your blades be sharp, your wit be sharper, and your mug and purse remain ever full. Cheers!

Matt Somers:

I am pleased to say that I’ve attended every Festival in the Forest. After being a player for the first eight years, I finally jumped to the other side of the DM screen. 2026 will mark my second year as a Festival Dungeon Master and I look forward to continuing what we started at Team A. As for my bona fides: I’ve been playing D&D for over 40 years, published two TTRPGs, DM’d at Gen Con and Origins, and run two active campaigns.

I think my primary job as a DM is to run a game where everyone can have fun by telling a good story and triumphing over evil together. I try to do this by providing the party with (hopefully) engaging scenarios, interesting NPCs, and other unexpected challenges. I am somewhat old school, but don’t consider my role as a DM to be adversarial. I am, by and large, a stickler for the rules, but they can sometimes be bent for the sake of a compelling plot point.

When playing in one of my games, you can anticipate seeing: puzzles and props, combats and obstacles that reward teamwork and inventiveness, role-playing with tough choices that come with consequences, and villains you will love to hate. All of this usually comes packaged with a bit of humor and a chance for each player to have the spotlight for a bit. I hope to see you at my table or around the campfire!