Learn to Play Tales From the Loop
Explore countryside, uncover weird science, and share in the challenges of being a kid in this 1980s sci-fi world of mystery and strangeness.
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Once / Wednesday - 4:00 PM UTC
Jul 15
Session Duration / 2–3 hours
1 / 5 Seats Filled
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
Report Adventure
StartPlaying Money Back Guarantee
If your game doesn't happen, we guarantee a refund. Just reach out to StartPlaying Support. Refund Policy
Meet your party members
1/5
About the adventure
Ever thought your hometown had secrets to discover? This one does! 👀 Pepper your hometown with quirky characters 🤖 Confront weird science, magic, and more! 📓 Balance home, school, and friends 🔨 Create a secret hideout for you and your friends 🌈 All are welcome to this respectful table! Tales from the Loop captures the adventures of youth in a struggling town with the added science fiction spice of Stranger Things, The Goonies, ET, and more. The ability to succeed at tests by taking conditions (this game's narrative damage system) means the story continues to propel forward, but at costs to our young adventurers. Resources You can check out the system basics with this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ9feKNGlpY.
Game style
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Roleplay Heavy
Theater of the Mind
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(20)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
56 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Teacher, Creativity
Average response time: 6 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
I offer: 🏳️🌈 A welcoming, inclusive play style 🔥 Player-focused flair and action 🧭 Open-ended storytelling following player cues 🎭 In-game action, horror, awe, and comedy ⚖️ Settings with themes of justice and transformation 📆 Over a decade of game mastering experience 🖋️ Know-how with dozens of systems Even in the midst of death-defying adventure or bone-chilling horror, I aim to be a warm and welcoming game master. LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC players can expect respect at my tables. I've run games for children, seniors, and all ages in between. Safety tools such as the X Card are always part of my table. I suffuse hope, respect, and warmth into every session I run. That's why I go by the Gentle GM. At thirteen, three of us huddled around the Dungeons & Dragons 3e starter set, laughing at a natural 20 to breakdown a door with the fighter's head. In high school, I found the Call of Cthulhu rulebook and made investigators, still clueless how to actually play. In 2014 with the launch of D&D 5e and Call of Cthulhu 7e, I committed to running these games and an old love sparked brilliantly to life! I've since taught dozens their first TTRPG! I'm an inveterate game dabbler. If you're curious if I run a particular game, just ask! I'm up to the challenge to try something new you're excited to play. I run games full-time. You can expect preparation and dedication at my table. Local cafes and bars also host my game sessions and workshops. My newsletter and itch page also share game design reflections and projects. Images are used with permission from James' RPG Art, https://jamesrpgart.com.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Caleb | The Gentle GM will provide pre-made character sheets for you to choose from after you sign up or at the start of the game.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Players will need: 1) Discord profile and to join the Gentle GM server 2) A mic and headphones (webcam is encouraged, but not required) 3) Computer access to Foundry (Foundry on tablet is experimental) Players can use physical dice if they prefer. Discord also offers Dice Golem for dice rolling.
What Caleb | The Gentle GM brings to the table
You can expect: 🌈 Colorful characters and fantastical settings 🎭 Theatrical acting for side characters with a touch of voiceacting 🎉 Celebration of character success and plot beats 💜 Respect and consideration of my players But my players say it better than I can: "Caleb’s tables feel inclusive and safe. I love how he encourages player creativity." - Cindy "I've been part of multiple table-top gaming groups in the past 10 years and Caleb's storytelling, world-building, knowledge of different systems, and ability to create an inclusive, safe space for every single player at the table is (and I say this with my whole chest) exceptional." - Jenna "I've played and run games for years now, and Caleb truly brings player involvement and agency to a different level than I see elsewhere." - Matt
Equipment needed to play
Headphones
Computer
Internet
Platforms used
Safety
How Caleb | The Gentle GM creates a safe table
Safety Tools are always part of my table and briefing on them is part of every one shot session. Commands in Discord will be observed, including: - X: X Card pauses play and creates a break. As your GM, I'll rewind or otherwise determine how best to return to the action. - Rw or Rewind: Rewind a scene that included content that you do not feel is appropriate. - Ff or Fastforward: Jump ahead to the next scene to bypass sensitive content. You can expect child endangerment, sci-fi tropes, and melancholia. In Tales From the Loop, adults are often disconnected from their children. Note that Kids in Tales From the Loop cannot die. When a character is exhausted, they are Broken, but remain alive. This is not a game about child death.
Content warnings
Safety tools used