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Ted Bushman

Ted Bushman

5.0

(8)

4 years on StartPlaying

9 games hosted

About me

When we play together, be ready for original composed music, homebrewed content, and a focus on roleplaying and group storytelling. As a fantasy/science fiction author, actor, and writer of musicals, I have more than a decade's experience in interactive storytelling. My games are about wonder, imagination, and character. I've been GMing professionally since 2020 in story-focused, imaginative games -- Blades in the Dark, Numenera, Tales from the Loop, and D&D.

GM Style

Storytelling is central to me both as a GM and a player. That means the NPCs in this world are reactive and voiced with tons of dialects and affectations. That means when I prepare a session, I am thinking about exciting experiences for the players -- not meat-grinder gauntlets to throw characters into. That means I prefer combat encounters with interesting enemies/locations/scenarios more than dry mechanical experiences. I love empowering players to roleplay and tell the stories that excite them. I'm a frequent homebrewer, constantly building addendums to systems and writing tons of fresh new content to whatever system we're using.

Game platforms used
Game Master Reviews (8)
Kate avatar

Kate

Played 9 sessions

I was a little nervous going into a new system, but Ted was the perfect GM for introducing you to Numenera, and the Monster of the Week format was a great way to get into it. Ted took the time to help me develop my character before the session so I felt comfortable getting into role-play and the story right off the bat. He also sprinkled tutorials throughout the session instead of doing a huge info dump at the beginning. Great fun! Great GM! Can't recommend enough!

Kasey Tayrien avatar

Kasey Tayrien

Ted is fantastic. He's been GMing for a group of my friends for about a month now and honestly it's the highlight of my week. Ted is great about making sure every player is included and getting what they are looking for in the sessions. He makes a point to check in and make sure we're good with how things are progressing and that he's making an experience that we're enjoying. He brings the NPCs to life with unique voices and consistent characterization (honestly, there are a couple I would 100% sacrifice my character for because I love them so much - not that this scenario is likely to come up in the story, but if it ever did, no hesitation). I appreciate the mix of races, variations in gender, and diversity in the NPCs that we've met so far. Honestly, Ted is one of the best GMs I've had the pleasure to game with. 100% recommend this guy, he's absolutely earned it.

Alex Forsythe  avatar

Alex Forsythe

So much fun! I'm new to role playing games and was very intimidated by it all. Ted is patient, inclusive and helpful. He helped me develop my character and gives me lots of chances to do cool things while playing. I don't feel like I'm fighting for chance to shine even though my character is not a fighter. Tons of cool world building too!

Carson Wright avatar

Carson Wright

Ted is one of, if not the most, all-around imaginative game masters I've had the pleasure of playing with. Ted has ran games for me in multiple systems and settings, and no matter the content, he has a great gift for expanding the world, really immersing you in its mysteries and wonders. There is so much room for role play and exploration, and despite our best efforts, we haven't been able to throw him off yet. :) I love to play with Ted, and if you have a chance to, please do it!

Nicole McClellan avatar

Nicole McClellan

If you want a fantastic GM, Ted is the guy for you. He’s always prepared at the beginning of sessions with so many options, it truly feels like an open world experience. His descriptions are absolutely transporting. It’s amazing how rejuvenated I feel after spending time in the wondrous world he creates, especially feeling so trapped/suffocated with Covid. The story lines he creates are incredible and his NPC work is so great! A fantastic variety of personalities, mannerisms and accents. I’ve been playing with him as a GM for months and no two characters have been the same. He really focuses on the story and experience of his players and is very respectful in honoring the playing style of the participants. Out of 10 stars I would give him 15; he’s just that good!

Kristin Perkins avatar

Kristin Perkins

Hey you! The person checking reviews and asking “who should I play with in this database of creative humans?” The answer to that question is Ted. I’m dead serious, and you can trust me on this one. Stop looking. You’ve arrived. I’ve been a TTRPG casually and occasionally for years, always thinking “this is a fun excuse to hang out with friends.” From the first session with Ted as GM, it felt different. I felt transported to an incredible world with beautiful floating cities, underground and cavernous ruins, and winter mountains as sharp as glass, all populated by adorable and sulky children, brilliant scientists feigning polite interest, and beautiful mercenaries with mysterious backstories. After months trapped inside during a global pandemic, my jaunts into Ted’s world felt visceral in the way travel does, actually getting on that train/plane/bus. It has been a life-saver during the months of quarantine. Besides being an excellent writer (great world-building, great plots, moral complexity), Ted is a fantastic actor. Each character feels like a new fleshed-out person with a distinguishing accent, idiolect, and backstory. Ted thinks quickly on his feet. Even when his players throw batty roleplaying his way, he picks it up in-character and runs with it, from flirtatious stargazing to drunken break-downs. He generously incorporates all players roleplaying and ideas into an evolving story so gracefully that it’s novelesque. Oh, and he’s always prepared with maps and a soundtrack, and he sometimes composes his own music for the session. I’ll repeat that: he composes his own music for the session. Look, Ted is an actual professional actor and an actual published writer and an actual composer and a huge nerd, and if those credentials don’t impress you, let me say this: I’ll wager my best set of dice that you’ll have a good time with Ted as your GM. Message me if you don’t, the dice are swirly blue and yellow, but you have to pay for the shipping.

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