Brian

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How Brian runs games

Full disclosure, I am very much a low-prep, high improv type of GM. My session prep is basically "where are the players now, what are they trying to accomplish, have a few NPCs in mind, what do the players want, and boom, ready to go." As for things like combat and RP, I'm more RP focus. Fights tend to be the climax of a given session or arc, rather than it being the main focus. Of course, your mileage may ; if I'm running MOTW, most arcs will end in a big showdown. But if I'm running a cloak and dagger style Spire, perhaps combat is something the players try to avoid and are reserved for the really juicy story beats. As for world building, I'm very light on that. I fill out details on a need-to-know basis. But what I can guarantee is that players will have a role in building the type of world they want to play in. Wanna deal with an evil organization of sexy vampires? Boom, they're in the game now. Want to fight monsters straight out of a Resident Evil game? Boom, there's an abomination terrorizing the city. You want me to be absolutely brutal in my combat encounters? Boom, your character is now at the brink of death. And finally, tone. This is, once again, a "your mileage may vary" type of situation. I won't lie and say that I like my games to be on the darker side; character's limits are being tested, situations may seem absolutely dire, and the antagonists are terrifying. That said, I always have Lines and Veils and an X-Card in my games, so I promise you I will respect boundaries and make sure that your fellow players do the same. Of course, if I'm running a game like Masks or Honey Heist, of course I'm going to be a lot more light hearted and PG-13. And even then, my darker games aren't 3 straight hours of brooding; I will always have room for some goofs. Also, I prefer to run short or medium sized campaigns. On average, I try to have my campaigns last between 8-12 sessions (2-3 months if no weeks are skipped). Meaning, there's not a lot of slow burn arcs. TL;DR 1) Games are on the darker side, but will always have room for levity. 2) More RP focused, but love a good "final showdown against the Big Bad" 3) Am very loose and chill with prep. 4) I always make worldbuilding a collaborative effort 5) Respect boundaries. 6) Campaigns are, on average, 8-12 sessions long

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Brian's ideal table

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