Arcane Pretender

he/him

Timezone

Pacific/auckland

Language

English

Identity

BIMPOC

About Arcane Pretender

Hi, I’m Isaac. I’ve been playing TTRPGs since 2017, when I got my start with the Boston Pathfinder Society. I took my first awkward steps as a player there, but it wasn’t long before I found myself running games and I’ve been behind the screen ever since. These days, I work as a professional Game Master with Questbook, running games both online and in-person. I host regular sessions at a local café in my hometown, have run games at conventions across New Zealand, and my first online campaign is going strong with a fantastic group of players. While I love connecting with the NZ community, I’m also looking to expand my services to a wider international audience and run a wider variety of TTRPG's.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

It just felt right. Over the years I accumulated a bunch of seemingly unrelated skills that all come together as a GM. It's always stuck ever since and whenever times get tough, I find that the hobby keeps me grounded.

I got started GMing...

With the Pathfinder Society in Boston. I asked the group if they'd be open to a new player trying to run a game and they were very helpful. I still use the same Pathfinder dry erase battle map that they gave me :)

My favorite books are

The Book of the New Sun series, Stormlight Archives / Cosmere in general, The Expanse series, The Elric Saga, to name a few haha. Plus works by Jack Vance and other pulp fiction novels.

How Arcane Pretender runs games

My approach to GMing is character-centric, with a focus on player agency, interpersonal drama, and choices that carry meaningful consequences. I balance structured storytelling with room for improvisation, allowing players to shape the world around them in real time. I tend to incorporate dry humour, grounded tension, and occasional macabre elements, depending on the tone the group wants to strike. My goal is to run sessions that are consistent, engaging, and built around the players’ actions whether that's in long-form campaigns or tightly scoped one-shots.

Arcane Pretender's ideal table

I run a table where character investment and respect for players matter. Players who care about who their character is, what they want, and how they act will fit well. I balance roleplay and exploration, and I build space for character choices to shape the story. Active roleplay is important. You don’t need to do voices, but you should be present, engaged, and consistent with how your character behaves. The vibe is focused but relaxed. We care about the world and the consequences of our actions, but we also like to laugh and keep things moving. If you enjoy stories where character choices matter and teamwork makes a difference, you'll probably enjoy this table.