John
he/him
5.0
(2)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About John
Adventurers... Ladies, gentlemen, and friends from beyond the binary—well met, and a warm welcome to my table! I am a 32 years young GM that enjoys sharing stories from the depths of our imaginations, and have been doing so for 6 years. John/João is my name, though I also go by Artibold online due to my love for my Artificer Kobold who crafts my homebrew in my basement. Those stories range from horrific, to emotional, to silly, to wholesome. No matter the play, no matter the world, step inside with me through the curtain into a world of immersion, be it module, a new story, or my own homebrew world of Gaias. Whether you are new or experienced, young or old, you are welcome at my table, so long as you respect those playing alongside you and the experience we all build together.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Beginner Friendly, Visual Aid
$15 per session
Featured Prompts
I started running games because...
I wanted to share stories, live moments, and explore topics alongside others. I also very much enjoy crafting the means and environments for that very purpose, and when others explore them.
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
Having just asked them, the most common answers are Invested, Creative and Thorough!
When I'm not running games I'm...
Working on my homebrew world, plotting to traumatise characters, scheming new stories and quests... And spending time with my beloved wife and two cats.
How John runs games
I lean heavily into atmospheric, story-rich stories where tension builds naturally, characters (both Player and NPC) matter, and the world feels alive and responsive to actions taken. My sessions are designed for immersion, drama, and emotional rollercoasters that tell stories that stay with us long after the session is over. I particularly enjoy telling stories in dark settings, about relatable experiences that make us care deeply for the stakes at hand, and make it easier for us to put ourselves into the world and the shoes of our characters. That means a visual and audio-heavy scene setting, NPCs with strong believable personalities, attention to detail, and difficult obstacles, both combat and not, that provide meaning to the struggles of our characters. I enjoy heavy roleplay alongside tactical combat, doing voices, and exploration of a breathing world. While I tell very heavy stories, I take inclusivity and safety seriously. Roleplaying meaningful stories is by nature a vulnerable position and we should all feel comfortable to put our hearts into our art.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
Making a ruling on the spot, explaining my reasoning, and moving on with the scene. After the session is complete, the ruling can then be discussed in detail and changes/expectations for future rulings of the same kind can be set with everyone's opinion involved
Rules are...
Imporant to set a baseline of how things can be done, and to set every player on an equal playing field on what they can and cannot do. However, they are not scripture, and can always be bent if they would work against a moment everyone is invested in!
When it comes to voices
I enjoy doing voices, and try to give a distinct voice to distinct NPCs. Having said that, I am not a voice actor, but will gladly make a fool of myself to make a character more enjoyable and memorable.
John's ideal table
I tend to adapt the way I run a game depending on the players at my table, but first and foremost I want everyone to feel welcome and open to ask for guidance when needed. Having said that, I tell usually serious stories that will very likely traumatise your character. Players that enjoy high stakes stories with meaningful relatable topics, heavy roleplay and immersion, or difficult obstacles and challenges (including tactical combat), will feel right at home at my table!
John's Preferences
Systems
Platforms
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Combat Heavy
Dungeon Crawl
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Tactical / Crunchy