
Jarvis Jacob Ambler (Batata Studios) (they/them)
5.0
(5)
3 years on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Teacher, Voices, Storytelling
About me
Hi I'm Jarvis! I come from a family of oldschool TTRPG players, I cut my teeth playing HeroQuest before I even knew how to read and I've been enamoured with RPGs all my life. I started running games myself in my teens, and GM'd all sorts of games from many editions of D&D, to Blades in The Dark, Mothership, and most recently Vampire the Masquerade 5e and Paranoia Perfect Edition. I have a penchant for horror, but have an understanding of most if not all genres of play, and I'm more than happy to run games in any genre. All my games are very LGBTQ+ inclusive and I go to great lengths to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome at my table.
GM Style
RP-heavy and Player-led If my sessions were a TV show, I would be the crew and supporting cast, and my players, the talent. My players are the star of the show, we're all here to entertain each other and I like to take the role of a facilitator to help my players shine. You're all amazing, and I do my best to find your best angle, and spotlight you at the perfect times.
Games played
Game platforms used
Game Master Reviews (5)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Teacher
Voices
Storytelling
He is very open to player ideas regarding character creation and gave other players and me the sense that he knew his material so we could easily ask him for clarifications on the rules if needed. He can explain more esoteric gameplay elements quite thoroughly while having it be interesting and have it make sense at the same time.
They really turned game day into the highlight of the week for me. I'm playing in a Paranoia campaign Jay is running. It's my first of this game, so while I struggled to grasp some of the mechanics and the world, Jay was very patient and helpful all through the learning process. I really enjoy the character-driven nature of our campaign, yet this wouldn't be possible without the care Jay puts into making sure everyone gets their moment to shine. The way they craft each mission, obstacle and secret objective so that they compliment our characters yet nudge them out of their comfort zone without feeling too forced is so very impressive. And still they manage to improvise the most delightful, hilarious, sometimes dramatic and painfully disastrous (in the best way) moments you can dream of! Their passion for their games shows very clearly from the way they bring the NPCs to life with (sometimes silly and endearing, sometimes straight up terrifying, but always amazing) voice acting, the lively and pleasant atmosphere they create during sessions, and all the fun and creative details they bring to the table. They are very approachable and easy to communicate with, they really listen and helped me figure a solution that was fun for everyone when I ran into problems. They truly take the time to get to know both player and character, and to find the right tone and approach for the group. Playing with Jay, I'm always sure both me and my character(s) are in good hands, and that after all the jokes, light hearted drama, tension, secrets and excitement I can walk away having had fun. I can only recommend them, I feel like anyone would enjoy playing with an amazing GM like Jay.
I'm one of the players in a Paranoia: Perfect Edition campaign that Batata Studios is currently running for us. It’s been more than amazing! The energy at the table is lighthearted and humorous. Batata always makes sure everyone is comfortable and having fun. They’re very open and easy to communicate with, accomodating for each players’ needs and requests in a way that enriches everyone’s experience. Batata also puts a lot of care and attention into understanding the players’ characters, and giving them interesting quests and ways to progress their stories. I myself am fairly new to playing TTRPGs, so it’s invaluable to me how Batata is able to make the experience very newbie-friendly if needed. They’re always patient and happy to help clarifying some rules or elements of the setting, or even helping with the direction I want to take my character. Discussing it with them is always a pleasure. They’re not afraid to run with whatever gag or situation comes up mid-session, to the point where they turn it into something truly hilarious and memorable. Batata’s improvisation abilities honestly astonish me, as well as their voice acting (their voice for The Computer is a true masterpiece, and the single most bone-chilling thing I’ve ever heard). Batata is an amazing person that you’ll have no trouble getting along with, and a skilled GM that you’ll love playing with. I myself can’t wait for every next session, and after each one, can’t think about anything else for the rest of the day.
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