Beth

she/her

5.0

(4)

Timezone

America/new York

Language

English

Identity

Published Writer

Teacher/Educator

Women/Femme Identifying

Game Designer

About Beth

I’ve been a player since 1980 and been running my own campaigns, playtesting, and running tabletop games at cons since 1982. In addition, I’ve played and run Play-by-Email games for over 20 years, and LARPS here and there. My favorite games are fantasy (D&D, Pathfinder, Harn, GURPS), Call of Cthulu, the World of Darkness, and a time-traveling, body-jumping anything-goes game built around the Rule of Cool. I specialize in long-running campaigns with lots of lore and backstories. My longest running campaign is over 14 years old with the same core players and characters.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Storytelling

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

when I went to college. I didn't know anyone so I put up a flyer looking for players. I found players and friends at the same time.

My favorite shows/movies are

Millennium, Good Omens, FIrefly, and Babylon 5.

People are always surprised when I tell them

that since my game doesn't take place in Golarion, I will provide everyone with a world book. Players don't need to read the book in order to understand what's going; information will be shared as we go.

How Beth runs games

I love roleplaying and focus on finding what I can do to help a player’s character come alive. I look for ways to incorporate characters’ backgrounds, goals, and interests into every game so that each one is unique and personal. I want players to become invested in the game. I enjoy the exploration part of the game- whether it’s exploring an ancient city, puzzling out how to get out of a legal tangle or figuring out an ancient script. I look for players who are curious about what’s going on, want to investigate how things work, and wonder why things are the way they are. And of course, combat is always part of the game. I am less interested in hack-and-slash and more interested in encouraging players to use tactics and strategy to overcome their enemies- although sometimes it just comes down to a brawl! Plots tend to be both long and short-term. Long-term plots may take place over months (or years), while short-term plots can be resolved in a session or two. The result of plots is completely up to the actions of the characters; there are no predetermined outcomes.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

listening to a quick argument, then making a quick decision if we're in the middle of something. After the game, I'm willing to sit down and discuss rules at length if necessary with the goal of coming to an agreement.

Rules are...

there to give us a guide so we all agree what characters can and cannot do, not to straitjacket us into immobilization. We're all here to have fun. I'm willing to discuss rules interpretations- especially if it strongly impacts how you play your character, but not in the middle of a game.

Beth's ideal table

It’s important to me that each player gets to have their time in the spotlight. I like players to have different focuses, so each has a chance to shine. I work with players to make sure this is the case.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

comes up with an alternative that I didn't think of. I love creativity, clever thinking, and good roleplaying.

My perfect party mix is

whatever the players want to play. If you want to play it, I'll find a way to make it work. If everyone wants to play a rogue, we'll have a campaign based on that. No one needs to play any type of character they don't want to.