Vladimir

he/they

Timezone

America/st Johns

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Queer

BIMPOC

Hispanic/Latinx

About Vladimir

I am a GM of 8 years. A semi-forever GM who plays once in a blue moon but runs things for his group most of the time. I have always enjoyed horror media, and so my start with tabletops was in 2019 with Call of Cthulhu. As I began to play it more and more I realized I wanted to learn how to GM it; and so I did. I loved investigative horror and most of my games stem from the experience of Call of Cthulhu. I want to be able to provide that awe experience I had playing CoC for the first time to others. I enjoyed the narrative elements of World of Darkness and that's what really stuck with me after my time with CoC. I did so on and off all throughout my University journey and even after. Throughout that time I have GM'd From Call of Cthluhu to Delta Green. Lancer to Mothership. I have GM'd several different World of Darkness lines (Mage, Wraith, Vampire and Werewolf). I have also started running Chronicles of Darkness and have interest in running more of it for more players. I am GM who loves to say 'yes and' and let in the collaborative experience of TTRPGs come to the center. I use theater of the mind a lot so I use maps less but I am not afraid to pull out a whiteboard (digital or not) to get my point across.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

Running Call of Cthulhu. I had just finished a massive campaign with my CoC GM and I had wanted to try bringing that horror to my friends. So I got advice from my GM and ran a one-shot of The Haunting, a standard CoC intro scenario. Running a horror game gave me such goosebumps I was hooked.

My favorite books are

House of Leaves, Cruel Angel's Past Sundown, and Brave New World

When I'm not running games I'm...

Listening to music and thinking of new events and scenarios for my games. Researching for games I run ( I tend to try to make my games as immersive as I can be. ). And spending time with my lovely wife.

How Vladimir runs games

Since I've come from a Call of Cthulhu background, I enjoy light mechanics and Theatre of the Mind. I employ roleplay a lot in my games and tend to have a roleplay first approach. I may ask for a roll, but if a player can use their words and actions to sway an NPC I'll let anything go. Sometimes, words alone cannot solve a problem. I have high-stakes combat but it is bombastic. The players are strong and so are the enemies. I have difficult situations but none that a players can't get past via, cooperation, planning and creative thinking. I employ a lot of horror elements and I am more likely to use images as window dressing to let our minds immerse ourselves. (I am not afraid to draw out the location to ensure players have the knowledge they need before attempting something). One thing I love doing as well is always trying to incorporate my players' backstories into my games. I want my players to feel like they are part of a bigger picture, a moving world that has things going on behind the scenes. I'll have political intrigue one session, then a horror romp the next. A flat out brawlfest another and then the very next moment a heartfelt moment. I agonize over details and try to tailor my games to my players' experiences. I give out what my players put back in. A loop of creative storytelling and game playing. I reward the mechanically advanced players but I also reward roleplayers for making smart character decisions. I always ask for feedback as well.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

Making a ruling that everyone can agree on for now and then verifying the Rules as Written after the game. Life is too short to be worried about the rules if it were to hinder an exciting moment in our game.

If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...

David Lynch

Rules are...

Guidelines and sometimes it's better to follow them. But I don't stress on them if looking them up would slow down our session. They are necessary when we are confused on how to handle something. But if it drags down the fun, why use it? When we can come up with something fun for us!

Vladimir's ideal table

My table is a comfy place where we can all be goofy and weird. Players who enjoy a friendly and laid-back atmosphere will love my table. My table has players of all backgrounds, min/maxers, roleplayers and the strong and silent type.

Featured Prompts

If you're into ___, you're going to love my table

Disco Elysium, House of Leaves or Vampire the Masquerade

I love it when a player

Thwarts and sidelines me with their actions. I want to have a back and forth with my players. They are just as in charge of telling me what happens as I am as well. The world is our oyster, not mine to describe like a book or cutscene.

I think min/maxing...

Is fine but it has its place. It has its limits and those need to be discussed with me. However, the stronger you are; the stronger your enemies will be to balance it out. Great power comes with great responsibility.