Brennan
he/him
4.6
(5)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Brennan
Hello! I'm an American GM that's been running games since January of 2021, and I've been playing TTRPGs with friends and family since sometime in the mid-2010s. I've played a handful of TTRPG systems, including Pathfinder 1st Edition, D&D 5e, Lancer, Fabula Ultima, and Vampire: The Masquerade; I've run games for D&D 5e, Lancer and Fabula Ultima. By far my favorite system I've run a game for is Fabula Ultima, and it is my current go-to system. I try to be as direct and to-the-point as possible when it comes to scheduling and communication and I value consistency in TTRPG schedules very highly - I've only cancelled sessions on a handful of occasions, even for free tables. My favorite inspirations for TTRPG campaigns lie in various video game RPGs, chief among them being NieR: Automata, CrossCode (play it - it's worth it), Xenoblade, Undertale/Deltarune, and Final Fantasy 14. Of course, I can't always keep the Touhou or Project Moon brainrot out either.
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
2 games hosted
Highly rated for: World Builder, Creativity, Inclusive
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
I wanted to play more TTRPGs, and I couldn’t find GMs compatible with my schedule.
My 3 systems I'd bring to a desert island would be
Fabula Ultima, Lancer, and Pathfinder 2nd Edition. The latter I have never played, but it would give me something new to learn, while FabUlt is my preferred system and Lancer is a pick for variety.
When I'm not running games I'm...
A Factorio mod developer and full-time student.
How Brennan runs games
My one rule when it comes to GMing is simple: don’t be boring, especially when it comes to combat. That’s not to say the game can’t have lulls or slower pacing, but if I run an encounter, it is always planned to either contribute to the game’s atmosphere or narrative - the party randomly getting jumped by some dudes on the side of the road may start a side quest, but if it’s not a meaningful challenge or a very atmospheric encounter, going to full combat will simply waste a bunch of table time. That said, I am not just a combat GM - if I just wanted strategy, I'd go play board games! I am entirely down for entire sessions of roleplay, but I won't singlehandedly prop up RP. I moderately frequently ask players if there are things they wish to do between scenes - whether that be scenes of their own or just miscellaneous errands/bookkeeping. Of course, I also provide interesting characters and situations to interact with, too :)
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
making a decision and running with it - rules can be dug more deeply into after session, and resolving the rules dispute quickly and efficiently is more important. I will still do cursory searches through the book sometimes, but I won’t have a full-blown rules argument over it.
I prep by
making parts to use in session, like monsters, items with flavor text, or the like - everything else is done passively in the background, like thinking of plot ideas in the shower.
My games focus on...
roleplay and strategy in equal measure. I give room for both roleplayers and combat lovers to shine, and do not see the two as antithetical - roleplayers are accommodated by a stage to perform upon, and combat lovers want to think and feel REWARDED for thinking. The two aren't incompatible.
Brennan's ideal table
My ideal table is one that enjoys roleplaying, narrative drama and strategic combat. If you enjoy being strapped into an emotional rollercoaster (that abides by safety tools, of course) and shot off on a wild ride, then my table might be for you - especially if you enjoy when tense moments culminate into boss fights! All of my tables are LGBTQ and neurodivergent-friendly as best as possible - though I am not highly experienced in accommodating more severe disabilities at the table. I also try to be as beginner-friendly as possible.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
engages with the system we're playing and the creations I've set up within it. Over-reliance on bypassing mechanics and strategy makes encounters fall flat for me - I don't like it when players make their go-to strategy smashing the locked door, as it makes the prep I enjoy for the lock feel wasted.
I think min/maxing...
is perfectly fine - provided that you don't min-max into something someone else specializes in. It's possible to challenge a character directly without hurting the rest of the party if their specialty is unique - for example, minmaxing for range can be challenged by tight spaces!
My table is not the place for...
characters that are jokes by premise. I've had a few experiences with them, and every time the joke wore off before the character could stand on their own, resulting in the character being rotated out. I don't hate jokes, fun, or funny, but I like when characters have more than that to offer.
Brennan's Preferences
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