Sawyer Rutan

he/him

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

About Sawyer Rutan

Good evening, travelers! Come in, shake off the rain and brush off the mud of the road. Grab a seat by the warm hearth. The world outside is full of monsters and strange evils - I'm sure you must be weary indeed! Here, you may rest easy. Enjoy the crackling fire, the smell of baking bread, and the company of friends... I've been playing role-playing games regularly since 2019, when a college professor introduced me to Dungeons & Dragons 5e (it's a classic for a reason), Misspent Youth (a criminally underrated game about teens battling a tyrannical government), and Microscope (RPG worldbuilding, anyone!?!?). I was hooked on this hobby from the first sessions I ran of each of those games, having some of the most fun I've ever had around a table with some friends (even though I barely understood the rules at the time). Soon after those first escapades, I joined a few acquaintances for an epic campaign of Dungeons & Dragons. That was 5 years ago - I still play TTRPGs with that group today. I entered this hobby as a Game Master, and over the years I have ran many short campaigns between 1 and 10 sessions long. Luckily, I have been blessed with friends and local strangers who also enjoy the role of GM, so I have been a player in several long (1.5+ year) and short (1-6 session) campaigns. Outside of the TTRPG realm I work as a freelance writer and rock climbing instructor. I love climbing, reading, backpacking, and snow sports of all kinds.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I love facilitating the sort of improvisational creativity that TTRPGs excel at.

My favorite books are

SciFi and Fantasy are my go-to genres to read for pleasure. I love short story collections. Recently, I've enjoyed New-Weird authors like China Mieville and the hard-boiled detective fiction of Raymond Chandler. I'm currently reading: "Birthgrave" by Tanith Lee.

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

Probably outside climbing, biking, or going for a walk. I spend a lot of time at comfortable benches scrawling in notebooks. When I'm inside I like to cook (Italian and Thai are my favorite cuisines), read or draw. Sometimes I play videogames, too. My favorites are Dark Souls and Stellaris.

How Sawyer Rutan runs games

I prefer a roleplay-heavy story-focused game in which every person at the table has an important say in how the story - and even the setting! - turns out. The beauty of TTRPGs, as opposed books or video games or other popular ways of telling stories, is that they are collaborative. I don't create "plots," I craft "situations." I lean into the random, the chaotic, and the strange, because I like to challenge myself by being in uncomfortable situations. The magic of roleplaying games happens not when the GM throws some elaborately-planned plot-twist at their hapless players (though I do love elaborate plot-twists), but in the players interacting with challenges and the world in natural and unexpected ways. My games will be full of over-the-top action, zany characters, impossible moral dilemmas, and puzzles. I love good puzzles. My core principles as a GM are: 1. Transparency. 2. Fairness. 3. Player agency. 4. Creativity. 5. Improvisation.

Featured Prompts

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

The twisted love-child of John Carpenter and the Cohen Bros.

My games focus on...

Fun above all else! I know my game is a success if it provides my players the perfect balance between immersion, challenge and creative expression.

When it comes to voices

I try to use unique voices and/or mannerisms for all my NPCs. This serves to distinguish them from one-another and communicate their personalities/intentions. I encourage all my players to try on a voice or mannerism for their character, no matter how whacky!

Sawyer Rutan's ideal table

The fun part of role-playing games is the interpersonal communication. I avoid digital maps and VTTs in favor of theater of the mind play where we can see each other's faces. Anything to more closely mimic the experience of sitting around a table. I do provide handouts for visual references.

Featured Prompts

I am for a vibe that's...

Spontaneous, fun and humorous without becoming too cheesy. Serious when appropriate, but laid-back and adaptable.

I love it when a player

Is evocative and preemptive in describing their character's actions. You can try anything you want in game, I will step in only when necessary to adjudicate rulings or clarify the environment. Ask questions! Learn about the environment and use it to your advantage.