PentaPo
he/him
5.0
(6)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About PentaPo
I've been obsessed with RPGs since I was in middle school and my friend handed me the D&D 4e handbook. I've been playing RPGs off and on through various one-shots and mini-campaigns since high school. Those early years my DMing career consisted mostly of my brother and I messing around in one-on-one sessions. Things really started kicking off for me in college, where I ran and played in multiple campaigns. I ran Star Wars FFG, Legend of the Five Rings FFG and The Expanse campaigns throughout my college years. It was also around this time that I started learning and performing Improv, which hugely impacted how I ran and played the game, as well as shaped me as a storyteller. Nowadays, it's been harder for me to run games as much as I want to with work and distance, but that hasn't stopped me from engaging with the hobby or running one-shots here and there. I generally enjoy a lot of narrative and roleplay, with a healthy dose of combat, and lately my goals for DMing include improving my combat encounters. Join my games if you want something other than D&D5e! My favorite systems right now include: Root, Star Wars FFG, Hometown Holiday and Draw Steel!
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Rule of Cool, Creativity, Storytelling
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
My favorite books are
My favorite series is The Expanse. But recently Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings and Christopher Ruocchio's The Sun Eater series have been my recent love.
My favorite shows/movies are
The Expanse is both my favorite book and TV series. I'm sure this has no relation to my collection of the Expanse RPG. Other shows I typically rewatch include Andor, Community, Tron Uprising, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, The Last Airbender. My favorite movie is Tron Legacy.
When I'm not running games I'm...
Playing board games, reading books, or making youtube videos about playing board games or reading books!
How PentaPo runs games
As a GM who is typically teaching newer players in most of my games, I've adopted a very laid back and casual approach to running games. I try not to stress too much over getting the rules correct all the time (while we're playing) so that a new player doesn't feel overwhelmed and intimidated. I want to make sure my players are focusing on fun instead of rules. As a professional Improv performer, my games typically run more on the roleplay and narrative side of things, with a healthy dose of combat sprinkled throughout. I like to collaborate with my players throughout my game. My players will often talk to me about their characters and their goals/ambitions for their story arc outside of the game, and I do my best to honor those wishes in a satisfying way. This collaboration inside and outside of the game is what helps me the most as a GM to give my players what they want out of a game. I love discovering the narrative along with my players. I also prefer sessions that last around 2-3 hours instead of 4-6. This means my sessions, while laid back and focused on fun, also tend to require a little more attention and effort from the whole table to keep things running smoothly so that the shorter time frame is not wasted.
Featured Prompts
If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...
Edgar Wright. Since he has the perfect balance of wacky character hijinks and compelling character drama. Sprinkle some genre action on top and you get the formula I'm aiming for.
Rules are...
... the least important part of the game. Okay, obviously they are important as a foundation, but once the game starts my priority is having fun and telling a story, and the rules can wait to be studied in between sessions instead of in the middle of them.
When it comes to voices
I like them and use them when its fun and I feel like it. But they're not the most important thing to me. I may ease off on voices for awhile, but that's usually so I can focus on getting the story right instead of a silly accent correct.
PentaPo's ideal table
Players who are relaxed and there to have a fun time while telling a story. I was professional improv performer, so I like the balance of wacky fun and dramatic narrative in my games as well.
Featured Prompts
If you're into ___, you're going to love my table
the Netflix improv specials from Middleditch and Schwartz
I think metagaming...
CAN be good, if the meta you're playing is "what is most dramatic for my character in this moment in the story?" and not "what is the most advantageous mechanic I can exploit to 'win'?"
My table is not the place for...
making fun of players for not min/maxing or for not taking the game as seriously as you or for "playing wrong" (these are all things I've had to deal with from certain players in groups I've been a player in, and I refuse the behavior in my games)
PentaPo's Preferences
Systems
Game Mechanics