J.R.

he/they

5.0

(21)

Timezone

America/kentucky/monticello

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Queer

Indigenous

Neurodivergent

Published Writer

Artist

Cosplayer

About J.R.

I feel that creating memorable experiences for others is the best way I can spend my time, so I've spent my life doing exactly that! Ever since I was a child, gaming has been one of my favorite ways to deliver long term experiences for people. I can't wait to bring your new favorite world to life. I have a lifetime of experience telling stories, building gaming communities and inclusive spaces in the form of LARPS and West Marches/Public Play Servers. Professionally I have worked to create some of the most detailed and popular experience and immersion based events in the United States. I always come back to the 30+ years of gaming as the cornerstone of my creativity and fun and that brought me here to Startplaying games where I can focus on telling stories for you! I believe in balanced tables where everyone feels included and has a great time, and that can be a different balance of the rules as written/intended/cool to create a fun story for everyone. Thematically, I tend to prefer modern, weird west and science fiction genres over traditional fantasy, so I am often looking outside of D&D. Anyway, enough about me, nice to meet you! Tell me about your favorite games? My Dm's and Discord server are always open.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

4 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Storytelling

Average response time: 5 hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

At about 13 years old in my best friend's garage, when our normal full time GM had to return to Germany after a couple years of staying with us as an exchange student.

My favorite system of all Time is

Mage the Ascension: Revised Edition. The 3rd ed/Revised period of Mage was the most dynamic street level game ever imagined and made the roleplay and characterization opportunities so much better than prior editions it completely turned me from a hater to a lover of Mage in general. (Shadowrun 2nd)

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

Playing games, writing games, building or crafting stuff, or planning my next major event.

How J.R. runs games

I like deep character development storytelling mixed with a healthy balance of rules and tactics. Map based combat but plenty of places to use skills to advance the game outside of combat. It largely depends on the group and group dynamics where we find that balance at the table. Like most of us, I *try* to keep things serious but I am mad for a laugh, so I am open to comedy campaigns but I typically prefer something a little more grounded with some laughs. *If* I have a table that is very tactics/strategy/board game oriented, I am thrilled to run strategy first but I have found this rare in my experience with online play.

Featured Prompts

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

James Gunn, Quentin Tarantino, or Joe Dante?

My games focus on...

The players, and what it is they are looking for the experience. Sometimes this is a reactive sandbox, sometimes this is an epic quest on tracks. It truly depends on the group dynamics and initial player survey.

Rules are...

Important but it depends on the game and the system, as well as the table at hand. Allowances and changes are ok as long as everyone is having a good time and it isn't a free for all. I'm happy to help simply *write* a story with most anyone, but if that's the case do we really need to dress it up?

J.R.'s ideal table

My table is a safe space to explore complex characters, nuance and a wide range of topics and experiences through role playing. I do suffer from ADHD so can tend to go on minor tangents but I try to keep them reigned in and encourage my players to do the same if I get too far into the weeds. I like to use good maps, minis and as much visual and written reference as possible and create an immersive space. I will admit, I am not the best voice actor but I continue to work on it as it becomes a more and more popular and expected aspect of modern only TTRPG culture.

Featured Prompts

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

Movies: Nobody, John Dies at the End, anything Guy Ritchie or Tarantino Shows: Farscape, Shameless, The Wire, Treme, Burn Notice Comics: The Invisible, Transmetropolitan, Planetary, any Marve/DC.

I love it when a player

Surprises me with an action or question that makes perfect sense in the context of their character, but I had not considered up until that moment. Also Makes me laugh out loud.

I think it's a red flag when players...

Start telling other players how their characters should act in relation to the initial player's PC. Particularly when it is obviously self serving. I sort of hate that this is my answer, but I have seen it several times and it usually bothers me.