Brandon

he/him

5.0

(9)

Timezone

America/edmonton

Language

English

Identity

Teacher/Educator

Game Designer

About Brandon

Hello! My name is Brandon. I've been running games in the TTRPG sphere for well over 10 years now, and I've recently started to open myself up to the idea of doing it as a career... So, here I am! I love Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition, and over the years I've become familiar with the entirety of its rules and regulations. 5e is definitely the system I have the most experience with, and I've taken to homebrewing a larger quantity of custom content for most of the campaigns I run in 5e worlds. In addition to 5e, I'm also developing my own TTRPG system known as the "Lands of Caldraiss", taking some inspiration from my time playing TTRPG systems over the years along with hundreds of hours of my own work... This system is my true labor of love, and while it isn't ready just yet for people to hop in and play it yet, myself and the few beta groups I run are hard at working testing its mechanics and making sure it's perfect. One day soon, I hope to be able to offer games in my own system for everyone to try and enjoy. For the longest time, the thought the idea of being able to support myself with my passion for TTRPGs was nothing more than a pipe dream, but a number of very encouraging long-time players of mine continued to push me, and eventually convince me that the way I run my games and the effort I put into them was worth something. I'm still not entirely sure the best way to put a value on my work, but this is a start!

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

8 games hosted

Highly rated for: World Builder, Sets the Mood, Storytelling

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I had stories to tell, and people I wanted to tell them with. The TTRPG genre is without a doubt the best long-form storytelling genre there is, and the possibilities you can achieve with your characters are limitless with the right GM. I wanted to be that right GM for those that sit at my table.

My favorite system of all Time is

Undoubtedly Dungeons and Dragons 5e, it's a huge part of my life... But I'm becoming rather bias to my own system, as I've poured so much time and effort into it to make it truly special. One day, I hope to be able to share my system with the world, and continue making it the best it can be.

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

Running them in my head! I spend a lot of time thinking about how to best develop the stories I'm currently running, and all the extra time I have in the day is usually spent working on my own system. My life pretty much revolves around this community.

How Brandon runs games

I believe in rich characters, immersive roleplay, and lengthy stories that can span years. I've always preferred the roleplay side things, and watching a character grow and develop as they overcome the various circumstances I throw their way is its own reward. In many of my ongoing campaigns, I've been playing with the same people for upwards of five years. I've had the pleasure of watching their characters change over those years, their party bonds grow deeper, and their connections to the story become personal. I run games where my players feel invested in the story. Games where instead of me trying to tell a story to them, they're the ones helping me write it. With all that in mind, I don't stray away from combat when the time comes. Making engaging encounters that test the abilities of the party with creative problem-solving, careful strategy, and story ties are my specialties. I see combat as a plot tool that adds stakes to the current plot-line. I tend not to run random encounters or bog the game down with meaningless battles. If I run combat, it always relates directly to the current objectives. As a final note, I believe the game should always be about the players first and foremost, and the GM second. While I do believe it's important as a GM to hold yourself to a high standard and demand a certain amount of respect, the players are the lifeblood of the game. Ensuring my players can enjoy their time and make lasting memories is why I do this in the first place.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

Discussing it openly. Have something you disagree with? Want to ask if you can bend a written rule to aid you in doing something cool? Let's talk about it! I believe no question is pointless, regardless of how simple or complex the answer might be. Ask freely, but always be ready for a discussion!

My games focus on...

The long-term development of compelling characters and relationship of the party. I do love a good combat, but I want my players to put effort into their backstory and work alongside me to integrate them into the campaign. If my players put the effort in, I will always try to match it twice over!

When it comes to voices

I have a background in improv and spent most of my early life doing some form of acting or technical theatre... I try to bring that energy into all of my games. I will get fully into the characters you encounter and try to immerse you in the world of the game, no matter who I interact with.

Brandon's ideal table

First and foremost, I want players who have a respect for the game. Regardless of if you've played the game before, or it's your first time, coming to the table with the intentions of respecting me and your fellow players is essential if you want to be welcome at my table. Second, I love it when my players take time to create and expand upon their backstories and their overall character. I will work with you every step of the way to create custom tokens, assets, and even special character-specific boons that grant you unique mechanics in the game, but you'll need to put that effort in alongside me to do so! And third, I believe that just about every issue that arises at my table can be solved with open discussion. Communication between the GM and the players is paramount to running a successful campaign, so I want my players to feel comfortable bringing their concerns to me should they have them. I also welcome any and all discussions regarding rules, regulations, and character action. If there's something unconventional or outside the scope of the rules you want to try, explain it to me! I'm always more than willing to work with my players to elevate them.

Featured Prompts

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

A high effort game with custom assets, maps for each encounter, an open world exploration system, and custom, ever-evolving abilities written for your characters to help you fulfill your ideal character fantasies...

I love it when a player

Fully embodies their character! In my games, your character is the focus of my story and I want to create an environment in which you can explore who your character is, how they develop as a person, and how their relationships with the party and NPCs progress over time. Experiment and have fun!

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

Bring out-of-game problems into the game. The time we spend playing is meant to be a chance for you to step away from your day-to-day for a while and enjoy yourself. A comfortable environment for all is necessary for this, and you should try not to blur the line between player and character.