Fire Mountain

he/him

5.0

(7)

Timezone

America/north Dakota/center

Language

English

Identity

Veteran

Neurodivergent

Voice Actor

About Fire Mountain

My name is David and I'm a forever-GM. I was bitten by the big, bad red box at age nine and the rest, as they say, is history. I've been playing and running tabletop RPGs for 45 years and it is still my passion. I have also always enjoyed teaching new players and systems. Teaching others to play and GM has always struck me as the best way to be a good custodian to the hobby. Something I became mindful of after owning an LGS for a few years. Over the decades I have gotten a lot of practice writing and running several popular IP based RPGs. I'm particularly fond of the Star Wars, Star Trek, The One Ring & Warhammer 40k campaigns I've been fortunate enough to GM in the last two decades. On a more recent note, I have begun running Forbidden Lands campaigns. I've fallen completely for the setting and the system. Free League really outdid their selves with that particular work. The last few months I have been learning my way around Foundry VTT. I couldn't think of a better way to learn the VTT than run something on it. So, that's a glimpse into my past and a word about my present. As for the future, I sincerely look forward towards meeting more of the community here. See you at the table, David

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

21 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Knows the Rules

Average response time: 2 hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

I got started GMing when I was 9 years old. I saved up my allowance and bought the D&D Basic Set. Two PC's, a graph-paper dungeon & dice colored in with white crayon. I think I probably got every rule wrong that first night. It didn't matter though. My little brother and I had never had more fun.

My 3 systems I'd bring to a desert island would be

1) The One Ring: Because if it looks like Tolkein, sounds like Tolkein and PLAYS like Tolkein...then its Tolkein. 2) Star Wars: I couldn't stand being stranded for any length of time without the mother of all modern myths. 3) Anything 40K: Cuz 40k makes even a desert island bright & cheery.

How Fire Mountain runs games

Cooperative Storytelling is the bedrock of tabletop. Thats where I start. I do my best to help each player fulfill their PC concept in the manner that best balances concept and setting. I'm a tremendous fan of roleplay. During play I often ask players questions about how their character feels about something. Sometimes I ask whether they share with the group. It opens RP opportunities & maybe a moment for characterization or growth or humor. In general, my games are mostly a RP heavy mix of roleplay, problem solving and combat. When a Player dramatically succeeds (or fails) I like to hand that narrative off to the player to complete in their own way. It's always struck me as character and immersion building to do so. I actively work to structure immersion during play. All the simple tricks. Using character names instead of the players. Rooting scene description in the characters senses. Encouraging exchanges, etc... All that said, here is where my expertise really shines. I can write a Warhammer 40k campaign and, upon execution, make it FEEL like a 40k experience. I can reliably do the same with Star Wars, Star Trek and The One Ring. I am currently limited to 40K Wrath & Glory, Forbidden Lands, and The One Ring 2E. These are all I currently have available on Foundry. I am actively working on adding Shadowdark & setting up a Star Wars campaign & look forward to sharing more. Everybody likes KotoR, right?

Featured Prompts

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

...M. Night Shyamalan. I've noticed that we use similar approaches to create tension. When we are trying to scare audiences we cut the lights and whisper scary things in your ear. But why stop there? Chase scene? I channel Spielberg. Humor? Kurosawa. Hey, I only steal from the best!

My favorite trope is...

Cliff-hangers! I love a good ending, and the very best are the ones that leave you ready to dive back in for more. Something about ending with the unexpected and immediately dropping the final curtain is incredibly satisfying. It's kinda like the cherry on top of a perfectly made banana split.

Rules are...

ALL rules are just guidelines. And that includes a R.A.W. game. Heresy? Nope. Because every system I've ever run (and I've run more than 70) included R.A.W. referred to as "situational modifiers". Bonuses or penalties to be mediated by either the GM alone or by a consensus. So, R.A.W = Guidelines.

Fire Mountain's ideal table

I have GM'd many, many tables. Hundreds of them to be honest. One-Shots, Short Campaigns, Guest GM, Co-GM, Rotating Campaigns, Half-Year Adventure Paths, Multi-Year Epics, the actual works. And every one of them has been different. Over the years I have managed to put together something of a profile of who usually settles best into my table. Long story short, the players who last longest are the ones who truly enjoy the art of roleplay. If you are the type of player who enjoys exploring their own humanity through a fresh lens you will love my games. If you are the type of player who enjoys the journey just as much as the destination then you will settle right in and have a wonderful time. Now, let me flip the script. Are you more into the stoic hero? Not a problem. I write entire campaigns specifically for players who are more into autistically stoic heroes who only care about two numbers. Their ammo count and their kill count. I write different stories for different players the same way writers do for different genres. Did I mention I've been doing this a while? Not a social butterfly? Not a problem, neither am I. In fact, I'm an Aspie-kid who embraced the GM screen wholeheartedly in a deliberate attempt to push my own "boundaries" and expand my social comfort zone. And, man, am I glad I did. I cannot even imagine what my life might have been like if I hadn't. So, come on in. Have a seat in the game room and get comfortable. Mi casa, su casa. The game will be starting soon and y'all are gonna love what I've cooked up this week...

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

I love it when a player dives right in to a new system, setting or even scene. I guess there's just no substitute for enthusiasm. Or cilantro.

I think min/maxing...

I think Min/Maxing is just as viable a playstyle as any other. Just as I believe that every playstyle has its perfect story/setting to be played in. And the Min/Maxers perfect setting/story is anything with an entire party of Min/Maxers. No worries. I write campaigns for your crowd too.