Brett

he/him

5.0

(10)

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

About Brett

I have been playing role-playing games for as long as I care to remember (20+ years). I started with Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition in middle school and found myself enamored with the process of creating not just simple characters doing funny and awesome things, but entire worlds and lifelong memories. I find myself using the term "forever GM" to describe my relationship to tabletop games and I decided to take it to the next level by offering professional services to compliment that passion. I like tabletop games for what they bring out of people: stories, emotions, laughter. Whether it is a one-shot to kill some time or a years long campaign with epic implications, I run the gamut of GMing. It isn't just running the game that interests me. I also enjoy the preparation and the world-building that goes into running games, even smaller ones. In that same vein, I enjoy teaching new systems to new players and helping to create unforgettable moments. So if you are new to the game or an old-timer like me, I think I would have something to offer anyone.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

7 games hosted

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Knows the Rules, Beginner Friendly

$10 per session

Average response time: 2 hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I have been interested in world building since middle school. I also love playing all sorts of games. The combination of those interests dovetailed nicely into a permanent GM role. I love to tell stories and roll dice.

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

playing games! At least some of the time. When I am not involved with the gaming lifestyle I am reading and writing (not always for games). I also like watching comfort TV like Star Trek and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

How Brett runs games

My approach changes slightly depending on the system and the vibes of the table, but generally the games that I run tend to be theater of the mind and oriented around the characters and their decisions. I will sometimes create maps for especially significant or complex encounters but mostly run through Discord and the power of imagination. I think it is more important for everyone to have their own say in building the world so I tend to favor "yes and..." approaches but will also gently suggest alternatives to actions or decisions that may seem out of line or confused. I have what I call a "tax and spend" approach to GMing. This means that as long as the players are clever and willing to risk resources of their characters (time, energy, money, abilities, etc.) I am willing to stretch or even break some rules for them. After all, no risk, no reward.

Featured Prompts

My favorite trope is...

when an adventuring party is emptying out their bags and taking inventory. I love seeing all of the weird things they have collected throughout a campaign and forgetting why they ever even picked them up.

Rules are...

a necessary outline for a game and a useful guideline for telling a specific kind of story. However, rules are also a tool to play a game and have a good time. If they don't work toward that end then they need to be flexible or they need to be updated.

When it comes to voices

I do my best to give personality to characters through all kinds of features including distinct voices. However, I am not a trained or experienced voice actor and usually rely on other descriptors and character traits.

Brett's ideal table

I run a pretty laid-back table with plenty of jokes in and out of character. That doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of dramatic spotlight moments and down-to-the-wire fights. If you are a player who isn't afraid to make "mistakes," then you will fit in at my table. And if you have great timing for dropping a GIF or joke, then you will fit in at my table. I am great for beginners and already established groups and I am open to commissions so I can tailor a game for you preferences and inputs.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

interacts with the environment or tries novel uses of skills and abilities. I also love when players are unafraid to lean into their characters flaws just as much as their strengths. Flavorful characters are built as much off of their failures as their successes.

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

are adversarial toward the GM and/or each other. I occasionally have to portray villains for the group to oppose. This does not mean that I am hoping for the group's failure. When players want to one-up each other or "win" the game, I think they have the wrong idea about RPGs.