Bruce

he/him

5.0

(21)

Timezone

America/los Angeles

Language

English

French

Russian

Spanish

About Bruce

Veteran GM specializing in immersive storytelling and player-driven narratives. With 3 years on StartPlaying, 64+ games hosted, and a perfect 5.0 rating across 21 reviews, I create engaging campaigns that balance tactical challenge with narrative depth. I'm known for professional Roll20 preparation, patience with new players, and adaptive storytelling that responds to your choices. My games feature intelligent NPCs, meaningful consequences, and worlds that feel alive. I bring real-world knowledge from physics, teaching, and tactical training to create believable spacecraft operations, alien ecologies, and combat encounters that reward clever thinking. My AI-enhanced prep workflow delivers detailed maps, handouts, and NPCs with a 1:1 prep-to-play ratio. Available for Traveller (my specialty), D&D 5E, Pathfinder 1E, and GURPS. I adapt to your group's preferences—gritty realism, space opera, tactical combat, or political intrigue. Roll20: https://app.roll20.net/users/160701/bruce

At a glance

3 years on StartPlaying

68 games hosted

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Teacher, Creativity

Average response time: 24+ hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

My favorite books are

Hard sci-fi like Asimov's Foundation, Niven's Ringworld, and Arthur C. Clarke. I love stories where physics matters, alien civilizations feel truly alien, and technology shapes society in unexpected ways. Also Tolkien & Katherine Kerr, author of the best Celtic Fantasy novels ever.

My favorite shows/movies are

Firefly, Blade Runner, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Star Wars. Gritty realism meets wonder—lived-in ships, moral complexity, and choices that matter. These influences directly shape how I run Traveller campaigns.

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

Hiking Oregon wilderness, doing farm work, reading sci-fi, or solving differential equations. Semi-retired life gives me time to prep amazing sessions and explore the physics that makes my spacecraft feel real.

How Bruce runs games

Player-Driven Stories: Your choices shape the narrative. No railroading—decisions have lasting consequences. Intelligent Opposition: NPCs use real tactics, social manipulation, and strategy. I run "hard mode"—combat is challenging and rewards clever thinking over dice luck. Immersive Worlds: Professional Roll20 prep with detailed maps, handouts, music, and visual aids ready before session one. Inclusive Table: Patient with new players, welcoming to all backgrounds and experience levels. Rules-Light Philosophy: I know the systems deeply but prioritize story flow over rules debates. Teach mechanics gradually so you can focus on roleplaying. Adaptive GMing: I adjust tone, pacing, and content to match your group's preferences—whether you want gritty survival, heroic adventure, or nuanced political drama.

Bruce's ideal table

My table welcomes both veterans and newcomers who enjoy collaborative storytelling with meaningful stakes. I attract players who: - Want their choices to matter—not just follow a predetermined plot - Enjoy tactical challenges where clever strategy beats raw stats - Appreciate immersive world-building with detailed NPCs and consequences - Are comfortable with "hard mode" difficulty (but fair—never cheap deaths) - Communicate openly and work as a team The Vibe: My games balance serious stakes with moments of levity. Expect intelligent opposition, moral complexity, and rich narrative—but also camaraderie, humor, and epic "remember when we..." moments. I run adult tables (18+) but keep content tasteful (fade-to-black for romance/violence when appropriate). Players describe my table as: engaging, challenging, creative, and supportive. I'm patient with rules questions, encourage creative problem-solving, and ensure everyone gets spotlight time. Not a Good Fit If You: - Prefer pure hack-and-slash dungeon crawls - Want guaranteed easy wins - Dislike roleplay or character development - Expect the GM to carry the story alone I want players who lean into the collaborative experience and help build memorable stories together.