Mikey
he/him
5.0
(13)
Timezone
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Identity
About Mikey
I've been playing TTRPGs since the '80s, mostly as a GM. I love helping my players tell incredible stories, and providing my players with an immersive and rewarding play experience.
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
33 games hosted
Highly rated for: Knows the Rules, Teacher, Creativity
Average response time: 9 hours
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
My favorite system of all Time is
...Savage Worlds! An old GM introduced me to this game as a faster-paced, more dynamic and cinematic alternative to other generic systems like GURPS and BRP, and they were right on ALL counts!
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
...adaptable, creative, and encouraging.
When I'm not running games I'm...
...practicing archery, tutoring history & economics, and reading.
How Mikey runs games
I like presenting my players with a mix of obstacle styles including social conflict, puzzles and mysteries, and good old fashioned combat. I reward deep character stories and try to incorporate aspects of them into the game whenever possible... but I do prefer things to veer closer to the serious and more grounded side of things rather than the zany, offbeat, or implausible. That doesn't mean things must be strictly realistic, of course. Gaming is an exercise in the fantastic, after all. But it shouldn't be too hard to suspend one's disbelief in my games.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
...considering the situation from all sides, including the players' goals, the themes of the game setting, and the impact my ruling may have on the enjoyment of the table - both short-term AND long-term. I try to give everyone's voice consideration.
If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...
...Michael Mann (Heat, Last of the Mohicans, Collateral) if the tone is gritty and realistic, Richard Donner (Superman, The Goonies, Ladyhawke, Lethal Weapon) if the tone is more light-hearted and heroic, or Mel Brooks (Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs) if we're just having goofy fun.
Rules are...
...NOT laws! Sure, they are an important guide that helps everyone at the table make sure they are on the same page as far as the core concepts go, but for every rule in the book I could probably tell you half a dozen situations where it might be better to ignore it and improvise!
Mikey's ideal table
When my players are actively engaged (i.e. they proactively look for ways to get their characters involved rather than passively waiting for the GM to tell them they need to do something), the table runs the best. I encourage creative gameplay, particularly in combat situations. Use your environment! Make daring gambits! Chances are, the better it would look on a movie screen, the more likely it is to succeed! But above all, I expect and require mutual respect at my table. If a player starts having difficulty with that, we'll have a private chat about it. If it persists, I'll show them the door.
Featured Prompts
I think it's a red flag when players...
...become so focused on their own experience that they forget there are other players at the table. TTRPGs, unlike most videogame RPGs, is a *social* activity, and should be collaborative. If your character is designed to be a loner, that's fine... for a one-person game, not for an ensemble cast.
I think min/maxing...
...is a valid approach to some game systems, but if it becomes the focus of the game then it can slip into problematic areas. In reality, most people aren't optimized for just one thing and one thing only. I prefer characters who are more diverse and have capabilities that are broader in scope.
My perfect party mix is
...anything where the players engage with each other's characters in creative, compelling, and dynamic ways. I ran a campaign once where two players had their characters in a constant state of near-feud rivalry, but deep in their hearts they had mutual respect for one another. It was fantastic!
Mikey's Preferences
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