Jared Null (he/him)
5.0
(5)
1 year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, Rule of Cool
About me
ALLY Lifelong gamer Proud author of Kaizoku! RPG The things that make games memorable aren't the dice rolls, but the stories behind them. Sure, if we begin with a game of tactics, there's a chance a great story will develop. But if we begin with an interesting and authentic story, we can bestow even the simplest decisions with immense gravity, or discover unexpected charm. I started running TTRPGs in the 80's, beginning with that bright red fantasy box set and eventually playing every game and genre I could get my hands on. In the 90's, I started Storytelling for LARPs-- among the first (Moustique Noir) and largest (ISTG) in California. Eventually I moved to Las Vegas and started running games for new friends every day, as a table games dealer, instructor, and supervisor. In 2021, I released the first playable draft of my own game called Kaizoku! RPG, a rules light cartoon pirate game. In the decades that games have been a focal point in my life, I've learned that games of all types can be an art, but also a skill that can be improved with time, effort, and play. It seems to me now that the time and effort are already invested-- so it must be time to play!
GM Style
Character and story are everything! In adventure games, that means narrative focused play and shared world-building. In horror, that could mean old-school brutalism and a folder full of backup characters. In any case, expect a well-textured world that you can immerse yourself in as much as you're comfortable with. I like a game world with a straight face and tables full of laughter. Safety tools include Lines and Veils and X Card equivalents, plus a session zero/pregame discussion of our expectations and limits. Games are run on Foundry VTT, hosted on The Forge, using an integrated LiveKit A/V server. There is no software to download. Audio is required, video is preferred. (Be advised that Foundry is very reliable on PC, but sometimes doesn't play well on tablets or phones.) Action and combat are Theatre of the Mind exclusively.
Game platforms used
Game Master Reviews (5)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Storytelling
Creativity
Rule of Cool
Kajochvar
Known Jared for years, many great campaigns. Heavy on the roleplay over mechanics.
Grumpkin
The story was unique and original. The flow of the game was well timed and it’s good pacing. It felt effortless for them to create an engaging game experience…which is rare.
Brakian
A great GM with the utmost respect and devotion to the narrative who encourages player involvement in every aspect of the game, from world building to the narrative itself. He focuses 100% on the story and player fun above the minutiae. We played using the Forge VTT and his prep was stellar. All the backdrop images were immersive and related to what we were doing each session. His respect for players themselves was also apparent. It was very clear from the opening session that boundaries could easily and openly be discussed and would absolutely be respected, without question. And in the end, we had what every campaign should have: a dramatically appropriate heroic sacrifice and the cursed immortal wanderer continuing his long vigil. OH! And a goblin mafia boss. We had one of those too.
Ethron
I was a new player and he was very friendly and patient with me while I learned how to play the game. He is also great at telling the story and giving you the sense of mystery and danger in any situation. Although he may have set sessions to go a specific way, he always let us be creative and play out each encounter like we wanted. Gave us plenty of room to tell the story ourselves instead of him telling the whole story. Had a blast!
Citrusy
If you're looking for some crazy but fun stuff to happen, this is the dude. I loved every session we had and how our choices really did ripple out to the world. Although we were small in the scheme of things, it felt like we had a huge impact on the world and shaped it with each choice. Best GM I ever had and the best campaign I was ever in !
What's StartPlaying?
Tabletop Roleplaying Games Run by Game Masters
Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.