Iain

he/him

5.0

(13)

Timezone

America/denver

Language

English

Identity

Podcaster

About Iain

Long time GM - I started in the 1980s and have been the "forever GM" since then. Honestly, I have more fun running games than playing so I'm looking forward to sharing that love with others! I'm definitely not a rules heavy GM - I'm much more about letting players explore their characters and interact, and I'm happiest when I'm sitting back listening to interparty drama! Over the years I've run a ton of different systems with a heavy focus on World of Darkness. However, remember that part about loving interparty drama? Well, my favourite games to run are Paranoia and Alien - I love myself a bit of PVP and these settings perfectly let players explore this aspect of TTRPGs safely! When it comes to running games, I'm a massive fan of music and sound effects and I love using them to help build atmosphere. So, if you fancy checking out games that are slightly different from D&D (although I can happily run that too!) please let me know!

At a glance

3 years on StartPlaying

3 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Sets the Mood

Average response time: 24+ hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

When I bought a copy of “Maelstrom” thinking that it was an Adventure Gamebook like Fighting Fantasy. I very quickly discovered what a Roleplaying game was (and how much I enjoyed being a GM)!

My favorite books are

1) my collection of original Fighting Fantasy books. They got me into the RPG hobby. 2) Paradise Lost - taught me that the villain can be interesting as the protagonist. 3) The Discworld novels. Showed me that fantasy and comedy can mix without having to be wacky. Not a big fan of wacky.

The three words my players would use to describe me are...

Lover. Of. Drama. (Between the players that is!).

How Iain runs games

I LOVE roleplay, and I really love interparty drama. Hence the fact that Alien and Paranoia are my favourite games. I have a particular dislike of railroads, and I'm quite happy to give players the space to simply explore the world they're in. No qualms about splitting the party here! When it comes to systems, I'm not a massive fan of a lot of crunch - if you're looking for deep, tactical combat simulations that's not really my thing; sorry (I save that for when I’m playing Warhammer)! I'm not amazing at voices but I love when my players do them, so don't be put off by my lack of voice acting talent. Dark satire is something that I'm a big fan of - again, see my love of Paranoia and SLA industries - but I try to shy away from slapstick. If you'd like to preview how I run games, I've got actual plays on my podcast "Roll to Save".

Featured Prompts

My games focus on...

Roleplay and drama (and inter party conflict if the players enjoy that!).

Rules are...

Something to be adhered to when things are at stake but otherwise guidelines. Or, if we’re playing Paranoia “not available at your security clearance, citizen.”

When it comes to voices

I’m terrible at them but I have no problem if players want to do them. Just don’t do any Scottish ones. I’m Scottish and I have an aversion to Hollywood Scottish.

Iain's ideal table

Roleplay heavy. I love when players get into character. Don’t get me wrong - that doesn’t mean method acting - I’m more about players playing something they enjoy who isn’t just a collection of stats. Some of the sessions I’ve enjoyed the most are ones when the players have huge amounts of interaction and I’m just there to chaperone them between scenes. I’m pretty rules lite - if you like your RPGs like video games and are more concerned with “builds” and optimising your character then you won’t enjoy my games. There also seems to be a trend recently for people online to gleefully declare that they love being “chaos gremlins”. While I LOVE inter party drama, people being disruptive “because I’m so chaotic lol” are something I don’t enjoy so please don’t bring that energy.