Japes

he/him

5.0

(31)

Timezone

Europe/london

Language

English

Identity

Neurodivergent

About Japes

I’ve loved the escapism that TTRPGs give us from the first time I playing D&D as a child. Since then the many systems I’ve played in and GM’d, have been fun in their own way. I’ve found the more roleplay in the game generally the more fun it is. I feel its the depth that it gives to the game. My online GMing really started in 2020 as my daughter started her A levels, which are UK exams and she has now finishing her degree. A very proud Dad here. This game grew from one into many and some of those players still at the table 4 or more years later. I feel they’d say that I’m a fan of you the player and love to see the party succeed. That’s not because the adventure was easy, but because you triumphed against the odds. Feel free to call me Japes (jay-ps), which I’m known by IRL as well. Its a sort of hybrid of my given name ‘Jean-Paul’, which can also be used, but not with a bad French accent. The word Jape is an old English word for joke or prank and still sometimes still gets used. My drier sense of humour seems to fit the name, least ways so I'm told 😉. My games are open to everyone, all I ask is that you treat others with mutual respect, so we can focus on having an amazing time. Bring your creativity to the table and embrace your dream character – whether that’s a Call of Cthulhu a 1920’s black female FBI agent or something made from Sapient Pearwood in Discworld or a D&D Fairy Barbarian. They are the gateway to your adventure!

At a glance

2 years on StartPlaying

197 games hosted

Highly rated for: Teacher, Creativity, Inclusive

Average response time: Under 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

My favorite books are

The Wasp Factory, which has a rather dark storyline Mort, set in the Discworld The Hobbit The whole series of 'Dune'

My favorite system of all Time is

Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Adventures in Ankh- Morpork.* Not because of the setting but for the laugh’s every player has had playing it. It is the least serious of all the TTRPGs I’ve taken part in. * This may well change again at some time in the future.

How Japes runs games

For me, GMing is about helping you bring your character to life within the world. Its how you face the risks and challenges of the adventure. It needs ot be tough enough that its no walk in the park, but not a hopeless cause. In games like Call of Cthulhu I try not to break the fourth wall when you stay off of the main narrative, but nudge you back with clues and where needed you’ll find dead ends. I know some players prefer a more direct approach on the GMs part. I feel these shouldn’t be seen as set-backs but instead seen as another thing crossed off of the list. These longer play aspects shouldn’t be a straight lines, but more like the curves of a river and like a river it can be turbulent from time to time. When the game uses theatre of the mind, there is no way to describe everything and that narrative discussion between you and me is fantasticating. Its like a creative space for us all to play the roles out. In Discworld or Blades in the Dark you can do pretty much anything that seems feasible, that somehow isn’t as easy on a map. Above all else we’re here to have some fun and I love to hear you laugh when those silly moments come up and I’ll be laughing too. It doesn’t matter the system, fumbles at the critical moment are funny and those perfect rolls will have everyone cheering for the party.

Featured Prompts

Rules are...

the framework for the adventure. They allow you to try things you’d never do in real life. I don't run RAW for this very reason, but they're not there to be abused either.

Japes's ideal table

I love having a diverse mixed of people at the table, from a mix of countries that become friends doe to the game. Its far more important for us all to be having a fun time than getting the rules spot on (all the time). I’ll be encourage you to role play those character strengths and flaws and to put some flushes to your attack manoeuvrers. I’ve found every table has had at least one of those moments when the silliest things that just happen and the table erupts and those memories last a lifetime.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

Allows their character to be unique in ways that enhances the narrative. when the dice cause mayhem and things don't go to plan. Come up with an fun and unusual way to solve the present "trouble" you're found yourselves in.