Jer Jones

he/him

5.0

(24)

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

Identity

Published Writer

About Jer Jones

Nothing makes me happier than providing a fun experience for others, be it through tabletop roleplay, creative writing, gaming, or any other means. Almost as soon as I learned how to play Dungeons & Dragons as a teenager, I decided to become a dungeon master. I suddenly had a whole new way to tell stories, and guide my friends in telling them, too. One of my fondest memories brings me back to the grocery store where I was stocking shelves, and a new friend approached and asked, "So, do you know about all the dragon colors?" Work quickly became far nerdier. I love using tabletop to build a story around the creative ideas of every player, and believe even the newest players can be the greatest. The best way to learn is to play, and I'm always happy to help be the guide while that happens. I am a career journalist who loves weaving in themes from history and literature into my games, and even playing homage to the rich literary history that inspired many of the tropes that survive in gaming today.

At a glance

2 years on StartPlaying

577 games hosted

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, World Builder

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

because I grabbed on tight to the opportunity to center the creativity and clever thinking of my friends.

My favorite shows/movies are

Twin Peaks and The Expanse at the moment. Watching the former as a pause-and-interpret mystery with friends has been incredible. The Expanse hits all my buttons for character-driven political stories, and I love watching the crew grow, change, and come together as a party.

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

writing, working on my game, practicing reading out loud, and exploring Lake Superior's north shore.

How Jer Jones runs games

I build games that are highly narrative in focus, with the power in the hands of the players. I'll supply the world, the supporting characters, the challenges, and the inciting incidents. If the players want to follow breadcrumbs, they'll be there, but if the players come up with their own plans, or react in unique ways to the drama presented, I'm ready to let the world open up. I referee with a slow burn style, allowing players to explore the world, pull back the curtain, and spend considerable time getting to know characters, factions, and themselves. By default I build games with 50% combat and 50% roleplay in mind, but as the group develops if the game leads further into roleplay or calls for more social challenges, that excites me. I love presenting parties with tough choices, and leaving it up to them to decide what's best — or to find a creative way to have their cake and eat it, too! One of the core themes I love to explore in tabletop is the idea of a party overcoming adversity together. I run games where the players are expected to be "big damn heroes" capable of kicking in the door and changing the world. I also run others where players will play heroes struggling and scraping for every victory, and every day. I love both equally.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

keeping to the mantra "we run the game we want to play." Sometimes that means you want a hard, direct interpretation of the rules. Sometimes you want wiggle room. Sometimes you want to throw it all out. Interpreting rules based on "will we find this healthy later, too" also helps a lot.

I once ran a session...

where my players bypassed so much trouble by being smart. Wait, no, that seems to happen a lot. I love when my players really think things through.

My games focus on...

the player characters. That's why we're here. Sometimes that means they're badass heroes. Sometimes that means they're nobodies who will surprise the world. Sometimes that means the world watches their every epic move. Each style poses interesting questions to characters.

Jer Jones's ideal table

I aim for tables full of players who are excited to center each other, and support each other through challenges. My games are best for those who want a slow burn style allowing them to become truly invested in their long-term story, and the stories of those they are sharing this wonderful experience with.

Featured Prompts

I am for a vibe that's...

chill, lacking in ego, and meant to give everyone a chance to have a voice. I like making sure everyone gets a chance to talk, and have their character's voice heard, whether that's in a party debate, or with a supporting character asking for a quick chat.

I love it when a player

slows down, thinks about the world around them, and tries to dig into what they should be investigating to avoid trouble down the line. I love rewarding exploration.

I think min/maxing...

is fine when done in collaboration with the players and referee. Everyone should be trying to uplift each other. Trying to be strong and realize a vision is great. Trying to "out math" drama isn't so great.