JohnRunsGames
he/him
5.0
(13)
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Language
Identity
About JohnRunsGames
Stories are my passion. I'm a writer, podcaster and voice actor but most of all I am a storyteller who values unique, immersive journeys. My goal is to create a comfortable, safe environment for players/characters to have fun exploring. Each session will be role-play heavy and rules-light, with a collaborative story giving every player a chance to shine. I will create our adventure from scratch to surprise, engage and leave you eager for the next session. If you're just starting out with RPG's or Star Trek Adventures I'll help you create the character, understand the basics and jump right in! I got my first D&D manual when I was nine, but I took a long break. Later I became a professional actor and Improv performer, then a narrator and producer of podcasts and audio-books. A friend re-introduced me to D&D during COVID, which reignited the passion to play. In turn, playing inspired me to run games for others.
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
64 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, World Builder, Storytelling
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
I'm a storyteller. Role-playing games explore social and cultural values using improvisation, game rules and player characters that expand the world of the game. Gaming isn't just entertainment: it teaches us about ourselves as we quest with like-minded adventurers in worlds we bring to life!
I got started GMing...
After a long time away I came back to RPG's during COVID. When Star Trek Adventures Second Edition came out, I fell in love. As an author, actor and narrator, the STA-2E rules and lush 'Trek' world ignited my desire to tell new stories, collaborating with players who know and love the 'Trek' world.
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
CREATIVE My players like my home-brew stories/settings. I cultivate both character moments & "Trek" moments. INCLUSIVE I want you to feel welcome & help build story & tone. Happy to help you role-play, evolve your characters or learn rules. RULE-OF-COOL Rules matter-but happy players matter more.
How JohnRunsGames runs games
Our game will be rules-light in favor of players exploring their characters, team, environment and story. Team missions where all players can assist. Sessions never go past three hours. Count on it. Battles should be exciting, not crunchy. I keep a lot of my work behind the screen to keep things flowing. If you like support I will offer hints at tools/skills you can bring into the fray. I think role-playing works best in your imagination. Discord for audio, images and video clips, as well as dropping information (both 'above-table' and 'in-game' and also rolling dice. Theatre of the Mind for the rest! I run one-shots (1 to 3 sessions), campaigns (open-ended) and can be hired to run a game for a group. There will be a paid Session 0 to ensure everyone has fun and the adventure continues to its epic conclusion! We will discuss the kind of story you want (and DON'T want), consent and safety considerations, breaks and anything relevant to the one-shot or campaign to follow. Please be honest about your preferences and limits. We'll discuss safety checks and how to talk about problems before we start the game. Once we agree on the tone and mood, I can set up stakes and challenges we all can enjoy. I prefer collective character creation to ensure everyone is on the same page, give characters backstories relevant to the game, and everyone a chance to shine. I reward creative solutions and praise cool ideas or interpretations of skills and abilities. Rules should support players not block them, but wins should feel feel earned...and they should feel awesome! If you always go for shock value or play just to amuse yourself, this isn't the game for you. Violence and innuendo may have a role in our game, but it's my job to keep the mayhem in line with what all characters want. Teamwork makes the dream work! Whether you are just getting into RPGs or looking for something new, Star Trek Adventures is currently my favorite game system. The Second Edition simplifies the rules and doubles down on storytelling and character building. Star Trek encourages us to be our best, most heroic selves, and imagines a world where anything is possible... perfect for role-playing! Roleplay: High Combat / Tactics: Medium Puzzles: Medium Experience level: Open to all
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
I cap games at 3 hours to let people plan their lives. To do that (& help newcomers learn) I may skip/combine steps/find alternate ways to evolve story, teach players & grow characters. Interpreting rules fairly to everyone (& explaining how & why changes happen) is key to having a good adventure!
My games focus on...
...creating immersive stories! That means empowering players to try new rules, new characters, new choices. That means taking cues from every player & crafting an adventure everyone wants to go on. My games focus on being true to the game world & involving everyone in deciding what happens next!
Rules are...
Rules are a good thing. They make things fair, avoid problems and create ways to grow your game. AND if it means you can serve the story, support players, or finish ON TIME (people have busy lives :) rules should be tweaked in the fairest way possible for everyone involved. Fun before crunch!
JohnRunsGames's ideal table
I try to bring together a mix of skill levels, roleplaying experience and diverse backgrounds. I believe that makes for the best stories--stories that evolve from characters learning about each other and their world. I always want to be surprised by player choices, and empower them. I always put the players ahead of my plans. I always try to surprise myself and help my players surprise each other, in ways that expand the adventure and stay faithful to the world. I create maps, levels, opponents and allies in realtime, and share them throughout the game to increase tension and curiosity. I don't use VTT's. I create the adventure in audio and video channels on Discord, because I believe it's more important for players grow their characters and the story (instead of fitting characters and story withing the constraints of a VTT). I want a table where we all learn from each other, and have fun!
JohnRunsGames's Preferences
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