Joshua
he/him
5.0
(5)
Timezone
Language
About Joshua
Joshua's journey into TTRPGs began over ten years ago when he stepped up as a de-facto GM to run a homebrew western for his friends. Since then, he has helmed four full campaigns, including a current, year-long weekly game, and countless one-shots. He has a deep respect for how mechanics shape tone, drawing from experience with systems ranging from rules-lite OSR and Nu-SR titles like Pirate Borg and Cy_Borg to crunchier systems like OpenD6, D&D 5e, and Call of Cthulhu. He is a fan of sci-fi, swashbuckling tales, and alternate histories layered with fantastic elements. Joshua thrives in open-ended sandbox adventures that maximize player agency. He uses established modules as a baseline, seamlessly modifying them with strong improv skills to adapt to player choices. His games rely on rich characters, tactical combat, and integrated player backstories that emerge naturally through play. To elevate the immersion, he curates atmospheric soundscapes and crafts custom physical terrain or standees for complex encounters. Joshua aims for a sincere table culture where comedy and melodrama coexist naturally to fit the truth of the world. He welcomes beginners and views his role as a GM as setting up the bowling pins so that his players can have the satisfaction of knocking them down.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Voices, Storytelling, Inclusive
$15 per session
Featured Prompts
I got started GMing...
Because I wanted to get into the hobby and no one else in my friend group was running games. I kept GM'ing because in a hobby dominated by high fantasy roleplaying, I wanted to tell stories in different genres.
My favorite books are
Thrillers and Sci-Fi stories like Andromeda Strain, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Da Vinci Code, Pirate Latitudes, and Project Hail Mary. Whimsical humor stories like The Phantom Tollbooth. Graphic novels like Gotham Central and Zatana by Paul Dini.
My favorite shows/movies are
Comedy and Action movies like Ghostbusters, Airplane!, and anything directed by Edgar Wright. Musicals like Chicago and White Christmas. I enjoy satirical shows like Parks and Recreation and Community, but also mysterious dramas like Westworld and Severance.
How Joshua runs games
Character Voices, Roleplay Heavy, Exciting Combats, Unique Encounters, Player Agency
Featured Prompts
I prep by
Following SkyFlourish's steps for preparation for homebrew campaigns and sessions or re-reading published adventures I will be running. Between sessions, I write down ideas for interesting and fun encounters along with important NPC or enemy names and stats.
Rules are...
There to provide a framework for the action and simulate the world. A good set of rules helps develop the narrative and keeps the tone consistent.
When it comes to voices
I try to give every important named NPC a unique voice so that if the players were to hear them talking to one another, they would be able to tell them apart without me having to note who is speaking. I'm able to do this by adjusting accent, pitch, tone, and vocal tics.
Joshua's ideal table
My table is open to anyone who is here to have fun and be respectful to their fellow players. As someone who loves trying new systems and has run many games at con
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
Makes a character choice and sticks to it even if it might not be mechanically or narratively advantageous. Characters who have no flaws or do not experience hardship are not as interesting as those that do. I also love when players describe actions in detail, using descriptive language like a GM.
My table is not the place for...
Petty arguments and interpersonal drama. We are all here to have fun and tell stories, not argue over rules and make others feel bad.
Joshua's Preferences
Systems