Lifeless Games (he/him)
5.0
(5)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, World Builder
About me
Looking for a GM who thrives on creativity and player-driven stories? I have a love for rules-light systems, and crafting dynamic, immersive adventures that put your choices at the heart of the narrative. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the game, every session is tailored for maximum fun and excitement!
GM Style
My GMing style is all about collaboration and discovery. I’m open-minded, encouraging players to shape the world with their actions. I love weaving moral dilemmas into the narrative, challenging you to think deeply about your choices. Together, we’ll uncover the story, creating a memorable and thought-provoking journey.
Game platforms used
Game Master Reviews (5)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Storytelling
Creativity
World Builder
I've been a long time player of Lifeless (who is anything but) Games' civilian identity. His games are always fun and engaging, drawing you into a world rich with detail and interesting characters. While I personally like rpg systems with a good amount of crunch, I would never turn down a game in any system this GM wants to run. He understands the rules are there to facilitate the group's fun and he's a master at putting that fun first.
Kieran is the reason I started playing TTRPG's 14 years ago. And my introduction to this hobby was with probably one of the most challenging systems - Mage: The Ascension. But we got thru it!!! When I had NO prior knowledge of rpg's, I had hardly heard of D&D, he helped me through a grueling character and magic system creation. He made the story so intriguing and the characters complex (no "Disney Villains" that are 100% bad guys here). He prioritizes fairness at the table. He cares about bringing a bit of what each player loves most into the campaign - a little hack and slash here, a little RP there, a sprinkling of war-game level rules, a dash of Rule of Cool. In the last 14 years I've kept coming back to his table campaign after campaign, system after system. His games help me recharge from real life, feel accomplished (or at least determined for next session), and give me characters to talk about for years after their stories end. 5/5 would play with always.
I've played in games run by this GM for every bit of 25 years, and I can honestly say that if you're looking for a story over mechanics style game, where players have the agency to take part in the storytelling experience, and can help to shape the world collectively you would be hard pressed to find a better GM. Rarely have I reached the end of a game and not had a laundry list of questions I need to know more about, mysteries bumped into but not quite solved, events that left me scratching my head and talking about it for months on end, and burning curiosity at the goings-ons in the background that we knew must be happening, but never had the time to see because we were too busy chasing the next fixation like leaves blown in the wind. If you want to step into a world that you know is alive and moving, even when you aren't, you've come to the right place.
I have been playing with this GM for a total of 17 years. I can say, truly and honestly, I have never met a GM who cares about the player experience more. He cares a lot about game theory and different player types, and can cater the play even when you're sharing the table with 5 others. He is not a "railroading" GM. Most of his game prep goes into world-building and NPC building. He usually has an idea of where he wants to take a game, but never specific plot-points that the players "have" to take. The players lead the story. As a result, more creative players are rewarded. However, I am not a traditional "creative" player, and I really enjoy where the story goes anyway, and am genuinely proud of myself whenever I do have a clever idea or contribution to the table. There have been multiple games over the years where there was not a dry eye in the house, during crucial moments of play. Always available to help if you're not happy with your character - he does not allow "broken" characters, but if you find yourself unhappy with how the character is playing, he is there to help and can be very flexible in changes made after you build the initial character. Don't get me wrong - he doesn't believe in taking it easy on you. He is good at helping you succeed without making the game easier. You have to earn those moments of pride, and they feel that much sweeter, because you know they are real.
I've been playing with Lifeless for years now across a few different systems, including two long lived campaigns and a few one-shots. He can bring a story to life like no one else, always running his own content, that is detailed enough to fill novels (that I'd quite honestly read). He pours himself into these systems to create amazing games, maintaining solid balance between the rules as written, but also understanding when a rule just needs some refining for the current table. Hands down the best GM I've ever played with.
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