Cid S.
he/him
5.0
(31)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Cid S.
For 20+ years, I've run games that are bloody, brutal, and insanely satisfying... And I still love every second of it. My style is foul-mouthed and direct, but my goal is always an unforgettable story. If it's funny, cool, or creative I'm here for it. I got my start with a bunch of grognards, so I bring an old-school sensibility to new-school rules: or run classic systems if that’s your thing. I build merciless adventures where every victory is hard-won and oh so satisfying. Expect my games to push you to your limits with gruesome creatures, complex choices, and victories that are STUPID satisfying when you claw your way out of a dungeon drenched in BLOOD AND GLORY! I'll make sure you claw, mess up, and maybe curse my name, but here's the truth: I'm always your biggest fan. I WANT you to succeed. If you’re looking for a gritty, hard-fought adventure, you’ve found your match.
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
438 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, World Builder
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
I enjoy the challenge of juggling everyone and everything while trying to put together a cohesive experience for each player.
My favorite shows/movies are
The kind they show at midnight and warn you not to bring kids to. Serial Experiments Lain, Possession (1981), Utena, The Fly, Berserk, Tokyo Fist, Akira, and weird art films with more atmosphere than dialogue.
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
Unforgiving. Brutal. Softy. Rebellious.
How Cid S. runs games
[Philosophy] My table is a safe space for players, but a dangerous place for characters. I run high-trust, high-lethality games where inclusivity at the table allows us to explore mature, brutal themes in the world. I prioritize player agency above all else; the world reacts logically to your choices, not conveniently for the plot. I am open to unique builds and homebrew, provided you accept that I will balance them iteratively if they break the game. I make rulings based on logic, not pity. I have a high player kill rate, but I am not your enemy. I want you to succeed, but I want that success to be earned, not given. [Style & Genre] My wheelhouse is Grimdark, Horror, and High-Fantasy. I focus on themes of morality, sacrifice, and legacy. While I gravitate toward the gritty and the gruesome, I am versatile: I can pivot to Cozy/Slice-of-Life or Anime tropes if the campaign demands it. Expect a serious narrative tone, occasionally broken by terrible dad jokes to relieve the tension. [Voice Games] Platform: Discord for Audio/Video. Roll20 for tactical maps. Atmosphere: I use curated music playlists, ambience, and sound effects to maintain immersion. Expectations: Cameras are appreciated for roleplay, but not required. [Play-By-Post Games] With two decades of PBP experience, I run asynchronous games that actually finish. I use Discord for a sandbox-style environment with integrated dice bots. - Pscing: Consistent and reliable. - Narrative: High emphasis on collaborative writing and character introspection. - Combat: Tactical and lethal, even in text. [My Weekly Prices:] - Live Games: $25 per player - Play-by-Post Games: $12 per player [Custom Game Prices:] - Custom Live Games: $30 per player - Custom Live Duets: $60 per player - Custom Play-by-Post Group Games: $30 per player - Custom Play-by-Post Duet Games: $60 per player
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
I prioritize momentum. If a rule is unclear, I make a decisive, logical call in the moment to keep the action moving. I do not halt gameplay to debate mechanics or scour the manual. We can review the RAW (Rules as Written) post-session and adjust for the future, but at the table,
If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...
Less Hollywood blockbuster, more transgressive art-house. My direction channels the industrial body horror of Tsukamoto, the psychological extremity of von Trier, and the surreal chaos of Sion Sono. We explore themes of obsession and discomfort to find moments of brutal beauty within the grotesque.
Rules are...
Rules are the skeleton, not the soul. They provide structure, but the fiction takes precedence. I view the system as a toolkit, not a scripture. I will bend or break a rule if strict adherence undermines the narrative logic or the dramatic weight of the scene. This flexibility is a feature of my tab
Cid S.'s ideal table
High-Lethality / High-Agency Table. I prioritize player agency over narrative comfort. I do not fudge dice and I do not pull punches. I don't curate a "hero's journey." I present a hostile environment and you attempt to survive it. The world is indifferent to your goals and will not hesitate to kill your character if you make a tactical error. My job is to ensure the challenge is fair, consistent, and logically sound. Your job is to overcome it. We treat each other with respect at the table, but the game world offers no mercy. There are no safety rails here, only the consequences of your own choices.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
I value narrative friction over mechanical optimization. I love it when a player acts from the gut, not the stat block. I want you to use the fiction to expose your character's psychological blind spots, finding the tragedy of a failure more compelling than the safety of a guaranteed win.
I think min/maxing...
Min/maxing is secondary to psychological depth. We trade "spreadsheet chess" for flawed humanity. I am far more interested in your character's honest collapse than their optimized build. At this table, scars count for more than stats.
My table is not the place for...
This table is a workshop, not a theme park. We are here to construct, not consume. This requires active engagement and the emotional capacity to handle raw, charged themes. Passive spectators or those seeking "comfort gaming" will find no purchase here.
Cid S.'s Preferences
Systems
Platforms
Game Mechanics
Themes