Stephanie Bryant (mortaine)

she/her

5.0

(47)

Timezone

America/los Angeles

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Queer

Published Writer

Women/Femme Identifying

Game Designer

About Stephanie Bryant (mortaine)

Hello, prospective adventurer! You've come to the right place to find a facilitator for your role-playing journey! ME AND MY STYLE: i've been running games since the 90's, and have been a game designer since 2010. I tend towards light-hearted games with heavy role-play, and fights that are meaningful. I run a lot of Powered by the Apocalypse systems, such as Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Brindlewood Bay, and my own game, Threadbare. I also run Fate, Gumshoe, and Dramasystem. Some bona-fides: I wrote Threadbare RPG, several adventures including Ennie-winner Can't Sleep Clowns Will Eat Me, co-authored Mx Universe (a non-binary/trans fashion pageant LARP game) and 20 years worth of technical documentation. I am very good introducing new players to the hobby in general, using one of the many many many game systems that are lighter mechanically and more accessible to new folks. I no longer run Dungeons & Dragons; it was my first RPG, but my style doesn't mesh with it very well, and there are hundreds of great DMs out there who specialize in D&D. In particular, if you're a woman or non-binary person (NB of all stripes) or a group thereof who are looking for a great introduction to role playing games with a non-threatening, supportive female GM, please get in touch! I love introducing new players to the hobby, and have a great track record for inclusive, beginner-friendly games. IN-PERSON GAMES? In addition to running games online, I'm located in Las Vegas, Nevada. I am available for in-person groups and one-shots, if all players are fully vaccinated for covid-19. I'm willing to do bachelor/bachelorette parties in person if all players are fully vaccinated. For everyone's safety, I will bring a non-participating partner with me to any in-person parties at hotel rooms and any bachelor parties regardless of venue. CUSTOM TIME SLOTS: If you're looking for a custom time slot, you can find my full availability on Calendly: https://calendly.com/mortaine/30min (note that this is my consulting page, not my pro-GM page; please book your game via StartPlayingGames; this link is just for transparency on availability.) ACCESSIBILITY: You can request accommodation for your disabilities! Here are just some of the possible options available: * 📃 PDF character sheet provided in advance * 👂 Closed captions enabled (we would use Zoom instead of discord in this case) * 🔤 Text-only game (available for custom games and times) * 🎲 Online or offline dice rolling * 🦺 Safety tools for mental health safety * 🕐 Shorter sessions (2-3 hours). Can build in breaks if requested. * 📹 Video on or off-- you decid

At a glance

5 years on StartPlaying

104 games hosted

Highly rated for: Inclusive, Creativity, Storytelling

Featured Prompts

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

Writing games, making stuff (either fiber arts or at the local Maker Space), or playing music.

How Stephanie Bryant (mortaine) runs games

I tend to be narrative-focused and really enjoy running systems like Powered by the Apocalypse, Fate, Gumshoe, Dramasystem, and Fiasco. I run a monthly indie one-shot. I love role-play and non-combat solutions to problems. I use safety tools like the X Card, Script Change, Open Door, and Lines and Veils. I typically have a lead time of about 2 weeks for a custom booking, to give me time to schedule and prep your session. I previously worked for Roll20, so I use that for sessions where we need more than a voice connection and dice. I live in Las Vegas and am also available for in-person games, with safety protocols in place.

Featured Prompts

I prep by

being really good at improv. I tend to run games where I want the players to be creating the story/world almost as much as I am.

Stephanie Bryant (mortaine)'s ideal table

My table style is highly collaborative. I want the players to be suggesting changes to the world, egging each other on, and saying "I have a terrible idea" that they then try out to exciting results!

Featured Prompts

I think min/maxing...

is really tough to deal with as a GM. I prefer systems where min/maxing just doesn't give you much of an advantage in the first place, so it disincentivizes creating "the perfect build" and instead encourages people to make character choices because they are fun or interesting.