Jesse
he/him
5.0
(2)
Timezone
Language
About Jesse
I am a hopeless TTRPG romantic. I have played in great, good, average, and poor games of all kinds and I cannot help but to keep coming back. Each game has it's own unique, inescapable charm as do the people you play the game with. I began playing TTRPG's not long after D&D5e was released with a home game hosted by a friend of a friend inspired by HBO's Game of Thrones. We migrated from D&D over to Savage Worlds after a handful of games, and then I offered to run the starter adventure (Lost Mines of Phandelver) for that same group as a show of appreciation for the time spent on these games for us. From there, I continued to run games both adventure books and home brewed monstrosities inspired by just about any popular media I was engaging with at the time and honed my craft amongst friends. I have since played a multitude of TTRPG's and have refined my palette to a handful. D&D5e retains a special place in my heart but I have grown to love other such games and I suspect that will continue. At the time of writing I have a deep enjoyment for the following: * D&D5e in both it's iterations (2014, and 2024). As a certain kind of fantasy fulfilment the game succeeds in providing a wealth of resources and materials for players and GM's alike to come together and create interesting play experiences. * Lancer/Draw Steel. Both, an unexpected delight that continues to pull me in with robust simplicity and delightfully capacity for creative expression and tactical combat.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
10 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Storytelling, Teacher
Featured Prompts
I got started GMing...
.. To pay forward the inspiration my GM gave me with their games! Every time I sat down to join in a session I felt inspired to put myself out there and create my own work. Hopefully I can do the same for others!
My favorite books are
Terry Pratchett's Ankh-Morpok City Watch series has a number of my favourite novels. Of that series, Thud! would have to be my favourite. Every year I find myself returning to the familiar cobblestone streets within to relive the thrill of the investigation through Sam Vimes practical lens.
My favorite shows/movies are
I watched Luc Besson's 'The Fifth element' when I was in my early teen's and for reasons that sometimes escape me I find myself irresistibly drawn into the characters lives and the story as a whole. There are better films and shows, but it remains my personal favourite.
How Jesse runs games
I have been running the game for years and there are a handful of consistent threads I have noticed in my games. I enjoy crafting tactical combat. A challenging experience that feels like a puzzle in its own right satisfies on multiple levels and victory that is earned feels all the sweeter. I like doing the silly voices. Whether it be an awakened shrub (how a plant without vocal chords makes noise is anyone's fair guess but all the same, why not have fun with it!) I enjoy collaborative roleplay. We are social creatures and our characters exist in conversation with one another. Facilitating moments to give players the opportunity to flesh out their concepts enriches the character's concept and the fantasy we are all participating in by extension. I like to use the books. Having a ready made world available to me and the player means I can provide answers that make sense to all parties and helps me to flesh out the world and it's events in ways that feel meaningful and impactful. I imagine it's a similar joy to flying a plane and witnessing the world open up like a grand tapestry before you and being able to go to and experience any part of it. I enjoy tailoring the experience and home brewing. I've played TTRPG's for a very long time and played many kinds of games, and there is a unique kind of feeling to creation that helps build on a collective fantasy shared between the players and the GM.
Jesse's ideal table
In my own assessment I think my tables are a comfortable space. Striking the perfect balance between driving the narrative forward and creating space for players to develop their character concepts into something that feels natural can be something that comes down to how your players mesh at the table. Players who like to feel a sense of achievement, who like to socialise, and who like to explore every nook and cranny of a space will find plenty of things to interest them and their interests will help inform how I seek to develop the sessions going forward. At its core, I believe TTRPG's are a collaborative experience of give and take. I give the players a framework and an idea, then I take their ideas to flesh out the games in a way that reflects their interests.
Featured Prompts
I think metagaming...
.. Has its time and place! Good meta-gaming asks questions of the DM and other players to help flesh out their character and the world that we build together. Poor meta-gaming makes decisions based on external knowledge so that they can manipulate events in their favour and cheat the experience.
I think min/maxing...
.. is a tool that can help players and DMs! Min/Maxing helps you to be better at what you want your character to do, and any array of numbers can inform an interesting character. Just remember to talk with your fellow players so no two players needlessly compete for the same concept!
My perfect party mix is
.. A tank, a control, a support, a face, and a glass cannon! Or .. A note-keeper, an actor, a creator, a reader, a writer, and a gamer! In all seriousness, the perfect party mix is one in which the players feel comfortable around the table with each other and can talk freely to one another.
Jesse's Preferences
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Game Mechanics