Fern
any/all
5.0
(5)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Fern
I'm a life-long worldbuilder and nearly everything I craft and perform with is made from scratch. Telling my own stories in these worlds has been my main activity since I was able to form full phrases. A decade ago some of these became table-top home games. Among my creations are multiple TTRPG Systems that range from alien to the average D&D player, to beginner friendly and generally applicable. Weather it's teaching the ropes to the un-initiated or challenging performers to truly experience the consequences of their characters' choices. I want to experience it with you. I want to listen as you express your creativity on the narrative canvas. I create the worlds, you break them.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: World Builder, Creativity, Knows the Rules
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
My friends always spoke of wanting a videogame in the worlds I write, so they could explore them. So I developed a TTRPG to allow them to do that while experiencing a narrative.
My favorite books are
Off the top of my head: Piranesi - by Susanna Clarke Library of Babel - by Jorge Luis Borges and let's throw BLAME! in there as well, although I don't usually read manga's and such.
When I'm not running games I'm...
In order of probability: Writing, prepping the next session, watching Youtube, doing voice-overs, watching some show, hanging out with folk, and exercising.
How Fern runs games
The narrative and role-playing experience takes precedence over other gameplay factors at my table. For that same reason I have designed my systems to assist role-playing while not getting in its way. Player comfort is very important to me, so light-heartedness and joking around is encouraged when the timing isn't insensitive to the other players. On the other hand my combat scenarios are designed to not be "swingy", and more so focused on solving problems and getting around opponent mechanics, while avoiding your own mechanics being exploited by the enemies, and creating opportunities for a meaningful and decisive conclusion to the fight.
Featured Prompts
I prep by
Writing reminders and bullet notes, then picking the soundtrack and using that to guide in preparing the events that might unfold in the next session.
My games focus on...
The personality of places, the insights of people, concrete and abstract perspectives, the systematization of philosophy, dread, despair and –by definition– horror.
When it comes to voices
I try to give each character unique voices to some degree of success. This becomes easier in games like the BoS where there are less "communicative" NPCs.
Fern's ideal table
My games are open to everyone who can respect others and keep an open mind. Out of character bigotry, ableism, and disrespect will not be tolerated at the table. Of course I am not applying this logic when it comes to particular cases that can cause misunderstanding, like if the players engaging in that with each other are well familiarized and have that level of intimacy while participating in such rhetoric ironically, as long as it does not cross the established boundaries of other players. I am always open to criticism, suggestions, and special necessity requests that can make the game more comfortable for you and your colleagues. You are also always welcome to come to me with if you ever have an experience in mind, or a specific development that you would like to plan out with me or see present itself in the path of your character. There is a trope among my players where whenever they have an idea like that, coincidentally I had already planned and set up that same thing ahead of their story, but that doesn't mean I'll always get that lucky or have that much foresight, so feel free to reach out! I might often write sternly, but I am a very light and receptive person. I can, however, be a very intense narrator.
Featured Prompts
I am for a vibe that's...
A balance between tension and comedy. I try to make the pace of my games value of each peak and low. Something that no matter how light-hearted the experience may get, is still always present in my stories, is a looming sense of doom, of larger things beyond the horizon, or within the walls.
If you're into ___, you're going to love my table
..something unique that probably has not been seen before in a TTRPG..
I love it when a player
Theorizes about story and mysteries in the games. It makes my day. At the risk of sounding obvious I also really enjoy when players take notes. But these are not necessary things, and there are many other aspects of player interaction that brighten my day that every player brings to the experience.
Fern's Preferences
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