Andrea (Roll Onward)

he/him

5.0

(6)

Timezone

America/vancouver

Language

English

Italian

Portuguese

Identity

Published Writer

Educator

Game Designer

Multi-lingual

About Andrea (Roll Onward)

I'm an educator, writer, web developer, amateur improv actor and GM with over 25 years of experience. I grew up in Italy, moved to Canada and got adopted into Brazilian culture. I live a multicultural, eclectic life and I bring this variety to my table. I'm well-versed in old-school and contemporary play styles, so my games are fun for casual players and hobby enthusiasts alike. I discovered TTRPGs in the D&D 3.5 era, when I ran several Forgotten Realms and Star Wars d20 campaigns. I eventually branched out into Cyberpunk 2020 and Vampire, as well as indie titles. After discovering the OSR, I GM'd many games using Swords & Wizardry: White Box, Old-School Essentials, Mothership and Shadowdark. I also have a soft spot for epic fantasy systems (Against the Darkmaster, The One Ring) and pop culture-inspired PbtA systems (Cartel, Pasiòn de las Pasiones). Professional skills I use as a GM: 🎓 Humanities PhD. My in-depth knowledge of literary genres helps me portray them convincingly in games. 👨‍🏫 Teacher. I read players' emotions well, and ensure everyone shares spotlight time. 🎭 Improv. I welcome unexpected situations, and transform them into storytelling opportunities. 💻 Tech. I'm proficient with digital tools, and aim to use them to make online sessions as fun as in-person ones. 🗣️ Polyglot. I can run games in English, Italian and Portuguese, including Learn to Play sessions. When you sit at my table, you get a GM who is friendly, professional, organized and fun!

At a glance

2 years on StartPlaying

1 games hosted

Highly rated for: Beginner Friendly, Inclusive, World Builder

$20 per session

Featured Prompts

My favorite shows/movies are

Movies: 12 Angry Men, Airplane!, Big Trouble in Little China, Blade Runner, Boyhood, Call Me By Your Name, Escape from New York, Ghostbusters, Goodfellas, Knives Out, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, Total Recall Series: Garth Mareghi's Darkplace, Glow, Love, Mad Men, Severance, Succession

How Andrea (Roll Onward) runs games

tl;dr: my games are perilous and immersive, but players at my table find support and encouragement. 🎲 Lite-Hard Mode - I play RaW by default, but I make quick rulings when uncertainty arises to keep the action going, and welcome house rules by table consensus. - Player skills are as important as PCs skills. Your character sheet matters, but so does how you use it. - There is no plot armor for PCs, but if bad things happen to your character, we find a way to keep you playing! 🗺️ Open-Ended Worldbuilding, Casual Laughs - I prepare open, flexible but weighty scenarios, and it's up to players to decide how to play them out. I bring the narrative, you shape the plot. - Your actions will have consequences. How you act will affect the game world, and I will make you feel the repercussions of your decisions as the campaign progresses. - My players speak in the first and third person interchangeably, and we all enjoy a good tension-breaking laugh together from time to time. 🛠️ Simple Tools, Inclusive Props - I prefer uncomplicated VTTs like Owlbear Rodeo, and love to mix digital and physical tools. I'd rather roll physical dice than let players wait while I debug a plugin glitch during a session! - I use visual and audio aids (maps, location backgrounds, tokens, portraits, sound effects and music) to evoke the game world at the table. - My props also accommodate accessibility needs. I want everybody to feel engaged and get 100% of what is happening in the game. 🤝 Collaboration & Openness - I facilitate with patience and care. I'm happy to repeat or clarify, and I meet players halfway. - In-game, you never hear a flat "No" from me. Instead, I say "No, and..." or "No, but..." to help you continue the narrative. - Session 0 is an ongoing process. After we agree on table rules, I frequently check in to see if adjustments are needed.

Featured Prompts

Rules are...

what makes a game unique. I use them to immerse players in the narrative, whether it's epic fantasy, survival horror, or pulp action. But I don't let rules inhibit my games. When needed, I make genre-appropriate rulings that vibe with the table. I always follow the spirit of the law, not the letter.