Skulliver

he/him

5.0

(51)

Timezone

America/los Angeles

Language

English

Identity

Neurodivergent

Teacher/Educator

About Skulliver

I believe that what makes a session memorable is what everyone brings when they sit down together. I believe in the Rule of Cool. When something awesome and cinematic is on the line, I lean into a “yes, and” approach that keeps the momentum going. I’ve run games for all ages and can adjust tone and content for younger players. I’m also experienced with corporate groups and can tailor sessions to fit team‑building or professional needs. The games I run highlight player skill and creativity. It’s not about perfect builds—it’s about how you play, not what you play. I keep meaningful consequences on the table, including injury and death, and I embrace the unknown, the dangerous, and the monstrous. Your choices, your reactions, and how you use the tools you have in the moment are what truly matter. If you enjoy playing imperfect characters, taking risks, and clawing victory from the jaws of disaster, we’ll get along well.

At a glance

5 years on StartPlaying

205 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Rule of Cool, Knows the Rules

Average response time: 7 hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

back in middle school, with 1st edition GURPS of all things. This was back when Ronald Reagan was president and there was a Soviet Union. I've been at it a while. My desire to engage in rules crunch has gradually given ground to seeing the rules as a support for the roses of emergent narratives.

My 3 systems I'd bring to a desert island would be

Shadowdark. It's a fantastic "all in one" book. Blades in the Dark. Another one book game. The setting comes to life through play in amazing ways. Pirate Borg. I mean, I'm on an desert island, it just makes sense.

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

reading a wide range of books (lots of history), 3D Printing models and painting miniatures and terrain. I love to crack out my Universal Dungeon Terrain board and get the minis to the table.

How Skulliver runs games

I love RPGs and the shared creativity that happens at the table. My goal is to bring the world to life so you can fully engage with the story without getting bogged down in character math. I want you to have memorable moments, tense battles, and an overall great time. In combat, I run foes as if they want to win and survive. I don’t use grudge monsters, and I won’t target your character beyond what makes sense for the situation. I reward clever solutions, including avoiding fights altogether. Many of the games I enjoy treat combat as dangerous—even deadly—so charging in head‑on isn’t always the best choice. The world won’t always meet you at your current power level. I also enjoy humor and will absolutely reward you for making me laugh. I’m comfortable running theatre‑of‑the‑mind or virtual tabletops. If “rule of cool” and narrative‑forward play appeal to you, I’m all in. I tailor my style to the group—light and friendly or high‑stakes and intense—whatever makes the table fun. If you’re looking to branch out from modern D&D, reach out. I’m happy to help you find the right game

Featured Prompts

My games focus on...

Thinking outside the box. Yes, there is fighting but, it's not always a good choice. I also encourage player creativity and description over rules lawyering and "Roll" playing. The math rocks don't tell much of a story on their own.

Rules are...

a framework to support play. Play in RPGs, for me is about being a co-creator in a story which will never be the same twice. If the rules keep the narrative roses from growing, prune the rules, not the roses.

When it comes to voices

I use voices often and welcome others doing so. I feel like doing a voice can be part of the immersion for all at the table and for the speaker, it can help ground them in the character.

Skulliver's ideal table

I run an open, welcoming table. Life is stressful enough; gaming shouldn’t be. My style leans collaborative and generous, and I encourage player creativity and the rule of cool. What I don’t support is rules‑lawyering or win‑at‑all‑costs behavior. I expect basic respect for everyone at the table. That includes showing up on time and arriving ready to play—not intoxicated, distracted, or disengaged. Being present is part of respecting the group. I will challenge your character, but I’m not out to get you. Enemies and obstacles will act like they want to survive, have goals, and are doing their jobs. I have a firm boundary around sexual content. It doesn’t matter who it’s directed at—no one gets to make the table uncomfortable. If your playstyle relies on flirting with NPCs or “horny bard” antics, this is not the right table.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

Engages with playing in an OSR style of play where "the answer is not on your sheet". Asking questions, thinking and really acting as a person in a situation, rather than a pile of, let's face it, mathematical probabilities. When players don't meta game, it can be just magical.

I think min/maxing...

misses out on the joy that can be part of playing an imperfect character. Memorable characters are a mix of flaws and virtues. When you embrace imperfection, failures are just part of a story. When you over engineer for a result, failures become a cause for stress.

My table is not the place for...

Not sharing the spotlight Xenophobia Forcing sexual content into a session. Don't make it weird for the group. PVP Being a jerk "because that's what my character would do". Nobody should have to pay time or money to allow space for free range jerk behavior. Show up better than that or don't play.