Joseph Cadotte

he/him

5.0

(6)

Timezone

America/detroit

Language

English

Identity

Queer

Neurodivergent

Published Writer

Teacher/Educator

Game Designer

About Joseph Cadotte

I'm a long-time DM, starting back in '83, and have played and run a variety of systems, including GURPS, Star Frontiers, Call of Cthulhu, TMNT/Rifts, and a bunch of others, but my focus has been D&D, from Basic to 5.5. I've been in the education industry since the early 90s, and taught for almost two decades. For the last twenty-odd years, I've been an editor at the family educational simulation company. I've written several books and edited a few anthologies. My work tends to be character-focused as well as grounded in history as well as science. After traveling all over the country, I'm currently back in my hometown, where I live with my nationally recognized wife, a locally recognized son, a good dog and a mediocre cat.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

1 games hosted

Highly rated for: Inclusive, World Builder, Storytelling

Average response time: Under 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I have so many stories to tell. Also, I was the only person willing to do so.

I got started GMing...

when my father bought me a copy of the D&D Basic set back in the summer of 1983.

My favorite books are

space opera, cozy mysteries, metafiction, science fiction which embraces elements of mysticism

How Joseph Cadotte runs games

My games tend to be either urban fantasy or science fantasy, using the D&D 5.x ruleset. I focus less on combat than other elements, although it is present. While I tend to play close to the rules, Rule of Cool and Rule of Funny do play a part in deciding what happens. I expect civil, accepting behavior from my players.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

coming to consensus with the group within the boundaries of known rules. However, at times, I must make a stricter ruling, and do so in a way that supports the internal consistency of the narrative being created.

My favorite trope is...

Lovecraft lite. Cosmic horror works best with a sense of hope and humor.

Rules are...

important and crucial, but are not the be-all end-all. Rules provide much-needed structure, but can't be allowed to get in the way of the story being created by the table.

Joseph Cadotte's ideal table

My table style tends toward building a story and getting the players immersed in it. That said, the players should feel comfortable and encouraged to express themselves.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

figures out something that I haven't and I have to keep one step ahead. Also, when players get into sync with each other and really click.

I think metagaming...

is great in limited quantities. It's inevitable, both with new and experienced players, so it is better to embrace it in a structured manner than to try to suppress it.