spoon
he/him
5.0
(13)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About spoon
I've been playing TTRPGs since I was 17 and I've been GMing regularly for 10 years. I have vivid memories of experiences I've had in TTRPGs with great players and masters- so vivid it's like I was there. I'm enthusiastic about creating more of those memories. Some might say overly enthusiastic. Others might say I'm chasing the dragon. My first TTRPG was Dark Heresy 1e. As an acolyte of the Inquisition, I learned to bring retribution to the heretical enemies of mankind and that my mind was a far better video game than any I had played up until that point. As a day job, I work in corporate IT. In my free time, I binge-consume all forms of media. Those two facts are mundane by themselves, but what it ultimately means is that I have a lot of time and inspiration to brew up a new tale in the ol' brain cauldron.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Sets the Mood, Storytelling
Featured Prompts
My favorite books are
Hardboiled detective and sci-fi noir fiction, maybe some grimdark fantasy if the mood takes. I don't like Brandon Sanderson's writing, but you have to respect his absolute hustle.
People are always surprised when I tell them
there was no plan all along. It was you.
When I'm not running games I'm...
hanging out with my wife on the couch, watching bad tv and good movies. or i'm at work, making big computers tell little computers what to do. or i'm being forcefully cuddled by the world's neediest golden retriever while simultaneously being ignored by the world's most bored siberian husky.
How spoon runs games
Tell a story with me. I like to focus on immersion. I achieve that with visuals and audio, as well as prepared narration where appropriate. While I self-indulge with voices for my characters, there's never any pressure on players to match that. Intrigue and investigation are some of my favorite elements of TTRPGs and players can expect me to prepare scenarios including those elements when I can. What is the Mayoress of that town getting up to behind closed doors? Where did this bloody handprint in the sawmill come from? How can you exploit the relationship between the Councillors? This, to me, is so much more compelling than "who can I hit with my sword?" Horror is probably my best genre. I love establishing a creepy ambience and describing situations in an unnerving way. Difficult to do a jump-scare in a TTRPG, but I won't rest until I figure out a way to do it. I like biting into a crunchy rule book and chewing on all of the fun options and exploits it offers. I think it's fun to think of creative solutions within a ruleset. With all that in mind, I would say I'm 80% rules as written, 20% "you're a main character in this story, so go ahead." I'll try to create a safe and welcoming environment for my players, but I believe that's a shared responsibility at the table. We're telling a story together. Be a fan of the other players and their characters.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
trying to find the answer in the text first, then making a ruling if it's vague or slowing down the game. For harder issues, I might ask "how do you all feel if we try it this way?" Failing all else, a quick internet search. Keep it moving, I say.
My favorite trope is...
the red herring. I shamelessly admit this. I find, in TTRPGs, rug pulling at a lull after a false climax is a nice way to make your players think "oh wait, there's MORE!?" Well, hopefully it's that and not "Oh wait.... there's more..."
When it comes to voices
I love them! I try to make my NPCs distinct, and voice is an easy way to do that. When my players do them, I love that too! It takes a lot to put yourself out there, especially at a table of strangers. But I promise I'll return your enthusiasm.
spoon's ideal table
I like to cultivate investment. I'll check in regularly to make sure we're having a good time and adjust fire if we're not. I vibe with players who are interested in helping tell the story, not just being in it. That means not being afraid to take the spotlight for your hero moment, and respecting and being interested in when other players have theirs.
Featured Prompts
I am for a vibe that's...
Immersive! That's my watchword. We're going to laugh and joke from time to time and have some cartoon times- that's one of the things that makes TTRPGs special. But there's nothing better than being IN the story together and doing our part to hold on to that moment.
If you're into ___, you're going to love my table
Whodunits, intrigue, mysteries, and narrative. I'm story and character driven!
I think it's a red flag when players...
spotlight hog. It's important that we all recognize when the camera's been on us for a while and we need to take a step back and let someone else drive, even if we still have good ideas. There's 4-6 of us here, after all.
spoon's Preferences
Systems
Platforms
Game Mechanics