Joe
he/him
5.0
(5)
Timezone
Language
About Joe
Greetings, travelers! My name’s Joe and I have a deep passion for all things TTRPG’s! As a kid, I was molded by the heavily story focused video game RPG’s of that time. Games like “Knights of The Old Republic,” “Baldur’s Gate,” and “Mass Effect”. As a college student I was introduced to tabletop Dungeons and Dragons and from there my journey as a GM began. Now many years and games later, I pride myself as a facilitator of epic storytelling that spans all types of genres. If you like darker more realistic sci-fi/fantasy atmospheres like that found in “Cyberpunk,” “The Expanse,” “The Witcher” and “Game of Thrones” you will be right at home in one of my games. While rolls certainly have a place in almost any TTRPG I am firm believer that what makes any Roleplaying Game great is the “Role”playing and not the “Roll” playing. I have experience running and playing in the following games and I am always adding new games to the list: - Dungeons and Dragons (5e and 3.5) - Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition - Eclipse Phase - Cyberpunk RED - Mothership
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Inclusive
Featured Prompts
My favorite books are
Most recently "Between Two Fires" by Christopher Buelhman. I also enjoy: - "Aurora" by Kim Stanley Robinson - "The Unhewn Throne" by Brian Stavely - "Altered Carbon" by Richard K. Morgan - "A Song of Ice and Fire" series by GRRM - "The Witcher" Series by Andrej Sapkowski
When I'm not running games I'm...
Playing video games, watching movies, and reading books. I also like to explore my creativity in other ways. I write a lot and act on stage with local theater troupes.
How Joe runs games
What I enjoy most about tabletop games is the collaborative storytelling and all of the unique excitement that creates. Whether it is the slow reveal of a player characters sordid past, the emotional turmoil of an in-game moral dilemma, or the big revelation that suddenly makes the party question everything they thought they knew…these are the moments I strive for as Game Master. I also enjoy providing deadly challenges for players to overcome with both wit and might as I believe what makes a game a game is the very real possibility of failure. Sometimes that failure can be the result of poor choices made along the way, sometimes the dice decide to tell the story. Either way the consequences exist and must be dealt with accordingly. That being said, I will always work with players in the aftermath of any player character’s untimely death. The character may be gone but that player’s role in the story will always remain pivotal and important by way of a back-up character or (if the universe allows) a magical resurrection! I would describe my rule-style of GMing as “Rules-Flexible.” I think this is something that a group determines early on, but I prefer rules that encourage players to think creatively to solve their problems and not ones that discourage their creativity.
Featured Prompts
I prep by
Writing. Before a session I devise a loose script of events, NPC dialogues, and combat encounters which I then use as a reference to build upon through improvisation at the table. This way if the player's go off script, its okay! (So long as they aren't completely ignoring the adventure at hand.)
Rules are...
Important. Without rules we lose the essence of what puts the "G" in TTRPG and we might as well be brainstorming a collaborative fiction. That said, rules should not take priority over creativity. If a rule can be bent so that something awesome or interesting can happen it probably should be.
When it comes to voices
As an actor I love doing character voices! I try to give each of my NPC's a distinct voice. I find that this is not only more immersive for players but also helps to avoid confusion about who is talking when.
Joe's ideal table
My table is Respectful, Inclusive, Engaged, and Fun! Let's dive into each of these to better explain what you can expect: RESPECTFUL: This encompasses basic decency and kindness. No one plays a game to feel worse about themselves or others. As such if someone takes issue with a player or GM's decision they can address it so long as it remains respectful. INCLUSIVE: People of all creeds, genders, and sexual orientation are welcome at my table. Bigotry and/or bullying will not be tolerated and will be dealt with swiftly. (Note: Characters in my game are reflective of our real world and as such there are men with husbands and women with wives, just their are husbands and wives wed together. The themes of my games sometimes vilify fascism and corporate greed while glorifying resistance efforts against them.) ENGAGED: If you're playing at my table, you should be attentive at all times and not just when its your turn or when someone has asked your character a question. By paying attention to your fellow players and to events you may not be directly involved with you get more out of the game. FUN: This one is self explanatory, but all of the above is in service to establishing an environment for players that is fun and welcoming. My games tend to deal with heavy themes and most player characters have some sort of trauma to contend with, but above table these should always be in service to a story that is fulfilling and enjoyable to take part in.
Featured Prompts
I am for a vibe that's...
Chill, friendly, and excited for what comes next.
I love it when a player
Invests in the reality of the fiction by describing their actions in detail (how they slay the monster, how they sneak past the guards, or how they cast a given spell, etc.) Additionally, when they are taken in by another player's actions and react complimentary even when not directly involved.
I think it's a red flag when players...
Regularly become distracted when they don't have the spotlight.