Paul Willis
he/him
5.0
(6)
Timezone
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About Paul Willis
There are so many stories to be told, let's tell some of them together! TTRPGs are a wonderful way of building a tight community and having a wildly imaginative time doing it. I bring a passion for stories and adventure and an immense imagination to the table, along with a pure joy for the worlds we are lucky enough to play in! Whether it's Dungeons & Dragons, Vampire: The Masquerade, Call of Cthulhu, or Fallout, your adventures with me will be unforgettable!
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
24 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, World Builder, Storytelling
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
I wanted to stay connected with friends who lived far away, and I had a ton of stories in my soul that needed to be told. That may sound cheesy, but it's genuine.
My 3 systems I'd bring to a desert island would be
This is a really hard choice, because there are a lot of good systems out there! But if I have to choose ... ... Pathfinder for the character customization. ... Pulp Cthulhu for the 20s-30s horror aesthetic. ... Vampire: The Masquerade for the detailed roleplaying.
When I'm not running games I'm...
... writing stories, reading books, watching movies, snuggling my cat, going for walks and exploring my city, trying out new recipes and food
How Paul Willis runs games
- I love to incorporate a few accents and voices into my roleplay with NPCs. I am very open to those who like to do the same with their characters, but I am also totally understanding of those who wish to do lighter forms of roleplay. - Story and a more lighthearted vibe around the table tends to take precedence over crunchy rules for me. - I see all my players around the gaming table as equal, and I ask that any players I GM for avoid hogging the spotlight or trying to be a "main character". - Players have described me as being very gentle and understanding for those who are new to a game or nervous about roleplaying.
Featured Prompts
I prep by
Writing up an outline first, then filling it out with details on NPCs, locations, and possible events depending on player choices. If the party is exploring a dungeon, city, or other location I almost always will make a custom map to help visualize every possible trap or treasure.
My games focus on...
The joys of telling stories together and exploring an exciting setting.
Rules are...
... there to provide structure and chance to situations within the story. They shouldn't hinder the flow of the story, instead offering moments when the dice decide the outcome, and both the GM and players work in tandem to find the fun in those outcomes
Paul Willis's ideal table
My tables tend to attract players who are imaginative, fun, and relatively easy-going. I am not authoritative or hyper-rules-focused as a GM, and the vibe at my table is typically one of adventure and exploration. Parties come together to work out solutions for problems or to face a tough enemy, and the teamwork and camaraderie flows easily.
Featured Prompts
I think metagaming...
Is unavoidable sometimes. We are all mature enough to know that we're playing a game, after all! But as a GM I will gently call out instances where I feel a player might be metagaming too much and encourage them to explore other options that fit better with what their character would choose.
I think min/maxing...
Can work well if it fits the character's backstory or personality in some way! But if it's used by a player just to be OP or to "break the game", it makes the GM/Player relationship more adversarial and confrontational, which I try to avoid at my table.
My table is not the place for...
Main Characters! Players are working together as a team! I promise I'll give everyone situations and story beats where their characters can shine. But please don't hog the spotlight, and give everyone at the table an equal place in the story we're telling together!
Paul Willis's Preferences
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