Joe Prata

he/him

5.0

(5)

Timezone

America/los Angeles

Language

English

Identity

Podcaster

Voice Actor

Game Designer

About Joe Prata

My name is Joe Prata and I would love to be your Game Master for your tabletop game. For your interest, here is some DEEP LORE about myself: - I am a college trained actor with a bachelor's degree from SFSU. I have been acting for my whole life and I’ve done it all; Musical theater, drama, comedy, new works, sketch, you name it! - I’ve got a deep passion for improvisational performance. I have been a part of immersive theater productions in the Bay Area, I have trained and performed on the UCB Los Angeles stage, and I used to be a part of a group that taught people how to perform improv comedy long, long ago. - I produce an actual play podcast called Roll Play Game where I write, play, and record tabletop games with friends. Together we create character driven stories through several different mediums of games. Many of my favorite games have been rules-lite like The Cracker Barrel Has Fallen, Everyone is John, and Microscope. Tabletop games are more than a passion for me. I believe that all games give everyone some sort of AGENCY in a life that they may never live. What I mean by that is playing a rogue allows for a normal human being to step into the position of trying to outwit and outmaneuver an unsuspecting guard in some high-stakes heist. In real life, these skills may never come to pass, but for one game night (or several) the player is inclined to sharpen this skill and really think “How can I be the best spy I can be.” Video games only get so far. Skyrim is the best form of agency in a game because there is so much that you can do and change in that massive world, but even then there is a limit to the coded adventure. At a certain point, the game has to return to normal so all of the other quests can operate in a stable environment. That’s not how it has to be in a tabletop game. If you wanna blow up the moon, by god, we will blow up the moon together and suffer the consequences of that fallout. I believe in balance and PLAYER INSPIRED CHOICES. My greatest skill as a GM is getting to the bottom of a player's motivation and ensuring that the player feels good about the actions they take. I create stories based of character’s lives and thread together players so that everyone has a reason from the start to be together. I encourage world building, rich character narratives, and ideas for future adventures via player interaction. A GM has final say but a tabletop game, by definition, is collaborative. Thanks for taking the time to consider me as your next GM! If you have any questions, feel free to message me for more info! If you want to hear some of the game that I run check out Roll Play Game where ever you listen to podcasts or at https://rollplaygamepod.castos.com I hope to help you build your next great adventure.

At a glance

2 years on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, World Builder, Voices

$20 per session

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

In Wild Talents. All of my friends at the time were running D&D or Pathfinder, but I wanted to play something outside of the fantasy realm. It wasn't the superhero genre that drew me in but the elasticity of the game mechanics. I've been chasing that high ever since, trying new games whenever I can.

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

Dialect, The Magnus, and ExNovo

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

Writing stories to publish online, reading some new fiction book of the week based on BookTok, and baking cookies and cakes :)

How Joe Prata runs games

- Session zeros are crucial. In session zero we all share our characters story, our characters wants, our desired character arcs for the game, an understanding of each player's wants (high fantasy, dark fantasy, lots of combat, lots of role play, a good mix of both, etc,), and a clear understanding of the story themes, story arc, and expectations. - I use the ‘X’ card along with Lines and Veils at all of my tables for safety. If you have never heard of these, check out Script Change and the wiki page for the X-card. At the start of every game, I address these and make sure all of the players know that at any point we can stop or change the narrative if people become uncomfortable. - I set up a discord for each game that I run. If we are fully remote then we will call in there. Its main use though is for sharing ideas on story and the world with one another, hosting channels for artwork and prose that may come up during our journey together, recaps and synopses of each session, and a stars and wishes channel for player feedback. - I keep high-stakes situations like combats, chases, or similar encounters quick and exciting. Before games I will ensure players know the full capability of their character via rules before we play so that when the action picks up, the player can jump into any situation with confidence. I know that some people prefer to think and take their time in these sorts of situations but I have found that these encounters can be more fun for everyone if there is a bit of urgency. Don’t be intimidated, just make a choice and make it big! - I keep an open dialogue at my table while we roleplay. It is fun to have a big conversation in character with one another, but it is helpful to the table to explain intention, action, and internal thoughts (like reading a book) as we roleplay together. For example: When trying to lie to the BBG as the warlock who has been recently disowned by their patron, instead of just saying “I no longer fear you, Mordikai” I would say: I hold my half-moon talisman between my fingers and thumb in my pocket, reaching deep trying to find any lingering power in it but finding none. I fumble the talisman nervously in my pocket as I tell the villain with all the confidence I can muster “I no longer fear you, Mordikai!” - Fun is the most important thing. If for some reason we are not having fun because the story is letting us down or the rules are becoming too much to understand, then we will always play by the rule of cool and make the story what we want it to be. It is the collaboration of story that makes a game fun, not the game alone.

Featured Prompts

I prep by

hoarding all the character sheets in front of me, outlining several story stings that can temp one or several players with open outcomes, and then planting secrets that the players can discover. Broad strokes, single story focus, but lots of opportunity to accidentally stumble into something.

My games focus on...

Characters and Story. Characters being the players at the table and the NPCs. The most direct ways to interact with the world. The Story in the sense we need to be going somewhere so that the characters and the world can change and grow. Stories like watering flowers or killing your space clone.

Joe Prata's ideal table

My best tables listen and know how to support one another. My best tables bring novels of character work and allow everyone else at the table to write in the margins of their books. The willing and readiness to play big, be loud, take up space, and feel like they can create their own story. The bigger the swing, the bigger the support.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

introduces something new to the world as a whole with the permission of everyone at the table. In my opinion selfish players only think of themselves every session. While it's good to be thinking about who your character is, it is just as important to think how the world and everyone else fits, too.

I think metagaming...

Funny. I will always pull back and stop/rewind play to coach a player into a more present narrative. But if players find it impossible not to act on meta information, then we change the narrative. Find "consequences", fun ones. Fun and fair for you, me, and everyone else.

My table is not the place for...

playing out your ideal solo character that you have pre-made three years ago with backstory in five other games. My tables are self contained (with exceptions) with a huge emphasis on group discovery. Being open minded to a more fluid narrative that incorporates everyone is vital.