Thenodrin

he/him

5.0

(5)

Timezone

America/detroit

Language

English

Identity

Asian

About Thenodrin

I have been playing ttrpgs since 1979 and have been a GM since 1986 (although I don't think I really got good at it until closer to 1994.) I've played and run over 6 different role playing systems in multiple-year long campaigns including most editions of D&D, White Wolf, Shadowrun, Earthdawn, two versions of Star Wars, and Paranoia. I have written and run events for the RPGA in the 2000s. I also served as plot director and editor-in-chief for the official campaign for the Fellowship of the White Star setting for 19 years.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Inclusive, Teacher, Storytelling

Average response time: Under 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I played my first D&D game in 1979 with a DM who admitted to not understanding the rules. I took this as a challenge and got the Red Box set. It took some convincing to get my friends to play and I've role played ever since. Sometimes as a player, sometimes as a GM.

My favorite books are

I don't do well with "Favorite" but books that have influenced me include Mark Gruenwald's "Squadron Supreme" graphic novel, Stephen King's memoir "On Writing", Andy Lane's Doctor Who novel "All-Consuming Fire", and Peter David's collection of essays titled "But I Digress."

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

While I am a certified payroll professional, I'm currently between jobs running games and trying to fulfil my childhood dream of becoming a novelist.

How Thenodrin runs games

My games tend to lean heavy toward investigation and discovery with a stronger emphasis on skill than combat. I do prefer systems in which a character can invest advancement options to overcome the dice in narrow areas the player wants to be excellent in, while allowing other character abilities to stagnate.

Thenodrin's ideal table

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

I love it when a player leans into any role playing suggested by the dice. I like characters who establish internal superstitions to explain the fickleness and randomness of the game mechanics.

I think min/maxing...

I think min/maxing is done correctly when the "min" affects the character just as much as the "max" does. I want the disadvantages a player gives their character to come up in play just as often as the advantages of the build do.

My perfect party mix is

I don't think that a perfect party mix has anything to do with the capabilities of the individuals and everything to do with the cohesiveness of the group.