Alicia & John

they/them

Timezone

America/detroit

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Veteran

Artist

About Alicia & John

(Alicia she/her): My first foray into TTRPG's started when I was nine years old and I played Dungeons and Dragons 3.5, a classic. My imagination had always wanted a creative outlet to latch on to—and latch it did. Over the past twenty years I have played and also GM'ed more games than I can count, and the horizon of TTRPG ideas have been endless, I wouldn't have it any other way. I enjoy bringing boundless creativity to any of my tables, and a passion for storytelling has always been a strong suit of mine. If I had to sum up what I love most about TTRPG's is the endless summit that they represent—they can be anything, you can be anything—the only limitation is your imagination. (John he/him): I started playing TTRPGs in college when my girlfriend (now wife) introduced me to her group. Even though I'd never even heard of tabletop games before, it didn't take me long to get the itch to DM my own games. My very first game only had only one player, and I didn't even own a copy of the rulebook yet. I just made them up as I went along. It was like an entire childhood of imagination could finally come forth in a way I had never even dreamed of before. Long story short, I fell in love. Since then I've only grown more passionate about tabletop games. New systems, new mechanics, always wanting to add more little things to make a more singular experience for my players.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Average response time: Under 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

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

•Savage Worlds •Star Wars SAGA Edition •Labyrinth

My favorite shows/movies are

•Lord of the Rings •Star Wars •Star Trek •Mythica •Indiana Jones •Terminator •Scream •Wheel of Time •Sky High •Shadow and Bone •League of Extraordinary Gentleman •Any Guillermo del Torro Movie •Pirates of the Caribbean •The Mummy •Hannibal •Disney Movies •Stranger Things •The Hunger Games •Buffy

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

Playing video games! Mass Effect, Dragon Age, KOTOR, The Wolf Among Us, Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Batman, Cyberpunk, Blood, Assassin's Creed, Doom, Mad Max, Cozy Games, Thief, Split Fiction, Detroit Become Human, Etc.

How Alicia & John runs games

(Alicia): Narrative driven stories are what I thrive at, allowing me to craft an immersive roleplay experience for my players. I can take any setting and craft something that fits into the overall vibe of the game, whether that's fantasy, sci-fi, horror, historical, or even your favorite movie/tv-show. I love bringing that extra layer into special mechanics and even the maps I create to elevate my players experiences, music being one of my go-to tools to set any scene. (John): Player experience is the light I try to navigate by. In any setting or genre I try to, in a sense, give the players what they want. Even if it's not something they expected. The thing that always wowed me as an early player was how many emotions could be squeezed out of so many things. The simple act of calling for a skill check from your players, but having one player roll a different skill because of their characters' backstory, can elevate a game to a whole new level. I always try to gauge what the players truly want out of their experience, and give them the best version of that experience. That said, I do come with my own disclaimer. I have been described by most, if not all my players, as a brutal GM when it comes to combat. While I don't think this is untrue, I try to keep my guiding light in my sights. If we are playing a session where the baddies are really, truly not playing around, then I will make it feel like that. A sucker-punch can feel just as dramatic as any narrative catharsis.

Featured Prompts

If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...

(Alicia): Stephen Sommers (John): James Cameron

My favorite trope is...

(Alicia): Enemies to Lovers (John): One Liners

My games focus on...

(Alicia): Narrative, I really just love the beauty of storytelling. (John): Interpersonal Relationships.

Alicia & John's ideal table

(Alicia): I really love a open communication table, players that can feel safe and let their opinions be know. Also a roleplay heavy table, I know that seems silly to say but I can't tell you how many people don't want to roleplay in a roleplaying game. The ideal vibe would be one of enthusiasm and excitement, let the emotions fly! (John): A group of people that can read the room and think on their feet, everyone knows what role they play emotionally and mechanically. I think a D&D group—like an adventuring party—is often a motley crew of different souls, but as long as they are united in purpose and a clear goal, they can work effectively as a group.