Aram

An engaging and dynamic game with a ton of deep lore that really makes the system and the setting come alive. Unfortunately, all of that is hamstrung by one of the worst layouts of any TTRPG series. Information is scattered across books and placed almost at random. Setting books that go into great detail about the people who run these worlds of darkness lack something as basic as an organizational chart to show you who holds the power. The deep lore is great, but is also tucked into dozens of visual flourishes in as many fonts and layouts that makes for a jumbled mess. A lot of the times the books themselves seem to give up and shift the responsibility to the storyteller, which makes running the games that much more complicated and overwhelming for new GMs. It is a game that you need to play with someone who has already figured it all out in order to learn.

Kole is a natural storyteller. His games are inclusive and creative, and he takes time to make sure everyone knows and is comfortable with their characters. He is excellent at fostering comradery with his players without trying to lead them down set paths. He is the perfect first-time players GM, and also has a lot to offer TTRPG veterans by making them think about the game and their characters in different ways.

Alex is a smart and thoughtful GM, and one of the rare ones that is just as good at setting up combat and strategy as he is role-playing. His games take new perspectives on familiar troupes and stories, giving his players plenty of opportunities to rewrite classic tales. He makes plenty of room for every player at his tables, and invokes imagery and characters that will stick with you long after the last die is rolled. Beyond that, he has fundamentally changed how I play games. He has shown me how to be a better GM and a better player. His campaigns are a master class in cooperative storytelling as he adapts each new system with an ease that is both baffling and encouraging. Play his games if you want to have fun. Play his games if you want to learn a system you have never experienced. Play his games if you want to delve into a word of inclusion and truly fantastic wonder. You'll remember why you love playing TTRPGs.

Alex tells stories that feel both emotionally challenging and grounded; you never feel unsafe even as your character takes om greater mental and physical risks. He is a delight as a gamemaster.

Shaun is an inclusive GM who balances a strong foundation of storytelling with space for his players to worldbuild. He is attentive and humorous, and very open for feedback both from in front of and behind the DM's screen. His games are fun, and fun is a hard thing to quantify and reliably produce. He always ensures his table has a good time.