WHAT IS A GAME MASTER?

A Game Master (GM)- also known as a Dungeon Master in RPGs such as D&D- is the person who runs a tabletop role playing game (TTRPG). They are in charge of describing the scenery, resolving combat, playing non-player characters (NPCs) and, generally, being the referee of the game.

In the simplest of terms, the way RPGs work can be summed up in a 3-step cycle:

1) The GM describes the surroundings and/or conflict.

2) The players tell the GM what they want to do.

3) The GM tells the players what dice to roll (if any) to determine what happens.

Many GM's can use official adventures designed by the creators of the RPG system that you're playing, as it requires less preparation. Other GM's, like myself, prefer to create their own world, setting, and adventures to make a unique and unpredictable experience

It is important that a GM, no matter where they get the source material for their campaign, is able to think quickly and improvise. Players and dice rolls are unpredictable, and the game is meant to be fluid. Sometimes players will make decisions you don't anticipate, or the dice don't go your way and the GM should be flexible and able to alter the story on the spot to allow for that. Ultimately, RPGs are about having fun for everyone; players and Game Master alike. As long as the GM is in constant contact with their players, anyone can be a great Game Master.

That being said, being a GM is hard work and not everybody feels comfortable having that much responsibility, as it may detract from their ability to enjoy the game, too. And since the number of players greatly outnumber the number of Game Masters, it may be difficult for you and your friends to play if nobody is willing to step into the GM chair. That's where Game Masters like myself come in hand: We'll do the hard work so you can play and enjoy spending time with your friends.

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS

Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is a fantasy roleplaying game created in 1974 by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and is now owned by Wizards of the Coast. In D&D, the players create Adventurers who come together to root out evil in the vast worlds of magic, monsters, and mystery.

From the natural landscapes of the Prime Material Plane to the mystical forests of the Feywild; from the shrouded expanse of the Shadowfell to the vast nothingness of the Astral Sea, these Adventurers rise from humble beginnings to become protectors, saviors, and ultimately heroes of the realm. Whether they do so out of altruism, divine calling, or for the promise of wealth is up to you.

CALL OF CTHULHU

Call of Cthulhu is an RPG created by Chaosium based on the Cthulhu Mythos, originally inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft. As opposed to other RPGs, the characters in Call of Cthulhu are not heroes, but rather regular people who have stumbled into mysteries beyond their imagination. From Journalists to Farmers to Criminals to Scientists, anyone can be anything in Call of Cthulhu, as the Elder Gods don't care who stumbles upon them: Only that they don't get in their way.

In this horror-style RPG, you play as investigators who get drawn into a mystery that unfolds like Pandora's Box into a twisting and dark conspiracy that pushes your sanity to the brink: Will you be able to survive long enough to solve the mysteries of this universe? Or better yet, do you want to?

MONSTERHEARTS 2

Monsterhearts 2 was created by Avery Alder and uses the Apocalypse World system. This RPG is about "the messy lives of teenage monsters," and is a fun combination of mundane and magical. The players play as highschoolers just trying to survive classes and tests and each other, while also hiding a supernatural power. This game is known for focusing on sexuality and LGBTQ+ issues and is used as a way to help others explore themselves and the world around them in a safe space.

That being said, being a hormonally driven teenager is entertaining enough, but if that teenager is a werewolf and they're getting sick of those bullies picking on the nerds in the class, then they have to decide between standing up for those who need them or keeping their monstrous identity a secret to avoid attracting the attention of monster hunters.

WARNING: This game is emotionally heavy and designed to tackle topics that many may consider taboo. But if you and your friends are willing to be vulnerable around each other and me, the rewards of this game are unimaginable.

Candela Obscura

Candela Obscura is an episodic, investigative horror RPG created by Critical Role using the Illuminated Worlds system. Set in the Fairelands after a Great War in the city of New Faire, Candela Obscura brings together both investigators and passers-by to uncover the weird, the supernatural, and the bizarre.

As a whole, the citizens of New Faire are blissfully unaware of the magical dangers that surround them. Those that have witnessed, protect, or wish to control the power that comes from the strange seek to keep them in the dark. The esoteric order known as Candela Obscura has taken a vow to investigate, contain, and understand the evils that lurk in the bowels of Old Faire beneath our feet, and work within the shadows to keep the populace safe.

Daggerheart (Coming Soon)

Daggerheart is a brand-new RPG system developed by Critical Role and will release in Spring 2025.

Daggerheart is a card-based, narrative-focused, fantasy TTRPG that is mechanics-lite so that you can focus on telling tales of adventure and heroics with your friends! Utilizing a duel d12 system, Daggerheart is designed to streamline gameplay while allowing the dice to help tell the story.

This system provides a high level of customization for character creation and support for GM's - new and veteran- without bogging the story down in mechanics and processes.

AND MORE!

There are dozens of RPGs out there in the world! Each one with its unique rules and mechanics. While I specialize in those listed above, if there is a specific RPG you would like to play, I would gladly take a look at it and see if it is something that I could learn for you.

Other RPG systems out there include Vampire: The Masquerade, Blades in the Dark, Cyberpunk Red, Coyote & Crow, Index Card RPG, Masks: A New Generation, Fate Core, Starfinder, and many more!