Introductions

[lolt64]

I'm Thomas, from Georgia in the United States! d10 for life, it looks like a circus tent! I have extensive experience on both sides of the DM screen in D&D 5e, but I took a tour through numerous failed campaigns in numerous systems before settling there. I've been GMing since I first picked up TTRPGs somewhere in 2015.

The only surprising thing is that I didn't pick up TTRPGs before then. My mind is constantly swimming with fantasy, and while writing a book is on the bucket list, I want my ideas to be interactive! TTRPGs seem like the perfect gateway to that. Nothing brings me greater joy than making a world for my friends, and working together to tell a story in it. When I worldbuild, I do so in the name of fun!

On that note, I'm here because I want to up my GMing game. Mr. Four's tips and techniques have been very influential and beneficial to me; now I'm going for the whole enchilada. I'm hoping to come out of this able to make my one trillion ideas into one trillion sessions.

At 21, I think I might be the youngest one here. It's genuinely awesome to be in a community with people who have been playing longer than I've been alive. I hope no veterans mind if I ask a random question now and then. There's just so much history in these halls!

(College just went virtual, so I'm online all the time now. Don't be a stranger!)

 

[Bruno71]

Hi! I'm Bruno. I'm in Strasburg, Ohio. Aside from video games, D&D 5E is my first RPG and I have DM'd it since it came out. It's the only system I know and I know it well. My favorite die is a d4 because not only are they hard to pickup, but they also double as a caltrop in real life.

 

[fionawhim]

Hey y’all! I’m Fiona (she/her) from Cambridge, MA, USA.

I’ve been GMing since the start of lockdown, but since then have run 5E, Powered by the Apocalypse (Monster of the Week, Dungeon World, and Epyllion), and most recently Quest.

My favorite die is the D12. I don’t use it much, but it’s a pleasant combination of roundness and nice big faces.

 

[Caragond]

Hey everyone!

I'm Craig from Oklahoma. I've been GM'ing since around 2004, starting my first year out of high school. Most all of the campaigns I have been in or ran have been custom campaigns set in the Wheel of Time universe. We started off using the old 3.5 rules for the Wheel of Time Roleplaying Game because we were all fans of the novel series. We eventually completely homebrewed our rules. Though our players and campaigns changed many times, we finally wrapped up our adventures in that world a few years ago. The longest running campaign in it was honestly about 8 years running and hundreds of adventures and a dozen or so players off-and-on.

Currently, I'm GM'ing a campaign set in the Shadowrun universe, in the 2070s, using the Cypher-System rules. We just got started and it's been a lot of fun currently, though challenging at times to make those two systems work together (Shadowrun's intense crunch and Cypher's incredible simplicity, especially for the GM). We're much smaller now--just myself and three main players, and one or two that pop in here and there.

I've followed John's emails for years, but just now joining the forum (and now using the awesome Campaign Logger). As my life is much busier and complex than it was in my late teens and my twenties, I'm looking forward to utilizing this site and John's advice to streamline my time to still provide an epic story with my players without dumping hours into building each week like I used to.

 

[Jim Pickett]

Hi! I'm Jim. I live in Wichita, KS. I've been playing D&D since around 1982, but have played many other rpg games including GURPS, Pathfinder, CyberPunk, etc...

I GM'd off on on during the first 15 years and then just played for quite awhile. But now I have been GM'ing for the last 4 years.

My first full venture into the GM world was with "Tyranny of Dragons", and now I'm running my own campaign called "The gods of Fluridia" with 6 players.

As far as favorite dice, I'd probably have to go with percentile. something about rolling 2 dice and getting a number between 1 and 100.

I'm looking forward to getting to learn how to utilize Campaign Logger. I've been using either pen and paper or a spreadsheet to keep track of things, but feel like I need something a bit more consistent. So here goes!

 

[Bookapedia]

Hi I'm David in Raleigh, NC USA.
I got into D&D in the mid-80s when my parents bought me the Red Box Basic rules set. I devoured all the material I could find, but didn't really have anyone to play with. Loved the DragonLance Chronicles/Legends and then fell our of touch with RPGs and made a pivot to video games.
A friend invited me to join a module campaign 3 years ago, finished that, started another with that group, then joined another VTT group with a free-form campaign, and that led me here.
My DM in the second group is a true student of RPGs and suggested this course for me. He's my Senpai for running a campaign.

 

[BenS]

Hi, Ben here from Munich, Germany.

Started playing "The dark eye v3" (basically the German copy of D&D when Wizards of the Coast were too greedy in their marketing over here in the 80s...) almost 20 years ago. I have a lot of fun playing, but love creating my own adventures. I was lucky to have an awesome group of friends who I've known for more than 20 years and with whom I am still playing. There were the occasional excursions into Shadowrun, Warhammer Fantasy and Split (an amazing RPG developed by a friend of mine), but the dark eyes (currently 5th edition) is still the main system due to it's crazyly detailed and colourful world and living history.

I am a fan of storytelling and like to write (non-fantasy novels) in my free time, as well as read up on any good fantasy out there (e.g. Kingkiller Chronicles, Stormlight archive, Gentleman Bastards...)

Hit me up when you need a beer-guide in Munich!

 

[Gerald.Lock]

...with custom brewed town and exploration rules. Custom brewing systems is my jam...

Have you read the WHFRP 1e section on this?

-> Settlement Patterns in the Old World p.286

 

[Slorndag]

Hello everyone, I am Seth from Alabama. I am relatively new to the hobby; I've only been playing D&D for 5 or so years. I've only begun to DM in the past year though. So far I've run two semi-successful one-shots and am gearing up for a third that will hopefully turn in to my first campaign if it goes well and the players want more!

God bless all of you and your families and gaming groups in this crazy year we're all having!

 

[Asphyx]

Hi everyone,

My name is Alon from Rotterdam, the Netherlands. I've been DMing for about 2.5 years after a friend of mine came up with the idea of playing and I started researching DMing and DnD 5e like crazy. I have a great group with 3 alternating campaigns and alternating DMs as to not put too much pressure on any one person and we play weekly.

I've seen many (MANY) different videos on DM advice but I do feel Johnn's advice is among the best and very practical, hence my decision to join the course. Besides the common fandom of CR and MCDM, I also really admire Runehammer for his advice. I enjoy supporting people who share their knowledge via Patreon, and also really enjoy sharing my knowledge with others when asked, or alternatively help people when they are stuck with new ideas.

Cheers!

 

[ErikaHLX]

Hello new friends,

I'm a bit late to this party! I'm Erika, in Seattle. I'm delighted and not at all surprised to see the number of folks from the Pacific Northwest--something in the rain, isn't it?

I am also later than some to the TTRPG party. My first was D&D 3.5, as a player in the early 2000s, and I was out of the habit for about ten years until I came back to it a few years ago as a player in 5e. Since then, I picked up playing Pathfinder and several one-shots of newfangled items like Lancer. I only came into the GM seat about 1.5 years ago, as our group had been orphaned. I still play in a few games, but I’m hooked on the GM life—currently only running 5e, as I think it’s the best for the stories I have right now.

I came to find Johnn’s work only recently, but I’m so glad I did! I consume a number of GM resources (podcasts, blogs, subreddits), and Mr. Four’s content consistently clicks with me and my style in a way that few others have. I’m stoked to be here.

I love a d100.. even better as 2d10, for that moment where everyone kind of squints at the result, tries to remember how the ordering goes, confirms hesitantly, and then—inevitably—consults a table. It’s the die that stretches out the suspense!

 

[Hannu]

I just picked up Mythras in the Bundle a couple of weeks ago but haven't been able to read too much so far. I am definitely intrigued though.

You might find these useful https://notesfrompavis.blog/2020/06...-and-overview-of-all-posts-mythras-glorantha/ perhaps charts, Mythras Encounter Generator, gm.notesfrompavis.com and tools.notesfrompavis.com

 

[Hannu]

Hi all, I'm jamie. I'm currently running a 13th Age campaign that is something of a deconstruction of 'standard' D&D. Once that is finished I'm planning to run a RuneQuest Glorantha game or two, and if I'm very lucky I'll get to be a player at some point. These games are something of a departure for me, as I prefer systemless and diceless play, having no interest in the gamist aspect of play. I am in it for the world building and character immersion almost exclusively.

Nice to see RQ and Mythras players arriving here as well. I have been doing quite a few generators with Campaign Logger for the games - some of them have been published on my tools.notesfrompavis.com page..

 

[Flashfire2911]

Hi, i'm Keith. I live just outside of Fort Garland, CO. I first learned to play D&D in 1982 while stationed in Erlangen, Germany. I currently run D&D 5e but have ran all systems from basic up to 5e. My favorite sided die is the d4.

 

[Don Fuller]

Hi, I'm Don. I started playing in 1983, and I've been the DM since 1984. I've been running Pathfinder 1st ed since it first came out, currently 3 years in to an adventure path. Favorite die is definitely the d20. I've run and played many different games, and I'm currently working on my own edition.

 

[Vargr]

Greetings.

I'm Philip and I usually use Vargr as my nom de guerre. I am living in Denmark.

My first encounter with RPG was Traveller in the beginning of the eighties. I was first introduced to AD&D some years later. I have always considered RPG to be the real thing where you sit with your friends around a table and weave a story. I actually had to look up the acronym TTRPG that some of you use.

I have - in the early days - run a few Traveller games as a GM. RoleMaster and SpaceMaster are the systems that I have mainly used as GM. Now a days I prefer homemade systems and home brewed settings. I love world building and I love settings where the players have to figure out how the world works.

I stopped GM'ing a couple of years ago when it became more frustrating than rewarding. I want to start GM'ing again but need something to get me started. And so I joined the Adventure Building Master Game Plan thingy in the hope of igniting the spark - and hopefully learn a few tricks along the way as well as some different ways of doing things.

Oh, I almost forgot: Dies - never forget the dies. I prefer systems with a bell curve. I usually know right away if I like a set of dies or not - presently I use metal dies.

 

[JoyL]

Hello
my name is Joy and I am new to the community. I am in California. I have been playing D&D for a little over a year and I LOVE it so much. my friends and I have a small campaign going that they run since they have been playing for many many years. I am really interested in DMing and creating my own games. I played WOW for many years. I also really like cosplay and creating costumes. I'm not sure I have a favorite die but my least favorite is the d4, pointy little buggers never seem to roll right for me ;-)

 

[JochenL]

Greetings.

I'm Philip and I usually use Vargr as my nom de guerre. I am living in Denmark.

My first encounter with RPG was Traveller in the beginning of the eighties. I was first introduced to AD&D some years later. I have always considered RPG to be the real thing where you sit with your friends around a table and weave a story. I actually had to look up the acronym TTRPG that some of you use.

I have - in the early days - run a few Traveller games as a GM. RoleMaster and SpaceMaster are the systems that I have mainly used as GM. Now a days I prefer homemade systems and home brewed settings. I love world building and I love settings where the players have to figure out how the world works.

I stopped GM'ing a couple of years ago when it became more frustrating than rewarding. I want to start GM'ing again but need something to get me started. And so I joined the Adventure Building Master Game Plan thingy in the hope of igniting the spark - and hopefully learn a few tricks along the way as well as some different ways of doing things.

Oh, I almost forgot: Dies - never forget the dies. I prefer systems with a bell curve. I usually know right away if I like a set of dies or not - presently I use metal dies.

Welcome, fellow Traveller!

 

[Vargr]

Welcome, fellow Traveller!

Thank you - my nom de guerre is (partly) inspired by Traveller. As is your hiver, I guess.

 

[Tim S.]

Hello everyone, I’m Tim and I live in Taiwan. I first played D&D Basic Edition as a kid in the early ‘80s. I tried to pick the game up with a friend in Hong Kong in the early 00’s but the rules were too complicated to get anyone who hadn’t played before interested. Then, two years ago I managed to join a 5e game online with Roll20. I’ve played The Sunless Citadel and The Forge of Fury, taking my Wood Elf Ranger (did I mention D&D Basic?) to level 5. Then our DM ‘retired’ so I volunteered to have a go. The group had managed to play most of the published adventures between them, and the only option was Curse of Strahd, which is a real learning curve for a first time DM, but we’re muddling through, and I think everyone is enjoying themselves, even after more than a year of rain, misery, and horror.

I say this because they’ve asked if I can come up with a campaign for their characters to tackle after Strahd (assuming they escape Barovia!). They would like to get to level 20, which I find quite daunting in terms of game design. But I am attracted to the idea of writing a story for them, one which follows on from Curse of Strahd in a way that really ties together their characters and backstories; currently it feels a little like the only thing keeping them together is the need to escape from Barovia.

Anyway, that’s why I’ve signed up for Johnn‘s adventure building course and I’m really looking forward to learning a lot from him and all of you.

Cheers,

Tim

p.s. I lament the experience of playing with a group in person, but the game isn’t very popular here. Thus, my dice are mostly computer graphics and the click of a button. I do have an old set though, which I sometimes roll on my desk in a way that my players can hear, just to keep them on their toes. My favourite is the d20, it blew my mind when I first got one back in the 80s, and I still get a kick every time I roll one.