Introduction
The Performer is a GM Archetpye recognized by Extraversion, Sense, Feeling, and Perceiving traits. You have an enthusiasm for life built from exploring the unknown. There is always a chance to experience something new and vibrant, and your mind travels through the ideas with grace. When you work with others, you inspire them as much as they encourage you. It’s a dance of potential.
There is always a chance to experience something new and vibrant
You refuse to miss a moment, and others are hard-pressed not to share it with you. It is a level of passion and exploration that’s contagious. Regardless of circumstances, you will find the time and energy to give to others. The benefit is that encouraging others is intrinsic to what you do.
Game Mastering Styles
The essence of a game is the social component more than anything else, and this is less about the game itself and more about the table. You bring fresh energy each time you engage with others; the game is just a way to facilitate that experience. As such, you favor systems that allow more time spent having fun and creative discussions rather than drawn-out mechanics. Of course, this doesn’t mean you avoid those games, but you certainly lean toward something open enough to explore.
a setting too specific can be limiting
The same applies to settings; a setting that is too specific or niche can be limiting. On the other hand, focusing on a general area, such as themes or genres, allows you to work on various subjects without becoming too profoundly specialized. This preference works well for small series of games with individuals, a limited campaign rather than a one-shot or long-term campaign.
Some people may have difficulty determining your preferences because you are adaptable. As long as everyone at the table is comfortable, you are ready to operate within almost any parameters. However, through it all, long-term commitments are hard to manage with games since they can force you to focus on something you end up losing interest in. This is why the core games you play and run can be taken in doses over a few sessions and then changed or dropped altogether.
Storytelling Style
The table is a stage, and you are ready to perform every time. You can take even the most mundane details and present them in a way that makes them seem grand. If a group is willing to hear a story, why not give them the best delivery possible? The tone of the story is always consistent, from beginning to end. It’s a skill to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary.
The table is a stage, and you're ready to perform
People at your table can describe epic moments in which characters went to the market with the same enthusiasm they once had when they defended a village from a world-eating monster. Your curiosity drives you, allowing you to see all the world has to offer. However, if someone asked you how you came up with half of the stuff you develop, you would be only partially sure.
It is a collection of analyzed information stored not in your mind but deep in your heart and simmering in an emotional expression. That’s everything there is to it. Just make life enjoyable while you’re living it. There is no reason to consider what could be or what was because the present moment holds our interest. Although you can remind people of the beauty they see at first glance, you know that it’s their imagination and perception that make something beautiful, not you.
Table Management
You provide one of the most relaxed, fun-focused tables possible. Having a group of players is not just enjoyable, but an absolute pleasure for you emphasized with a constant effort to deliver new and exciting ideas. It is all about exploration and the experiences around you, so you are more than likely to roll with it and discover the outcome when someone poses a question about something. On the other hand, it is helpful to stray from rigid structures or consistent pacing because these can stifle creativity.
You understand that a person may be more sensitive than others
When it comes to players bending or breaking the rules, you are not likely to respond directly. Instead, you understand that people may be more sensitive than others, which is why you prefer establishing boundaries beforehand. The goal is to allow players to create without limits but with boundaries. Players will be reminded of these boundaries so that they respect themselves and others.
People sometimes ask for things or perform tasks that go against the rules or mechanics of a game, and doing this can take a lot of self-confidence. Leaning into the “Yes, and…” model of improv allows you to encourage those decisions when they arise. Perhaps what makes it most manageable for you is that you do not force yourself to be the rules lawyer but instead pull the table together on decisions so everyone can agree.
Session Resources
Regardless of the setting or status of your table, you want to make people feel as comfortable as possible. Being humble, friendly, and open-minded makes everyone feels comfortable. Of course, this means that your primary tool – at times, the only tool – for your table is Session Zero. Regardless of a long-term campaign or a one-shot, you ensure that everyone can get adequate time to be on the same page.
Session Zero is perfect for you since it lets you know exactly what additional resources you need
After several sessions, you will likely reevaluate the Session Zero details and check in with everyone. Session Zero is perfect for you since it lets you know exactly what additional resources you need. Flexible approaches mean you are ready to provide an experience with maps, music, visual aids, and other tools to enhance the table. You don’t have a preference, being closer to a service-based GM and favoring the players’ desires.
You do enjoy specific resources. You may have had enough tables that want some form of visuals for NPCs, which means you will offer it for most games. You still bring it up during Session Zero in case this table is the one that decides differently. You will never object because choosing to voice opinions against yours means they’re willing to speak up for themselves.
The Game Master's Toolbox
- World Anvil: A worldbuilding program that helps you create, organize and store your setting with detailed wiki-like organization and interactive maps to store your notes.
- DnD Beyond: An excellent place for digital character creation and creating a campaign group for easy roll shares and sheet management.
- Notion (TTRPG University Notion Templates)
- Evernote
- DnD Beyond’s Encounter Builder: I’ve heard it’s helpful. You can build an encounter and determine its difficulty level based on math.
Role Generator: You can randomly generate everything from cities, to magic items, to herbs, to NPCs. https://www.rolegenerator.com/
- Inkarnate: For fantasy world and city maps. Yearly subscription.
- Wonderdraft: For fantasy world and city maps. One-time purchase.
- Dungeon Scrawl: For creating flat and isometric dungeon maps. Completely free.
- Dungeondraft: Building and Dungeon crawl maps, full color.
- Azgaar Github Fantasy Map Generator
- Dungeon Fog: Free map-making tool
- Dungeon Map Doodler
- Spotify: There are so many D&D playlists to choose from, or, pick your favorite video game tracks to play.
- Syrinscape: With Syrinscape, you can control the master playlist and players can decide their preferred volume from their end.
- YouTube Premium: Put on a 3-hour ambiance video without commercial interruptions.
- Google Forms
- TTRPG University Google Forms to Copy
- DMs Guild: A place to find supplemental guides and campaigns to enhance your official D&D content.
- Drive Thru RPG: The all-TTRPG sister of DMs Guild.
- The Monsters Know: A book series about monster tactics and strategies to help enhance gameplay.
- Point Buy Calculator: Doing a character sheet from scratch? This will help so much with the number crunching. https://chicken-dinner.com/5e/5e-point-buy.html
- DnD Beyond: The best place to build a digital character sheet. Fully connected to all the official D&D content. Makes leveling up take about 30 seconds.
- Wild Shape Tracker: Super helpful for druids. https://arcaneeye.com/apps/wildshape-tracker/
- Character Backstory Template: https://arcaneeye.com/dm-tools-5e/dnd-character-backstory-template/
- Xanathar’s Guide to Everything: I use this particular book ALL the time to help build my character backstories. There are roll tables in the “This is Your Life” chapter.
- Google Dice Roller: Super simple. Go to Google, type “dice roller,” and you have a dice roller.
- Roll Dice With Friends: You can give your temporary room a custom name, share the link with your friends, and all roll together!
- Owlbear Rodeo (straightforward and intuitive)
- Canva (DIY, simplified VTT)
- Roll20 (complicated learning curve)
- Foundry VTT
- Norse Foundry
- Shard
- Tablespire
- Tabletop Simulator
- Fantasy Grounds
