I run online roleplaying games professionally on StartPlaying. Being a Game Master is an art form. And like art, each individual artist has distinct styles and mediums. For me, the medium is Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, and I’ve always loved the flexibility of its character progression, which focuses on careers that evolve over time as opposed to strictly defined classes. The setting is also a highlight; a version of medieval period tainted with sorcery and corruption, yet one that has also recently unleashed the power of gunpowder, explosives, and steampunk technology. And I really enjoy the fact that the advantage system allows all skills to have a valuable place in combat, not just weapon skills or magic.

As for style and tone… Warhammer has often been described as grim, dark, and unforgiving. However, my personal style is a little more light hearted. A great example would be the 1988 film the Adventures of Baron Munchhausen by Terry Gilliam. Gruesome and terrible circumstances are common, but there’s a focus on humor and moments of epic cinematic greatness. In other words, Realism takes a back seat to Fun, though it’s still a significant factor.

Finally, I’ve always preferred long campaigns that are heavily influenced by the choices and backstories of the player characters. I set the stage, provide a number of plot hooks, and then wait to see where characters drive the nuances of story. Which means that while I have an idea about the overall plot, there’s tons of room for improvisation, and I usually end up as surprised as anyone by how events play out, in the best possible way.

As a professional GM, I use a discord server for speech and as a resource for campaign documents, and Foundry Virtual Tabletop to run the game. The only thing players need is an internet browser, a working microphone, and a love of collaborative storytelling.