Rob Silk |
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I am delighted to tell you that our UK Venture Captain, Dave Harrison is now a Five Star GM and I am honoured to be the one to submit this to Paizo. Dave was the "mad fool" who rashly volunteered the idea of the first PaizoCon UK. Without him the event wouldn't exist and many UK players wouldn't be playing Pathfinder, at all. He is a lovely guy, a good friend and a huge asset to the hobby. He is often willing to drop everything and run a game to make sure everyone else has a chance to play. Dave is certainly one of the most talented GMs that I know. I find him an inspiration!
Dave's new 5-Star status is endorsed by a host of really wonderful comments that I have from some of the players and GMs that he has entertained and supported:
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Having played in many of Dave's games I've always found them to be among the most atmospheric and engaging of all those I've played. His background knowledge of the world of Golarion really contributes to making our characters truly immersed into the role of Pathfinders and that our actions matter. His running of Eyes of Ten for our group is among the most memorable of all games I've ever played. It was just awesome. - Andrew B
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Dave Harrison has been a friend and mentor to me through the last two and half years since I have taken up playing PFS. From the moment I met him, he was encouraging and welcoming to a shy player at her first con.
As a GM, he brings the world of Golarian to life, ensuring that each player in included and has fun. He is fair with the rules and the complete ambassador for the whole of the Pathfinder Society. I have loved every single game I have played of his, feeling immersed in the world and that exilhirating feeling of knowing you defeated the enemy with only a hit point or two to spare.
He has been totally supportive of my time so far as a GM, including sitting at my table as a player, He is positive, open and such a fun person, that I am now honoured to call him friend. Without his guidance and support, I don't think I would have ventured into starting my own events and broadening the numbers of games in Sussex. - Chris BB
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The quality of Dave Harrison's GMing is such that when you manage to get onto one of his tables at sign-up you get a little bit excited. You know with absolute certainty that you're going to have a great time. It doesn't matter if everything goes wrong when the dice get rolled, if it all comes crashing around your ears, if that plan doesn't survive first contact with the enemy; you'll have so much fun it won't matter.
If ever there was a perfect example of where the journey mattered more than the destination it is one of Dave's games. The smiles on the player's faces, the laughter at the table and the retelling of the war stories after the event is all the evidence anyone needs that here is a great GM. Pathfinder Society and all of the players/employees who are involved in it should feel very proud and indeed lucky to have someone of Dave's calibre involved.
On a more personal note, I feel privileged to have been able to play when Dave ran the first (and so far only) UK 'Eyes of the Ten' table. That weekend is one of my most enjoyable roleplaying experiences so far in my 15+ years in the hobby and is I will never forget. The camaraderie between the players as our characters accomplished the seemingly impossible was something special. Such was the enjoyment had in that weekend that we as players 'reserved' Dave to run the module 'Academy of Secrets' with our new Venture Captain characters so we could 'get the band back together'.
If you'll excuse the paraphrasing; if a company can be judged on the quality of its GMs, then well done Paizo, you're second to none. - Alex S
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Dave is an inspiration. I have been lucky enough to role-play with him as both GM and player for over 20 years and have never had a bad game with him. His enthusiasm for the game is infectious and his knowledge and ability to finely judge and balance game play by adhering to both the letter and the spirit of the rules is second-to-none. He brings characters and settings to life with his descriptions and paces games so there is never a dull moment.He really is a star and if not for his support of Pathfinder here in the UK I doubt it would have become anywhere near as popular as it has. - Phil L
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Even before officially becoming venture captain for the UK, I have always enjoyed Dave's presentation and style of GM'ing. His helpful and can do attitude has influenced the gaming community in the UK since the demise of other living games. Dave's approachability has meant that he now has a great support network of gamers and convention organisers. His passion for role-playing, Pathfinder and the Pathfinder Society setting shines through and combining that with new players allows him to actively promote a great game. As a GM he allows the players to shine, promoting the ongoing story and most importantly he is inclusive of everyone at his table. Definitely a fair GM, with his emphasis on fun and balance over the mechanical nature of rules. However he doesn't pull his punches and feels for the player as much as the party, concerning character deaths. I already rate Dave as a five star GM, though official recognition is always a boon. - Dan J
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Dave has GM'd my favourite character to a Seeker and Venture Captain, which is something I will never forget. I enjoy every game he runs, he is a true roleplayer to the core and one of the best Pathfinder GM's I could wish to sit at a table with. - Steph B
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Dave is an enabler. When the players want to try something inventive, and entirely outside the rules, he copes with it calmly and adjudicates it fairly - and keeps the fun flowing. To my mind, that puts him squarely in the top tier of GMs. - Brock
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I've always appreciated Dave efforts to accommodate players and run games at the drop of a hat, and never failed to enjoy those games immensely - monkeys - with lasers !! - oh my. - Chris M
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From a player's perspective; Dave's storytelling is such that his convention slot overrunning feels like a privilege, rather than an inconvenience. - Rich T
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Dave is one of my favorite GMs, especially as he makes the NPCs come to life. He doesn't just GM a game, he roleplays the game, making it an experience to remember.
If there was a Paizo-Oscar for best performance, Dave would be nominated , or even win on a yearly basis....his "miss Feathers" still gives me the creeps after 2 years :) - Marcel G
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Dave is a very inspiring GM. I had the fortune that I started my very first (and second) PFS game at his place and with him as GM. That got me hooked and got me playing (and GMing) PFS myself. He always goes out of his way to ensure players have a seat and are happy in a game. His greatest strength in my view is his way to weave a story. His Midnight Mauler done at special invitation (he was the only one at the time) for my birthday was a scenario to be remembered - for all it's seven or eight hours we played it. I had the privilege to sit at his table with my son for his fourth star and all I can say is - congratulations and well deserved. - Jens L
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Dave is a great GM because he brings life to any adventure. He is loved by all. He worked hard for his fifth star and he deserved it. Just as much as any other GM would earn their stars. - Phillip L
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Wintergreen Regional Venture-Coordinator, Mediterranean |
Chris Mortika RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16 |
Wintergreen Regional Venture-Coordinator, Mediterranean |
Nice job, Dave. Has all of your GMing been in the UK or have you travelled?
What are you doing better, now, than you were, 50 games ago?
Thanks Chris.
So far all of my GMing has been in the UK, though I've GMed a fair number of international visitors (including a number of Venture Captains).What am I doing better? I'd like to say my time-keeping has improved but I know there are many out there who would disagree ;)
I think I'm more relaxed about letting the players run their characters rather than having to know every rule for them and when I do wonder at something I'm more likely to be asking about how they achieve something awesome rather than checking on them :)
Surren Starr |
Congratulations on the 5 Star status!
I believe it was you who ran our table at the UK Games Expo in Birmingham last year, we were playing Lhir... is that spelt right?
It was a fantastically planned game; even with our out of control party almost causing all manor of disasters with those idols and the local natives later on, you managed to keep the story flowing and kept the enjoyment at a consistently high level.
Wintergreen Regional Venture-Coordinator, Mediterranean |
Congratulations on the 5 Star status!
I believe it was you who ran our table at the UK Games Expo in Birmingham last year, we were playing Lhir... is that spelt right?
It was a fantastically planned game; even with our out of control party almost causing all manor of disasters with those idols and the local natives later on, you managed to keep the story flowing and kept the enjoyment at a consistently high level.
Cheers. That was indeed me running Lihr. And we'll be back at UK Games Expo this year with lots of Pathfinder goodness :)