|
Not usually. On a VERY small scale, if you know when a certain GM is running a scenario, you can be the first person to talk to the musterer(erer?) and ask for a GM. Another option is to see what "local" conventions these GMs are travelling to. Yet another option is to try to set up a midnight madness slot (i.e. an unscheduled slot) with that GM.
|
In no particular order her are some GMs I have enjoyed playing under in the past 2 years.
Frank Pont - Frank's dice don't always agree with him but good times are had all around when he runs.
June(Shivok) - Played Year of the Shadow Lodge this past Origins and he was the one who ran my table. Great energy, he kept everything moving.
Doug Miles - Who I am not convinced isn't just a real Absalom historian come to life with the amount of Pathfinder history I have seen him spew.
Kyle Baird - Great guy, though he seems to have trouble harming my characters. Not so sure this massacre reputation is so true.
This is of course just some of the great people I have played with over the years and no indication that those not mentioned are bad at this in any way.
|
Jeff Mahood - Is one of the warmest and fairest GMs I've ever had. He also does the best goblin voices.
Paul Jackson - Is a GM who really puts the player first, and puts a lot of soul into the game. Also speeds up the game with surrendering baddies.
Eric McGillicuddy - An excellent GM who has really stepped up for two of our weekly Toronto games. I don't think the man gets to play anymore with all the GMing he does.
|
I have to throw my 0.02 in for our local GM extraordinaire Eric Brittan. As a GM, one of a kind. As a man, one of the kindest.
+1 EB is an all star.
Also, VL Will J (Fresno) rocks all sorts of awesome as GM. I'm pretty sure he's among the best two on the West Coast.
VL Josh Archer runs some sick cheeze too. There is a reason that I follow his lead.
Of course, the Bay Area is just blessed with a lot of good GMs. You off coasters should come out and visit the awesome of the SF Bay Judgery.
Kublacon, mayhaps.
-Pain
|
Id second the Deluge comment. Ive gamed with him as the GM under a different system and he is good. Does a old crone impression like no other!
More recently though, a local GM : Jason Buisman. Knows his rules, knows the scenario and more importantly knows when to embelish the npcs to bring them alive. Does a killer Ekkie
|
Stephen - Roleplaying finesse.
Deluge - Awesome rules knowledge and game flow.
Simon Lam - Knows the scenarios he runs inside and out.
The Two Ryans - Constantly keeps your character threatened due to innate link to the Luck of Desna. Also, gnome voices.
PRAISE DESNA!!!
I'll have to agree with most of this, clearly not counting myself but I actually don't get enough chances to play on the other Ryan's table.
I'll also put out a mention to Matt Goodall. He has shown me that the games that leave you on the edge of your seats are among the ones that you'll remember well.
|
|
From more of a newb, and limited con experience. Note there are many more if I made it top 10, 15 etc...:
1. Kyle Baird (both at Rats and Storval Stairs had a great experience, no joke! Noone preps like kyle)
2. Colin Webster (Local ATL)
3. Parothan aka David Shaw (VL GA, for his awesome midnight slots)
4. John Compton (VL GA, great handle on rules)
5. David Brainard (local ATL, great RP when gming or playing)
Hands down my #1 and 2 are
#1 Thea Peters
#2 Carlos Robledo
I really wish they were local to us.
Venture-Captain, Texas—Waco
|
and although not strictly PFS - I thoroughly enjoyed Crystal Frasier style at Paizocon - I felt lucky to be sitting at that table
It was nice finding out people across the pond are just as passionate about gaming as the guy's and gals I have know back here..
Were you in Crystal's battle of the bands game, as one of the gnome bards in Andoran? I was the lead guitarist, and my son was the drummer. A most interesting game session, and a refreshing change of pace. Crystal is an excellent GM!
Plus, who can resist bad puns based on 80s song titles and lyrics!
Two thumbs up for Neil Shackleton!
|
So I think I'm obligated to put my dad first, so...
1. Dan Simons
2. Crystal Fraiser for the battle of the bands
3. Apparently he's GM'd for me so I might as well put Kyle Baird down so he doesn't kill me off next time I play with him....
4. I don't remember this GM's name, but he made a 3D model of Storming the Diamond Gate that was absolutely amazing.
|
RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
|
4. I don't remember this GM's name, but he made a 3D model of Storming the Diamond Gate that was absolutely amazing.
This is likely Myron Pauls.
|
|
My list is small, after three years my highest character is only 4th level (I dinnae get out much...).
Yoda8myHead for his knowledge and creepy little dead girl's voice. This was my first PFS, and credit goes to him for not making it my last :)
WalterGM prep extradoinaire, plus an amazing ability to wing it with crazy players.
Andrewchristian (really anyone who shows up on Sunday morning of a con is way ahead of the curve) For managing to work in parts of the story that could have been left out (other factions) made for a cohesive and memorable experience.
Thanks y'all!
|
|
I have to say that I got three good GMs locally. They all do what I consider is a great job and present the scenario well.
And no.. I'm not saying that because one of them is the local VC and another is a VL.
They are
-Flexible
-Quick
-Patient
-Well spoken and articulate. I try to model my own GMing after their methods of presentation and prepartion.
|
|
1. Kyle Baird (both at Rats and Storval Stairs had a great experience, no joke! Noone preps like kyle)
2. Colin Webster (Local ATL)
3. Parothan aka David Shaw (VL GA, for his awesome midnight slots)
4. John Compton (VL GA, great handle on rules)
5. David Brainard (local ATL, great RP when gming or playing)
Also being local ATL, I'll second this entire list and add the OP and one of my own, except for Kyle Baird because technically never had him as a GM (although we played Golemworks Incident together, which was quite an amusing table).
1. Colin Webster - Extremely knowledgeable, great fun, great GM, extremely laid back - chosen for our EoTT group!
2. David Shaw - Omg hilarious, almost never stop laughing. Great GM to drink at a table with.
3. John Compton - Yes. "The Great Improviser."
4. David Brainard - Walking rule book, and hilarious RPer.
5. Carlos Robledo - Always preps, hilarious NPCs.
6. David Haller - Local to ATL (just like all the others). Great at making the scenario/module as challenging as it could be while keeping it fun and laid back.
I strive to one day be as good as a GM as some of these.
|
|
When I get to play, I'm usually hankering for a chance to role-play over the thrill of wondering if my character's next breath will be his last. As a result, I tend to enjoy more laid-back GMs who let me play around in social encounters. Colin Webster is a favorite in part for this reason. Even though he can present a very solid combat encounter, I tend not to feel the dread of impending character death until things really heat up.
In a bit of jest:
When it comes to offering chances for role-playing — particularly because combats aren't too great a concern — I believe some of my better PC stories come from playing at Joseph Caubo's table. Nothing can compare to his rendition of the Red Mantis Assassins, much less the response of an infernal legion to a host of high-level Pathfinders riding summoned mammoths. Oh Caubo tears...
But in all seriousness, Joe pulls off a very solid spooky/threatening exposition that keeps the players wary and interested.
Mike Brock is up there on my list. Not only was he the one to run our group through Eyes of the Ten, but he also indirectly taught me how to hide my dismay at a party's quick and embarrassing defeat of a prized encounter. Many a combat or role-playing that ended in players high-fiving each other simply drew a polite smile and a mild but congratulatory comment of "outstanding" from Mike, while behind his eyes I could sense maniacal laughter building and an unspoken message of "Enjoy it while you can...bwa ha ha ha!" The guy knows how to handle a social skill check and knows how to tell a good story.
I would add Kyle Baird to the list, but I just don't know that I can offer any credible commentary. Thanks to an oversight by Nani, I still haven't had a chance to meet him.
|
|
Easiest DM I have ever encountered is Kyle Baird. My dwarf didn't take one point of damage at his table. PFFTTTT.....I don't know what all the fuss is about him.I would avoid his tables from now on if I were you. I personally don't think my paladin will survive the upcoming session with him. That and I hear he hates paladins.
Yep, he hates paladins. Tried to kill mine, almost succeeded.
|
|
Top 5
Thea Peters
Doug Miles
Ben Kemp
Kyle Baird, even though he does keep trying to kill my characters.
Tony Calder
Since they've had to deal with my playing style, I'd say every other GM I've ever had for PFS, either here or in the US, has been great.
With one exception. Since we're talking about favourite GMs I won't name that person.
|
|
Maybe it was just wide-eyed enthusiasm having been my very first PFS scenario, but I have to credit Charles Gory aka Szarkel for being the reason I switched from 4E (which I was increasingly unhappy with) to PFRPG/PFS. My friend and I created a pair of loud, obnoxious, okay typical, drunken dwarves that disliked all the fair'er races, particularly flighty elves and gnomes (wanna-be dwarves). We really played up their obnoxious personalities and he could have easily regarded us as jerk players trying to steal the spot light and shut us down or booted us from his table. But, he incorporated it into the game and distracted us with in-game offers of ale from the NPC's and other such things to keep our dwarves busy so the other PC's could participate. All without frustration or loss of control. Everyone had a great time. He managed the game with the precision of a surgeon and I was super impressed. I will never forget that session. Great job Charles and thanks for being the reason I am a PFS'er today!
|
|
Myron Pauls is the Diamond Gate terrain guy - and on my list of top GMs as well. Ironically, the only slot I played at PaizoCon last year was at his table... GM'd the rest of the time. I'll try and play a bit more next year so I can experience the legendary Thea, Kyle, and the rest. (Most of my characters are GM credit, so I don't get too attached to them anyway.... probably not enough tears to make it at Kyle's table, but perhaps the rest will have me!)
Thurston Hillman is a great GM as well - he ran my first PFS game, his scenario "The Infernal Vault". Always great to be run by the sceanrio authour.
We also have some great local GMs, too many to name.
|
|
Myron Pauls is the Diamond Gate terrain guy - and on my list of top GMs as well. Ironically, the only slot I played at PaizoCon last year was at his table... GM'd the rest of the time. I'll try and play a bit more next year so I can experience the legendary Thea, Kyle, and the rest. (Most of my characters are GM credit, so I don't get too attached to them anyway.... probably not enough tears to make it at Kyle's table, but perhaps the rest will have me!)
Thurston Hillman is a great GM as well - he ran my first PFS game, his scenario "The Infernal Vault". Always great to be run by the sceanrio authour.
We also have some great local GMs, too many to name.
Hehe ... not sure how legendary I am ... but I know that Paizocon will be a couple of years down the road ... but looking forward to Gencon as my next large con over that direction ....
I never get to play (always GMing..) unless it's online, so I would like to give props to Skellan because:
1) he enjoys running games
2) he dropped the money for the Ultimate License on FG
3) he runs a Teamspeak server and;
4) he's in the UK, so he's staying up late until 3am to run games.
Yay Skellan! ^_^
Except three, I generally like all my GMs.
The top two for me is Ashton Sperry and Ben Bruck. (If you know them, yes those guys. Awesome GMs, and often has hilarious moments in their games. Bonus points: they live in the local area.)
|
|
I never get to play (always GMing..) unless it's online, so I would like to give props to Skellan because:
1) he enjoys running games
2) he dropped the money for the Ultimate License on FG
3) he runs a Teamspeak server and;
4) he's in the UK, so he's staying up late until 3am to run games.Yay Skellan! ^_^
I've only recently started playing with Skellan online. He's great! Having the ultimate license and running games for what is for me mid-day is about the only way I've been able to play online at all.