Interview with a GM - Marco

Hi as one of the four GMs for the April Rotation in venue, I thought of a bit of a mini interview on Marco.

When did you first start playing RPGs and what were they?

I started way back in 1980 playing 1st Edition AD&D

What was the most memorable part of those sessions?

Spending lunchtimes meeting up by a copse of trees with fellow geeks. I remember being more than a little fast and loose with rules and rolls but feeling happy being allowed to be me!

Why did you start GMing?

My kids reached about 11 years old and expressed an interest in playing so I set up a game just for my family to play

How long have you been GMing?

For about 14 years (but with BIG gaps in between!)

What systems have you GMed?

I am a monogamous AD&D guy. I have GM’d 2nd edition and 5th edition

What are the pleasures and pitfalls of GMing?

Having the ability to create something that people look forward to is a great pleasure. Its hard work at times but so worth it

The pitfall (other than not being able to play the game yourself!) is that it takes more work than you realise. Several days of effort for an encounter that might be over in 30 minutes! Still worth it though

What was the most memorable part of the sessions you GMed?

I think a session where the party were taken to another plane and could only return once they had provided a creature with an answer to a riddle. Those who answered early were rewarded with a trip back to their own plane but straight into a battle. Cue half the party getting battered praying their front line fighter would manage to work out just one of the increasingly simple puzzles! Was great to see that despite the frustration, everyone around the table was laughing!

What is your current game about?

It is set a year after Giants have invaded and taken over the land. Giants of different types working to an unknown common goal for reasons equally unknown. The party, part of a resistance movement that has tried to find a way to beat these impossible odds, finds help from an unlikely source and a battle against time, evil (and giants!) ensues.

Players will be starting at 5th level so some AD&D knowledge would be helpful for this one

What do you get out of GMing?

What I get from it is a feeling that I am contributing to the club. I would love to play all the time but if we all did that, there would be no games! I do enjoy the planning as well and always like to create my own campaigns rather than take one from a book. I like the freedom that gives me.