Who
These classes are for the individual that wants to run the show. These lessons are for the person who wants to weave a tale that they can have their players unwind or confront the players with challenges for them to overcome. If you are setting out to create your very first adventure, using a premade adventure, or want help running your game from session to session, then you are in the right place.
What
As the Dungeon Master (DM) or Game Master (GM) you will be in charge of constructing the narrative structure for the players. This will include the broad strokes of the world they live in, what gods govern that world, what nations are in the world, down to the minutiae of whether of not the stone they just stepped on can hold their weight or if it will collapse to into a deep underground cavern. Oh and if there is a cavern you have to make that up too. Some of these details can be answered by using campaign books but those come with their own host of challenges.
Once you have carefully built the story you let the players into the world. If a player wants to pick a door or kick that door down you need to know how hard it is to pick the lock or how much strength it takes to kick the door down. If a player wants to knock the ceremonial dagger out of the hand of the cultist before they can plunge it into the belly of the unsuspecting victim by bicycle-kicking the torch out of the wall sconce and into the cultist’s eyes, you have to know how hard that is to do, and how she will do it.
This class is designed to address these challenges and to give you the tools to be able to address the challenges you don’t know about yet. This class can also help a seasoned DM add a little more to their game if they are feeling like they need improvement.
Why
Running a game can be overwhelming. Rules are complicated or people don’t feel creative. In the same way a warrior has armor and shield or a wizard has a spell book to be able to conquer their advisories, so too can you have your tools to be able to address any challenge. While the grimoires of knowledge are detailed and designed to give you that edge, they are large, dense and difficult to conquer. These tutoring sessions will help you forge your weapons and armor of storytelling. These tutoring sessions will help you pick the spells of game mechanics to prepare for your gaming sessions.
Where
For our comfort, classes will be held at a game store, restaurant or coffee shop in the greater Seattle area (favoring the East side; Kirkland, Kenmore, Bothell). Places like Zulu’s Board Game Cafe or Mox Boarding House are ideal.
For those that don’t live in Western Washington, video chat is a great way to get the gaming education you desire without leaving the comfort of your home.
When
As I do still have a regular full time job, classes are held after 5 PM PST and are concluded before 10 PM PST on weekdays. Weekends are up for negotiation.
How Long
Some information can be conveyed in a single session. Things like making your first character, story brainstorming for a new campaign, or things like a Q and A session don’t take more than a single session. Role Playing games are complex and there is a lot to lean and even more to learn to master. Continuous sessions are designed to address challenges and educate in a way that can only be achieved by having multiple sessions.
4th Level Games 