Carpe Blogiem: GURPS GM seeking GURPS Player – Inquire Within!

I’m looking for another player for my fantasy campaign Aersalus. So here we go – I’m recruiting again. I’m going to break this down for teams available, benefits, and drawbacks.

Teams and Game

First, a bit about the game itself. The world of Aersalus has seen more than its share of warfare, violence, and death – it is steeped in it. But there are those who raise candles in the darkness and scream their defiance to the heavens. Players will take on the role of characters living in a world where, big or small, decisions matter.

• Technology Level: 3 (some groups have lower or higher levels).
• Genre: Dark/High Fantasy with major elements of Aetherpunk and Bladepunk/Sailpunk; and minor elements of Action/Adventure, Clockpunk, and Westerns.
• Mode: Cinematic/Mixed Mode.
• GM Style: I tend to write a LOT of background material to get the setting the way I like, then when I run, I tend to “pants” or improv quite a bit. I love the roleplaying aspect of gaming and in no way am I an adversarial GM. Nor do I do PVP at
• Game Engine: GURPS 4/e with optional rules from all over being used along with some house rules.

B-Team

• Team Encapsulation: You’re a vassal and constable of a powerful noble working to secure his lands in a wild frontier. Your job is to bring law, order, and assistance where you can. Moderate to major sandbox play!
• Session Schedule: Weekly on Mondays.
• Time Slot: 7:30pm EST to 11:30pm EST.
• Campaign Start Date: This campaign is already going, which means I’m going to need to arrange a logical reason for your character to show up. So this is a bit flexible.
• Starting Points: 416 points plus 42 points of required traits and 5 points for “hobbies.” More points may be earned by furnishing a full bio, a tagline entry for your character on my blog, and more. Starting points are 463 points.

Benefits and Perks

• Being in my gaming group means a game (obviously!), but also access to some inside baseball where it concerns myself (and others’) projects.
• We’re a supportive community who like hanging out with each other, talking pop culture, food, pets, games, and videogames (right now, Wingspan, Diablo 4, and Valheim).
• The community is quite diverse, with folks from all walks of life and with varied interests.
• There are also a lot of GURPS authors there, so it’s not just my work you might be able to poke at as an alpha playtester.
• Help with your own campaigns – and if you are a writer for the system (or want to be one!) help with that as well.
• The campaign is mostly written, but that does not mean it is set in stone. I love working with players to create interesting narratives that will absolutely shape the setting.
• I love it when players create setting materials such as new spells, vehicles, characters, or what have you. When these flesh out new and interesting parts of the campaign and its theme, I will use them. This whole thing is an exercise in collaborative world-building.
• I’m not a taskmaster, nor a dictatorial author. If you want (or don’t want!) want something in the campaign, talk to me. We’re all nerds and geeks who love stories, exploration, and roleplaying. Let’s work together to make sure that we do not become divided by our shared passions.
• I don’t care a whit about your knowledge as far as GURPS goes, as long as you are a good roleplayer. This doesn’t mean you need to speak in a specific voice, act out your character’s actions, and so forth. You just need to be present, pay attention, react according to your concept (but not in an anti-teamwork manner!), and enjoy yourself.

Requirements

• Games are played using a webcam/mic (we use Zoom) and the Foundry VTT. Sessions are recorded and held in private for both players to go back and reference as well as myself. This is not negotiable. If you can’t do this, please don’t apply.
• There is a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) that must be signed, using your real name, real address, and real phone number. Since you’ll have access to my work and others, I need a way to legally protect myself and the companies I do work for. This is not negotiable. If you can’t do this please don’t apply.
• There is an intake interview using a webcam/mic (we use Zoom). It will be recorded. I will ask you a series of questions related to gaming, your background, other hobbies, and some hypothetical questions. This lets me know if you’re a good fit for the culture I have established in the community. Do note, Idon’t actually make the final decision on this. That is instead a panel of other members of the group.
• If you are selected, there is plenty of campaign material that needs to be read along with a mandatory back history and character details, and a mailing list. Please come up with at least three character concepts and we’ll choose the best one together. We’ll also be collaborating on your character from concept to final playable character. Finally, I have a specific style of character sheet I use that will need to be done initially. You’re going to need a program that can open Microsoft Word documents.

Preferential Qualities

• If you have a special skill I need (right now it’s those who can work with wikis, artists, and cartographers) and are willing to share it to the benefit of the campaign, this will bump you up the list.
• If you are a member of my Patreon, you get preferential seating.
• Willingness to help me keep the campaign going smoothly by taking notes, checking details, etc., is a big
• If I have known you for a while and/or had positive interactions with you.
• If you’ve already applied and we’ve gone through an intake before, then that will shoot you toward the top of the list.

If any of that sounds good to you, either comment below – or better yet email me: raven.pennies@gmail.com. Do note that I tend to wait a week or so before starting the selection process.