(tag via @dare-to-dm)

I wanna expand on this a bit
not only is the above true both parts

but something I learned as a GM is
- if players want me to be “a matter mercer” or a brennan lee muligan, or an “aabria iyengar” tier GM, they need to be a Travis/Laura/Liam/Sam/Ashley/Marisha/Taliesin or Emily Axford, Lou Wilson, Siobhan Thompson, Ally Beardsley, Zac Oyama, and Brian Murphy type players

this isn’t to mean “professional actors/voice actors/etc”

this DOES mean- look at the friendship between these players and GMS, look at the respect, love, enthusiasm and over all immersion both sides of the table bring

as a GM, I admit I bring my writing skill which means I’ll do my damnedest to give a Tolkien level world building experience, or a Mercer level fantastic story, with a dash of Mulligan’s “FUCK CAPITALISM!” rhetoric, but my players gotta wanna explore that world lol its gotta go both ways, and thats not a blame game, its a reminder - there are so many people out there to play with, don’t lock yourself into the wrong table “because its all I can find” there are so many who’ll be better fits for you- promise. Open yourself up to all that TTRPG has to offer you

so yeah

entirely agree with the above, just wanna say though, no matter the skill level of player or GM: bring the enthusiasm you hope to get from the others. if you want casual, find casual tables. But if you want THAT IMMERSION, make sure you bring that commitment.

know your limits, know your preferences, and communicate ALWAYS with all at the table, because a game is a never ending conversation from start to finish where everyone there has to keep making sure everyone is having fun.

Peterhof Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia