For the next round of gamer interviews, we meet Josh Sorensen.

​
What's your favorite RPG system and why?
 
The HERO (Champions) system. It is the only truly universal gaming system that I have found. While there are other universal gaming systems out there, they usually have some limitation to them. This often shows itself in the ability of either keeping things small or allowing things to go epic. The HERO system is designed so that the entire campaign can be normal people in a detective story, all the way to epic superheroes. It is able to do this because the game is an effects based rules system.

For example, the system doesn't have a "Fireball" spell per se. Rather, it says what does a Fireball do? A fireball creates a Area of Effect Blast of Energy, that is Shot from Range and is made of Fire. In fact, in the HERO system, the fact that it is Fire is almost secondary and only needed if someone have a vulnerability or resistance to Fire. This set-up lends itself to so many possible character options. But this also means that this system is not for beginning GMs. It can take considerable prep work and requires the GM to be not just familiar with the rules, but also have a knowledge of game mechanics. They do have a number of additional source books to simplify this for those new to game system. These are not required. I purchase them because I enjoy seeing how other GMs have set things up mechanically for their own use.
 
 
What made you want to become a DM/GM?
 
My family has a long tradition (going back generations) of interactive storytelling. When Dungeons and Dragons came out in the 1970's, it was quickly adopted into many of my family's social gatherings. I enjoy spinning a tale and so was naturally attracted to the role of DM/GM. 
I absolutely love seeing the interaction that the players have with my tale. So much so that I generally only set up a base idea of what I want to see in the campaign, story arc, and session. That way my tale becomes largely Player Driven. After all, each of us has a tale to tell.
 
 
How much prep time do you conduct before a gaming session?
 
So this one is complicated. On average probably 4-5 hours, but that is because I do big projects.
For a normal session, I spend one or two hours. This is mostly just taking care of administrative data, deciding major plot points that I hope to get to in the session, and getting the correct miniatures and terrain prepared. As I mentioned above, I like my campaigns to be heavily Player Driven, so I play fast and loose with the session. It at times forces me to think on the fly, but I've had a great deal of practice. I rarely, if ever, utilize modules or prepared adventures.
For a major story point / plot completion, I have spent dozens of hours. I love epic fight scenes with epic bad guys on epic terrain. I love to create something new for major points in the story. Sometimes this is a cool new bad guy or place to fight.

Here are a few examples:
The Skeleton is part of a collection of three that I scratch built for a buddy's D&D campaign. The first is single skeleton. The second is a ogre sized skeleton made up of 5 regular skeletons. And then this one is constructed from 14 other skeletons, plus bits. The monster grew as the fight progressed.

The Pirate Docks were constructed by that same buddy and me for the same campaign. (and yes, all the cranes are functional)

I built the Dragon Temple for another friend's D&D campaign. He wanted something special for the conclusion of "The Horde of the Dragon King". So instead of a Castle in the Sky, we did a Hanging Gardens theme.

These all took a number of hours to construct.

What is one of your most memorable moments running a game?
 
So there are so many good memories, it gets hard to pick any out of the mix.
But the current D&D campaign that I am running was set up by some friends because they wanted to expose their kids (now teenagers) to the hobby.

Background: In days of yore, a tyrannical Giant empire ruled the lands around the inner sea. They enforced their will with a cadre of 7 Krakens. Through use of a demonic codex, the Krakens were imprisoned a thousand years ago. Now, various factions are attempting to wake the Krakens.

Enter the PC's. They have come into possession of the codex. They stand before the first of the seven imprisoned Krakens, the pages open to the ritual to destroy this weapon of incredible power. 

"So this codex was able to control the minds of the Krakens?" YES
"So this codex is what imprisoned the Krakens?" YES
"So this codex has the power to destroy the Krakens?" YES, up close and in their imprisoned state.

Then from across the table: "Can this codex FREE the Krakens and put them under our power?"
And thus a complete plot change for the intended campaign. Instead of fighting baddies and destroying the Krakens to keep such powerful weapons out of the hands of those who would misuse them... They have decided to just put those Krakens into their own hands. They like to believe they are doing it out of good and the best for everyone. They have freed three of them so far and left a path of destruction and death in their wake.
 
 
Do you do anything to set the mood or atmosphere?

I recap. Like an old fashion serial. Last week on Dunderheads & Danger, the brave Sir Brown Shorts infiltrated the Goblin Stronghold in order to save the Princess. Captured by the guards, he awaits rescue by his compatriots.... etc...
 
What's one tip you would give to other DM/GM's out there?

The "Unbeatable Foe" / The "Unwinnable Fight"
DON'T, just DON'T.
If it is absolutely critical to the plot: still DON'T.
Sure, I get it, every Kung Fu movie-Hero wins fight to show he is tough, Epic bad guy enters and beats the Hero, Training montage, Hero comes back to beat the Epic bad guy.
So unless your campaign is a Kung Fu movie... DON'T. And even then, probably DON'T.
Players don't like to be pigeon holed or given NO OPTIONS. So your unwinnable fight can also include the "you've been captured and lost everything"... You will just piss your players off with using this trope over and over and over. So many prepared adventures use this as well. 
Also, two other dangers crop up:
1- You always have some powerful NPC that comes in to save the day. It is probably your favorite NPC. He is probably even based on a former PC of yours... You are there to facilitate the world and the play, you are NOT a PC. They are the Protagonists, NOT you. If you want to play that badly, have someone else GM.
2- Or the players will beat your Unbeatable Foe and leave you trying to jump through hoops to save your plot line. My buddy, that I built the Dragon Temple for, likes to run prepared modules. Across multiple systems, every one of these modules has had at least one "Unwinnable Fight". I have NEVER lost this "Unwinnable Fight". Even ones deemed "Unwinnable" for the entire group, over several decades of playing in his games, I have ALWAYS soloed these fights and I have ALWAYS won. A 2nd Level Barbarian in D&D is not supposed to be able to beat a 9th level Fighter... But I did. The dice came up that way. They always do. I slaughtered the villain that was supposed to be the reoccurring villain for multiple sessions on our first meeting. Leaving my buddy to once again scramble to fix a problem I just interjected by slaughtering the primary villain for the campaign.
If you set up this "Unwinnable Fight", your players will either WIN or be so pissed at you that they quit.
So DON'T.
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
​
Have fun. Role Playing games can expand your horizons. They can give you problem solving skills. They can make you annoyed at your buddy that always wants to have over elaborate schemes.
But in the end: PLAY FOR FUN. HAVE FUN. 
As a GM, it is your job to facilitate that FUN for your players. If you are not having fun doing that, have someone else GM.
But as always: Have Fun.
 

What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you?
             
I grew up in the 70’s before video games and cable television. Being outside was our only form of entertainment. We were always riding bikes and motorcycles, building huts, playing war games… and I’ve never grown out of it. I prefer being away from the rattle and clang of society.

When did you first start hunting/fishing?
             
I started fishing pretty young, probably 6 or 7, with my Grandma McLelland. She was a strong outdoorswoman that came through the depression with amazing skills for foraging, hunting, and fishing. She might be the best survivalist I’ve ever met, because she actually used those skills daily for many years. I didn’t start actually hunting until 5 or 6 years ago (I’m 44). The interest was always there, but life distractions took me in other directions for a long time.

What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?
             
My first year of hunting archery I had always gone out with a partner that was showing me the ropes. He couldn’t make it one day, so I set off alone at zero dark. It was a cloudy moonless night, but the trail was just visible as I crawled up the mountains into the aspen to my favorite meadow. Along the way there was a small lake before the real climb. As I crept along the trail I heard a “WHHHHMMMMMMMPPPPFFFF” that was so loud I felt it in my stomach and the hair on my neck stood straight up. I had never heard this sound before, and immediately thought “Oh Shit. Bigfoot.” I froze, notched an arrow and spun a slow 360 degree turn, but couldn’t see anything. “WHMMPF” again, now I’m panicking because it’s maybe 10 yards away. I started moving up the trail trying to get some sort of vision on whatever monster was telling me to GTFO. Finally, I got far enough away that my instincts settled down and I carried on with the hunt. I called my more experienced buddy later that day and told him what happened, and he explained that the Bull Moose that lives at that lake was rutting and probably thought I was a female moose…. HAHAHAHA

What is your favorite animal to hunt?
             
Archery Elk. The challenge is immense, and I like the terrain and season. There is nothing in the world like hearing Elk bugles at the break of dawn.

Why do you think hunting/fishing is important in today's modern age?
             
​I think it is incredibly important to connect with the natural world and with our ancestral instincts. In the modern age we don’t face a lot of adversity that is reality based. So much of our fussing and fighting comes from the virtual world. Getting out and pushing your limits physically and mentally is the antidote to all the BS of the modern age. Hunting is about so much more than the harvest.

What is something you would like to share with non-hunters out there?
             
Give it a chance. There is a lot of anti-hunting perspectives floating around on social media, and unfortunately, a lot of it comes from a genuine place but not an educated place. The biologists and wilderness management agencies are pre-eminent conservationists and should be respected for their knowledge and hard work. Wildlife management isn’t a choice anymore, the explosion of humanity makes it necessary. So if you’re not hunting because you think its cruel, or anti animal, or anti conservation – consider spending your hostility on industrial farming and animal breeding. Hunting is compassionate; without population control many of these big game herds would grow to such a degree that they would end up starved for resources due to the fact that humanity has made such an enormous impact on natural predation. The other issue I see often is that despite the few assholes that get all the attention, the majority of hunters are ethical, intelligent, and greatly concerned about environmental issues.

Continuing with author interviews, I'd like to present, V.M. Burns!

What kind of books/stories do you write?
I write mysteries, mostly cozy mysteries
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
This is a hard one. I have always loved to read. At some point, I started mentally revising books and movies and thinking up new ones. Eventually, that desire to change books morphed into wanting to create them.
 
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
This is another hard question. There are several books that influenced me for different reasons. I’d say two books ,The Murder of Roger Akroyd and And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie probably played the biggest role in taking me down my current path as a mystery writer. I read those two books and I was forever hooked on mysteries. Agatha Christie was the queen of the cozy mystery.
 
What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
I have several friends who are authors; many of whom I met through my MFA program at Seton Hill. I’m blessed to call Victoria Thompson, Barbara Miller, Dr. Lee McClain, Kellye Garrett, Patricia Lillie, Michelle Lane, Lana Ayers, Jessica Barlow, and Tricia Skinner friends. They are all authors (some published and some unpublished) who have helped me to become a better writer. They have provided encouragement, support, critiques and feedback. There is so much more to becoming a better writer that goes beyond the mechanics of writing and grammar. These authors have helped me to find my voice and pushed me to go further than I would have dreamed.
 
What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
I’m still figuring this out, but so far I’ve found that word of mouth does wonders. By talking about my books, and letting people know that I have written a book, it’s led to other opportunities. One conversation created an opportunity for me to promote my books on the radio, in newspapers, and through Facebook Groups. It’s been like a chain reaction. One person tells someone else and so forth and so on.
 
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I LOVE research so this can be my downfall. I can (and often do) spend hours researching minute points, some relevant and some not. The Mystery Bookshop Mystery series includes a story within a story which takes place in between WWI and WWII in Great Britain, so I spend a great deal of time on the internet and looking through history books. Even though my books are fiction, I don’t want glaring errors. It’s a bit more challenging to find specifics from the UK. Sometimes there are language differences (i.e. flat vs apartment) between the UK and USA. What cars were available in the UK in 1938? Where was Scotland Yard located in 1938? Research is something I enjoy, but I can easily spend more time researching than writing. So, I have to limit myself.
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
I’d just say to follow your dreams. If you want to write, do it. Don’t wait for the planets to be perfectly aligned. Just do it. Get the words on the page and tell your story. You can always revise and edit later. However, you cannot revise a blank page. It’s not easy, but nothing worthwhile is easy.

For information on upcoming books, release dates, etc. go to her website, http://vmburns.com
 
Mystery Bookshop Mystery Series
Book #1 - The Plot is Murder releases November 28, 2017  - Available from Amazon, Barnes& Noble, Books-A-Million, IndieBound, and anywhere books are sold.

Book #2 - Read Herring Hunt Release April 24, 2018 – currently available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, IndieBound.

RJ Franklin Mystery Series
Travellin’ Shoes release July 1, 2018 –Available for preorder on Amazon.

Moving on to our first gamer interview, let's take a look at Mr. Tim Moore and how he likes to run things.

What's your favorite RPG system and why?
 
My favorite rpg system is one of the many d20 based games. I'm a fan of Star Wars, Pathfinder and DnD 3.5. I currently run a game that's a mixture of 3.5 and pathfinder. I try to make the game as in depth as possible, so we tend to have more skills and more home brewed rules and magic items. These are most likely my favorites because I grew up on them and have the most experience playing d20 based games.
 
What made you want to become a DM/GM?
 
What made me want to be a DM/GM? lol, well, to be honest I prefer to play, sadly, it rarely happens. Nobody wants to run the game. I have years of experience so it's easy for me to just rattle off numbers and rules off the top of my head and I have a pretty good imagination and idea of battlefield tactics which helps me play monsters and npc in their respective mindsets. I first got exposed around the age of 9 with AD&D with older siblings. I loved it and wanted to expose my friends to this newfound world. I spent hours copying stats, rules and items by hand onto notebook paper. I still have that old folder of aged papers! 
 
How much prep time do you conduct before a gaming session?
 
How much prep time do I spend before a session? Quite a bit. I keep notes on my phone when a thought randomly comes to me. I have various colored composition notebooks designated to various quest or topics. I've currently started making terrain pieces which is very time consuming haha. For low level games I can spend less prep time by just making up simple encounters on the spot. Yet I'm running a higher level campaign that's very time consuming. I go in depth with knowledge of spells cast in anticipation, fortifications, hit points and hardness of walls, doors and locks. At high levels there's countless variables to try to anticipate for. How will the characters react? I try to cover the most likely choices so that when it's game time there's little pause due to looking up rules and such.
 
What is one of your most memorable moments running a game?
 
Some of my most memorable moment....hmmmm so many. The best ones are when characters have critical fails or critical successes. If you roll a natural 1 or 20 I have you reroll again to determine how bad or how great you did. Multiple rolls of 1 or 20 can be epic game changers. A couple recent ones that come to mind would be my girlfriend's first character, a druid/ranger. I had a velociraptor charge her. She said I'm going to hug it. A roll for wild empathy was a nat 20. Charisma check; nat 20. I rolled a will save...nat 1. It became her new animal companion named Jasper.  At level 18 it's large size and she rides it into battle. Another character in my new low level game was attacked by stirges, big mosquito-like creature. He got bit. Rolled for random chance of disease, yes. Type: blinding sickness. Fortitude save: failed. He lived but the last 3 sessions or so he has been permanently blind. This new world has low money and magic so he hasn't found anyone to cure him yet, maybe next session. Until then it's just plain amusing as his character stumbles around. Balance checks, reflex saves and such. Plus we have a mischievous bard that keeps using ghost sound to fool him into stumbling into other people and causing scenes.
 
Do you do anything to set the mood or atmosphere?
 
Setting the mood for the game! I try to cook up a hearty meal. We mostly play in the winter time when our work loads have slowed down so lots of chili or stews and such. We outfitted my buddy's basement into our game room. So we have Halloween decoration skulls and we light scented candles. It makes it feel like we are in a tavern or dungeon at times.
 
What's one tip you would give to other DM/GM's out there?
 
One tip for fellow GM/DMs. Organization! I've learned to have a notebook for each thing so I spend less time rummaging around. Also research your skills, feats, spells, combat and rules. The faster you can come up with the answers the smoother the story and game will flow. Nothing kills a session like a long drawn out round of combat that takes an hour researching in multiple books.
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
 
The biggest thing I'd like to address is that it's a game,  have fun. Enjoy the time socializing and have some laughs. Also, let loose. Get into character and just have fun with it. Speak like a pirate or in some silly accent or create a personality that is atypical of your nature. It can be an escape from reality, just remember have fun! 
 

Along with authors, I'm also interviewing gamers and hunters. I'd like to introduce my good friend, Patrick. He's an outdoorsman and a hunter, and I love how he answered some of these questions. 

What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you?

Being in the outdoors makes me be fully present in the situation.  I immediately have to be in a "flow state" where I am fully immersed.  My mind doesn't wander and start worrying about paying the bills, work, etc.  It honestly gives my mind a break from the daily 9-5 grind.  Its challenging, fun, scary, and beautiful. 
 
When did you first start hunting/fishing?

I started fishing really young, I think I have some pictures of me fishing at 4 years old.  I started going deer hunting with my family as an observer pretty much from day one so it was ingrained in me.  I started hunting big game myself at 14 years old.
 
What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?

Definitely killing my first big game animal which surprisingly was a bull elk.  It was on the 7th day of a very hard hunt.  It was 4.5 miles back in and a very hard pack out.  I had my best friend with me to help.  It was the single most rewarding thing and single most difficult thing I have ever experienced.  To finally accomplish something that I had put years and years of effort into and wanted so bad was a milestone that I will never forget.
 
What is your favorite animal to hunt?

Its still bow hunting for elk.  The ability for such large creatures to completely vanish in a couple steps amazes me.  I affectionately refer to them as "timber ghost".  I get humbled by hunting elk, especially hunting them on the Wasatch Front of Utah.
 
Why do you think hunting/fishing is important in today's modern age?

There is the argument for knowing where your meat comes from and being part of that process.   Its a fact that hunting and fishing accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars from the sales of licenses, tags, waterfowl stamps, excises taxes, etc. Those funds go directly to wildlife conservation and help run local/federal regulatory bodies.  Honestly its important for wildlife management and to attach value to these animals so there is a reason to keep their populations at stable numbers.  I think that hunting/fishing imparts a sense of personal responsibility on the individuals who participate in those activities and I think that trait is severely lacking in today's modern age
 
What is something you would like to share with non-hunters out there?
​
See above.
 
Any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?

If you have never hunted and have any inkling in starting please do.  Seek out people who do hunt and ask to tag along.  Contact your local wildlife management agency in your state, many offer beginner workshops to help get you started. It's one of the most rewarding experiences you can have.  

What kind of books/stories do you write?
 
I write horror, dark urban fantasy, and sci fi.
  
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
 
I didn’t really want to be a writer until later in life. Most people write all through high school, or that sort of thing. Not me. It wasn’t until I got into college, and I took a critique class because it was the only thing that fit my schedule. So I wrote my first story, about a guy who wakes up in the middle of the night and discovers his whole family’s been butchered, and handed it in. Next class period, no one wanted to sit next to me. People were telling me that I scared them with my story, that I disturbed them, and I thought really?  So I tried again. I wrote a story about a guy who beat up a mime in Central Park. Then mimes come out from everywhere and drag him under the park to “mime court,” where they turn him into a mime and sentence him to life in the invisible box. And that was “Mimes,” my first professionally published short story. And I thought you’re kidding… People will pay me for this weird stuff I have rolling around in my head?  And I’ve been doing it ever since.
 
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
 
The one with the biggest influence on me was Richard Matheson’s “Hell House.” But that’s also a very long list. Hell House would have to be at the top of it.
  
What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
 
So many… Nikki Hopeman, Kristin Dearborn, Gary Braunbeck, Tim Waggoner, Gabrielle Faust, Cody Langille *cough*, Lucy Snider… There are so many that I know, and they help me by challenging me to continue to improve.
 
What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
 
Heh… I’ll let you know when I figure it out. Right now, I’m working through social media.
 
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
 
Depends on the book. I mean, I’m writing one right now about the first people to colonize a moon, so I’m doing a great deal of research on space travel, physics, environmental issues, etc. I do a great deal of research by doing, by which I mean if I need to know what it’s like to ride a horse, I go ride a horse. If I need to know what it’s like to be kidnapped, I have a buddy throw me in the trunk of his car and drive me about for a bit.
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
 
If you want to be a writer, you must do two things: Read everything you can get your hands on, and write every day. No excuses. Those are what you have to do.

You can find out more about Scott A. Johnson by visiting his website: http://www.creepylittlebastard.com