How much should I tell?

[copeab]

I'm going to post a notecard advertising for players at the new game store, and I have decided to add a URL to a page going into more detail than what is on the card.

Part of the web page will be "this is how I GM and what I like" section. However, I might be going into too much detail or leaving things out. Comments welcome.

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I'm going into more detail about what I like to run here, as compared to the index card.

A few starting notes:

I am an improvisational GM. I have very few details written down before I start an adventure. I find that few plans survive the players and detailed planning only encourages
railroading at worst and wasted time at best.

I do not like to kill PCs. You have to play your character extremely stupidly or suicidally for him to die. Rest assured, however, that I can still make life miserable for characters who fail badly.

I do not tolerate PCs attacking other PCs. This is the fasted way for a campaign to come to a crashing end. This does not include trying to subdue a PC who is being controlled by an alien/demon/etc.

There are some campaigns I won't run. These include ones where the PCs are vampires or are serious, costumed superheroes.

I played class/level systems for nearly 15 years. I don't find them as good as skill- or point-based systems and have no interest running them (exception: Talislanta).

I have more of a preference for mystery and horror than fantasy and sci-fi. I especially like to mix magic and technology (especially weird science).

[Anaraxes]

What types of settings do you like? (Fantasy, SF, modern-day, historical...)

What genre of stories? (Action, mystery, horror...)

I find those two different largely orthgonal categories, though your OP contrasts them as liked/disliked parts of the same spectrum. You might have fantasy horror, or sci-fi mystery, or fantasy mystery, or sci-fi horror.

[Tom H.]

Yes, I personally like to get the "meta-" characteristics of GM and campaign style.

I don't know if you have a starter campaign in mind, but it might be helpful to focus on the "positive" specifics of the first game. That way you can introduce what you like without having to comprehensively rule other things out. If the players are attracted to your first idea, you all will get to know the rest of each others preferences.

But certainly an additional section on your web page that covers your above inclinations could be listed for those who want to explore further.

[copeab]

I have thought about running a one-shot adventure for me to get to know the players and players to get to know me. However, the game I would most likely use for this is d6 STar Wars (I can hae everyone create a character and filled in on the rules in 10 minutes and they knoew the setting). However, this really isn't the campaign I want to push (Hellboy would be closer, using GURPS, or 2300AD).

I have revised the "get to know me" part of the web page

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I am an improvisational GM. I have very few details written down before I start an adventure. I find that few plans survive the players and detailed planning only encourages railroading at worst and wasted time at best.

I have a preference for mystery, horror, and pulp action. I especially like to mix magic (or psionics) and technology (especially weird science) and have done so in three campaigns (Old West, WWII and cyberfantasy).

I don't like to kill PCs. You have to play your character extremely stupidly or suicidally for him to die. Rest assured, however, that I can still make life miserable for characters who fail badly.

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I have cut it down to one don't, which I think is the one most likely to cause any issues.

I moved my genre and setting preferences to the top.

[vicky_molokh]

Following up on the 'meta-' characteristics, consider whether to post such things as where your campaigns stand on the sliding scale of idealism to cynicism (in the modern sense of the word). For me being too far to the right side of this scale would be a big dealbreaker, but I have no idea whether it would be for your prospective players.
Similarly, meta-characteristics such as the amount of comedic moments you keep in your games, or which themes do you like to base campaigns around and which you prefer to avoid etc.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Following up on the 'meta-' characteristics, consider whether to post such things as where your campaigns stand on the sliding scale of idealism to cynicism (in the modern sense of the word). For me being too far to the right side of this scale would be a big dealbreaker, but I have no idea whether it would be for your prospective players.

I have run campaigns with fairly cynical elements, but it wasn't the dominant theme. In some ways, it reflects a recurring theme of mine that the worst evil is perpetrated by ordinary people. Demons need not apply.

Similarly, meta-characteristics such as the amount of comedic moments you keep in your games, or which themes do you like to base campaigns around and which you prefer to avoid etc.

I do like inserting light and dark humor into games, but never as a main theme.