UK based. Over 40 years experience in RPGs, more often as GM.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will I ever pay to play a game, or charge anyone to play.
Ideally:
- Players are reliable and are able to communicate. Anyone who does not bother to turn up without notice should find a different game to play.
- Players should for the most part keep on topic. If you bore me about films, I will ramble on about football.
- New players should be shown the ropes with patience. We all had to start somewhere.
- There should be opportunities to roleplay characters but with some action.
- Regular campaigns are essential, that is weekly or fortnightly at worst. Certainly not one offs.
- The game should include a decent setting, including geography, history, social and political aspects where possible. No complete homebrew settings, although player input to define elements of the setting should be encouraged.
Things I don’t like:
- Unreliability and poor or no communication from players, especially people who do not turn up without letting me know. If the same person does this twice, they will be removed from the game.
- Players who arse around during games. If you would rather constantly try and be funny or otherwise deliberately disrupt the game, leave - you're in the wrong place.
- Cancelling sessions at short notice. A GM has to put a lot of effort into game preparation.
- Monty haul games, mini maxing and overpowered characters.
- Paying to play. Why would I want to pay for something I can do myself just as well free of charge?
- One offs. Apart from introducing new players with no RPG experience, what is the point?
- D&D 5th edition (also 3rd and 4th coming to think of it).
- FATE and other weak systems with no structure or substance. Too much like a human being but without the bones.