Welcome to Roadworthy! This is a chance to show off a Road Crew Judge and allow them to share their experience and wisdom. We provide these profiles to help provide insight into their personality and style, and maybe give up-and-coming Judges some advice on improving their game.
We kick off the 2020 year with a Judge hailing from the Hoosier state! He’s a gamer that got his start in the 70’s and has been rolling dice ever since!
Let’s meet Judge John Hammersly!
Roadworthy: Judge John Hammersly!
What’s your name, where do you live (and game), and how would you describe yourself?
Jon Hammersley out of Huntingburg, Indiana. Describing myself as a lifelong gamer looking for a game would make the most sense. I’ve been playing and running games since 1978 when my brother brought home the little brown Dungeons and Dragons books from college and introduced me to the concept of RPGs.
How did you first discover Dungeon Crawl Classics?
John Marr and the Purple Sorcerer website was my formal introduction. I fell down the rabbit hole at that point and between Spellburn and an actual play podcast of They Served Brandolyn Red I was hooked.
What’s your favorite Road Crew game experience so far?
Watching a newcomer to Dungeon Crawl Classics and RPGs have their moment. Specifically, when something they think of or do in character becomes pivotal to the success of the adventure. Encouraging people to break out of their predefined limits of what’s on a character sheet.
Tell us where you run your Road Crew games.
Game Knight, 411 E 4th St, Huntingburg, Indiana 47542
What advice would you give to other Road Crew judges?
Stand up when you address your players, treat this like any other public speaking engagement. Be as ridiculous as you’re comfortable being as it encourages those at your table to do the same. If you don’t already have a notebook (or some other way of keeping track) full of random tables and other information I suggest you start one now. Depend on the players going left when you plan on them going right; don’t be discouraged by this, be inspired.
Your question comes from Judge Valerie Emerson “Do you have a go-to or favorite adventure to run at Road Crew events? What adventure do you most recommend for a first-time judge at a convention? Why?”
Portal Under the Stars was the first DCC adventure I had the opportunity to run and it’s a go-to when I don’t have anything in mind for a new audience (I keep a set of zero level cannon fodder and a copy of the mod/map with me most of the time). Favorite would be my adaptation of the Hot Springs Island I spent last year testing and ran at Gary Con XI…that thing is the gift that keeps on giving. First-time convention module would be anything you can get comfortable with (see the random table note above when things go wrong, and they will) running for random walk-ups as you will see every level of skill (from new shy players to the game-breaking but loveable Jeff Goad) at your table.
Question for the next Judge: What made you realize that being a Judge was something that you’d enjoy? What do you do to inspire your players?
Interested in learning about our other amazing Road Crew judges? Click here for all the Roadworthy profiles!
