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.
This time out we take a trip to the suburbs of Atlanta to find a judge who began with our Quick Start Rules and grew to running more than a dozen games a year. Let’s meet Judge Stephen Gayewski!
Roadworthy: Stephen Gayewski
What’s your name, where do you live (and game), and how would you describe yourself?
I’m Stephen, and I live out in Marietta, Georgia. I guess I’d describe myself as just a chill fan of tabletop gaming, music, and a scattering of nerd junk. Mostly I’m just a “regular” person who likes dice too much.
How did you first discover DCC?
I found a copy of the DCC RPG Quick Start Rules at my local store a couple of years ago. My friends joke that you’ve gotten a lot of money out of me from a free magazine!
How many Road Crew games did you run in 2020? How many have you run this year?
I did not get to run any Road Crew games in 2020, but I did host a weekly campaign for my friends that is still ongoing. This year, I’ve run about a dozen and am still doing more!
What kind of adventures are you running for Road Crew?
Normally it’s funnels and low-level one-shots, tailored at teaching new players the game and letting returning players see different types of stuff. My dream is to host DCC #81: The One Who Watches From Below.
What’s your favorite Road Crew game experience so far?
My players had a hilarious idea to (spoilers for The Legend of the Silver Skull from the Quick Start Rules) use a Mighty Deed to grab the floating skull enemy and stuff it in a box. Holding it shut, the player dove through the trapped crushing doorway earlier in the dungeon and had it crush the box with the skull inside, which weakened it and definitely saved the day. I love when players come up with creative, cinematic solutions to fights, if the dice are on their side it’s even better.
How did the quarantine/lockdown change your gaming life?
In a weird way, it’s actually made it much more active. I certainly had more free time. Out of necessity, I’ve gotten a real system down for online games, which has given me a greater connection with a lot of my long-distance friends.
What advice would you give to other Road Crew judges?
Make everything awesome. Falling into a pitfall trap can be a hilarious time if you let it be. Don’t shy away from the deadliness, embrace it. The victories feel earned in this game, and the stories are far more memorable for it.
Interested in learning about our other amazing Road Crew judges? Click here for all the Roadworthy profiles!
