AC Spotlight: D20 Workshop
We sat down with Alessandro, the Game Master of D20 Workshop.
In our latest AC Spotlight, we sat down with Alessandro, a seasoned Game Master and creator for D20 Workshop. From his family’s five-generation legacy of writers, Alessandro brings a unique, multicultural perspective to the world of tabletop RPGs.
A World Built on Diversity
Alessandro’s campaign setting is an alternate Earth layered with reality-warping magic. This allows the world to become a vibrant hodgepodge of genres from Fantasy to Steampunk.
Drawing from his roots in New York City and his own Black and Italian heritage, Alessandro has created characters with "true purpose and meaning" rather than relying on stereotypes.
Prep and Performance
With a background in musical theater and a family history of published authors dating back to the 1800s, Alessandro views GMing as the "perfect storm" of his interests.
1. Dynamic World Rendering
Alessandro uses a "No Man's Sky" approach to prep. He establishes the broad concepts of various countries, but only renders the fine details—the towns, the specific NPCs—as the players move toward them. This allows for a living, breathing world that can accommodate any group of adventurers.
2. Acting Techniques for NPCs
When preparing NPCs, Alessandro leans on his acting training: What is the character's intention?.
"If you can’t answer what your character needs to get to the end of the scene, then your character doesn't have a purpose for being there."
3. Knowing When to "Take the Paper Away"
A perfect session usually lands between three to four hours. Alessandro emphasizes the importance of pacing and ending on a cliffhanger that leaves everyone wanting more. Drawing from his stage background, he is acutely aware of "dead air" and works to keep the story moving so it never feels like a crawl.
You can find Alessandro’s work through his Linktree at D20 Workshop.