Roadworthy: James Harland|Goodman Games

Posted By pandabrett on Dec 17, 2021 |

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.

Originally from Merry Old England, but now gaming from Kazakhstan, comes our latest world-weathered judge. Let’s meet Judge James Harland!

Roadworthy: James Harland

What’s your name, where do you live (and game), and what should Goodman Games fans know about you?

I’m James, from Olde England, but I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Goodman Games fans should know I’m always up to run or play a game on the Dungeon Crawlers Discord! I also use tabletop RPGs to teach English and am developing my own one for English learners, in part inspired by the simplicity and fun of DCC. 

How did you first discover DCC?

After I organized the very first KazakhCon, I got a lot of supportive comments, including one from Reid San Filippo, asking about the DCC community in Kazakhstan. At the time, there wasn’t one, but later KazakhCons saw several DCC games and a growing fanbase. In any case, I was hooked! 

As of “right now,” how many Road Crew games have you run this year?

This year I’ve been focusing on DCC Lankhmar. I’ve run modules #1 to #3 over five sessions, with #4 coming up to finish off the year. I’ve also run a couple of DCC Umerica games. 

How did the quarantine/lockdown change your gaming life?

It completely shifted how I play and who I play with. Before quarantine, I played offline with friends, and ran face-to-face public games, at KazakhCon and a monthly meet called Geek Games. During quarantine, I switched to playing online with friends, and started playing and running games on the Dungeon Crawlers Discord. The time of day changed too—to play US evening games, it means getting in front of the computer at 6:00 a.m. Kazakhstan time! 

What’s your favorite Road Crew game experience so far?

Getting to play some MCC, most memorably “Welcome to Eastwood”, on—you guessed it—the Dungeon Crawlers Discord. Lots of whacky exploration and experimentation, ending in a TPK. What more can you ask for?! 

What advice would you give to other Road Crew judges running online games?

Shop around for dice, map, and voice options. Discord, Owlbear Rodeo, Roll20, Foundry VTT. Experiment, and see what works best for you and your players. Otherwise, same as offline, be welcoming and let the dice fall where they may!