Interview with a Game Master: David Hulegaard
Welcome to our new article format! In this series, we sit down with Game Masters who use Amsel Suite to bring their worlds to life. They share personal anecdotes, creative insights, and practical tips to help you craft unforgettable campaigns.
Whether you're a seasoned GM or just starting out, you'll find inspiration and advice straight from the heart of the tabletop community.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is David Hulegaard and I am the owner operator of Role the Dice Professional Game Mastering Services. While I have a BS degree in Psychology and an MBA in sustainable Business.
I have been working solely as a Pro Gamemaster for about 5 years now. I have worked for over 25 years in the IT industry and have taken those skills and applied them to providing my online clients an animated, media-rich game experience.
I have been a gamemaster for about 52 years and have about 130 different RPG game systems.
What inspired you to become a Game Master, and what keeps you coming back to the table?
I have been told that I am a natural leader, and that quality has always led me back to running the games. While I love to play in a RPG session, I really love the complexity and wide-ranging experiences in creativity that designing and running a game brings me.
I've never shied away from jumping into a new game 100%, which has made me the defacto GM in my personal circle of friends.
Now that I am making a living as a Pro GM I get to challenge myself with adapting my playstyles with people from all over the world. I get to immerse myself in the paradigms of other cultures and really enjoy seeing how people can come together from a wide range of experiences and find common creative purpose and camaraderie.
What stories are you exploring with your players these days?
I have a level 1-20 campaign that I am hoping to bring to market in a year or two called the Gems of Kalathos. I have had hundreds of clients’ playtest the first chapter, and each group takes the story in new directions.
As individual players latch-on to a particular idea, scene, or NPC, I take note and then more fully develop each of those areas as I can. But running 8 games a week doesn’t leave a lot of time for investing into new stories.
What does your session prep look like? Do you plan everything or leave room for improvisation?
My planning sessions are very minimal. In general, I have some bullet pointed notes, maybe some monster descriptions/stats. Mostly I write down the things I need to have happen and leave all the rest to be guided by the players themselves. I improve almost everything, unless the scene requires some specifics.
That being said, I do spend some hours designing maps, writing scripts, finding media to share, artwork, sounds and the like.
And I try to keep notes on what watch player does, desires, or is curious about, and then I write, dream, or make NPC's available to cater to my players interests.
In almost every case I run a sandbox style of game, even if it is just a one shot. I always think about the bigger picture.
Can you share a moment from a game that really stuck with you?
Back in the dark ages, I think it was 1986, I was in a game with some new friends I had met after moving out of my hometown.
Something happened in a session that changed the way I look at gaming.
It’s about Buld Brightlight, the fighter. Bulb was big but was not the brightest tool in the shed. He had rolled 18/100 on his strength. But his intelligence was only a 6.
One day the party was in camp after an adventure and while folks were going through the treasure, Bulb found a pretty oil lamp that shined nicely. He smiled. But there were stains upon the lamp and marred its gleaming surface. Bulb rubbed furiously to get the smudges off, and before he answered to the concerned cries of his companions a Genie came forth from the lamp and offered him his heart’s desire.
Now the group was really concerned as the Genie only answered and spoke to Bulb. Now Bulb thought to himself...”hmmm...I have a sword...swings gud...mmm I have strong armor, sniff smells okay, I have a gud horse, and I have my favorite blankee.....I am hungry....THATS IT, I want a ham and cheese on rye!”
Well, the group was horrified, and the genie was taken aback. The Genie was insulted at such a request and counter-offered with wild riches and powerful weapons. The more the Genie offered the angrier Bulb Brightlight got. Finally, Bulb yelled at the Genie, “If your so damned all-powerful and can get me anything I want, then WHY CAN’T YOU MAKE ME A HAM AND CHEESE OF RYE????”
The Genie acquiesced and gave him a pouch. Immediately Bulb got hostile, “I SAID I ...” the Genie held up his hand and gently said, retch into the bag. Bulb did, and he pulled out a perfect warm ham and cheese on rye, and he was satisfied.
The rest of the group? No so much.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to build their own world or start gaming?
Think big. The sky is not even the limit. There is literally no limit to the imagination. Start with a simple concept, write it down. Look at it from all angles and then follow the creative spirit wherever it leads.
Running a game for the first time can be intimidating, built don’t let that stop you. Not everyone wants to the pressure or the work of being a GM.
Those who do take the plunge for their group of friends have a chance to make uncountable memories. There are no mistakes in the creative process. The times I have blundered while running a game have led to some great moments, and wonderful learning opportunities.
As for world building I'll simply say, the effort is its own reward. The creation of a world of campaign while can be daunting, is also incredibly rewarding. Unfettered creativity awaits you. Don’t be daunted by it, dive in headfirst and enjoy where it will take you.
