JohnGPK
JohnGPK, or simply John, is a British writer, editor, translator, and teacher. Originally from England, John has been living in Japan since 2011. Creativity is his first love, and so tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are a perfect passion for him.
Graduating from Loughborough University with a master’s degree in English, John focused much of his studies on creative writing and modern storytelling. Combined with a fascination of history and culture, he finds inspiration and intrigue everywhere; entertainment, fashion, food, philosophy, and architecture are all wonderful hints at how people think and feel.
Interests
These interests all combine in TTRPGs. Part of the hobby’s major appeal is its mix of worldbuilding with the unique challenge of creating a story where no one has total control, helped—not hindered—by mechanics, that can be played with strangers, friends, family, or alone.
John’s first experience of TTRPGs started way back in the very early 1990s when his family got the Frank Mentzer's Dungeons & Dragons Red Box Basic Set. It made such a strong impression, he still hasn’t forgiven Bargle for the loss of Aleena!
After that, influences came from all directions: the Lord of the Rings books and supplement work by Christopher Tolkien and David Day, Warhammer 40,000 2nd edition onwards, Mordheim, Neverwinter Nights, Baldur’s Gate 1 & 2, Planescape, Brian Jacques’ Redwall series, the Alien and Predator franchises, and more.
TTRPG Experience
Then in 2014, a group of PhD students invited John to try the newest edition of Dungeons & Dragons. At that time, the 5th Edition (5E) was fresh, Critical Role was new, and he had his first chance of being a proper gamemaster (GM); it was awesome.
5E was a lovely mix of the old spirit with new quality of life improvements. However, creativity always needs new inspirations. Since those early days, he has GMed Deadlands, Alien: the Roleplaying Game, Paranoia, Cypher System, Shadowdark, Hollowpoint, and Mouseguard.
John has experience running 2+ year campaigns for small groups and just one other person; John has even enjoyed a few solo games, namely Lichdom, Thousand Year Old Vampire, and The Wretched.
Curiosity and love of the hobby means John is always on the lookout for more games, trying more systems, and meeting lovely new people. He is a big believer in "you should never stop learning," and gaining new experiences is a major motivator in his life.
John collects rulebooks. Currently, his collection spans over 42 GB of storage. He has enough books to hear complaints from his wife!
Projects
Perhaps inevitably, John is working on his own original d8 dice pool TTRPG, provisionally called Psalms of Iron. With no less than 3(!) magic systems, cyberware, mechs, and demons, it’s probably clear John loves a challenge and rarely takes the easy route.
In Michael Ghelfi Studios, John writes comprehensive articles that delve deep into many facets of the TTRPG experience. Leveraging his wide experience as both a player and a GM, John offers valuable insights for beginners and veterans alike.
"Don’t be shy of reaching out to me on the MGS Discord server. I am always happy to chat about anything TTRPG related, life, the universe, and everything!"
Random Facts
—He’s climbed a 6,088m mountain!
—In 2025, as of April, John has read: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, and Aztec Philosophy: Understanding a World in Motion by James Maffie.
—John's favourite games include the Shock series, Half-Life, Halo, Dark Reign, and a host of indie games.
