You're Not Matt Mercer, Lad — And That's a Bloody Good Thing
I Once Tried to Be Matt Mercer… Ended Up More Like a Goblin in a Wig
Back in the early days of the surface boom, every poor fool with a set o’ dice wanted to be the next Mercer or Mulligan. And I’ll admit — I was one of ‘em. Built meself a mighty tale full of twists, wrote twenty pages of lore no one read, did four voices that all sounded like a drunk elf garglin’ gravel. Thought I was clever. Thought I was theatrical.
Know what I got? Blank stares. A bored barbarian. And a bard who left to run his own game — said mine had “too much depth, not enough fun.” By Margann’s crusty beard, I almost quit right there.
But I didn’t. I learned somethin’ instead: Yer job as a GM ain’t to be someone else. It’s to be the best bloody version of yerself. That’s the only GM yer table needs.
Stop Copyin’ the Bards — They’ve Got Their Own Songs
👉 If yer voice ain’t silky smooth and yer lore ain’t perfect, good. That means it’s yours. Mike’s Tavern don’t want carbon copies — we want real GMs with real voices. Pull up a chair at GM Wisdom or ask me meself at the contact scroll.
You’re the GM They’ll Remember — If You Let Yerself Be
1. You’re Not Them — And They’re Not You
Matt Mercer and Brandon Lee Mulligan? Legends. No doubt. But their games work ‘cause they lean into their strengths. Mercer’s a master of lore and character arcs. Mulligan’s a maestro of comedy and chaos. And you? You’ve got somethin’ they don’t.
Maybe you run better mysteries. Maybe your fights slap harder. Maybe yer table laughs more, or cries more, or snacks more. Who knows? But if you’re busy copyin’, you’ll never discover it.
2. Copying Kills Confidence
Ever notice that the more ya try to be someone else, the more ya hate how you sound? That’s ‘cause you’re fightin’ yer own instincts. Yer sittin’ there wonderin’ if yer villain voice sounds “cool enough,” instead of wonderin’ if yer players are hooked.
Let go of it. Stop tryin’ to impress an invisible internet audience and run the game that only you could run. Even if it’s rough. Even if ya fumble a name or two.
And when yer party does latch on? It won’t be ‘cause you sounded like Mercer. It’ll be ‘cause they believed you were you.
3. Embrace the Things Only You Can Do
Are you good at voices? Great — use ‘em.
Horrible at voices? Then narrate like a gritty saga and let the drama speak for itself.
Got a knack for puzzles? Monsters? Emotional gut punches? Lean in. Make that yer style.
Nobody else can run your version of Briarbone Manor. Nobody else can twist The Sword That Remembers into their villain’s hands quite like you.
So stop imitatin’. Start innovatin’.
4. Show Up Consistent — Not Perfect
The best GM in the world? The one who shows up ready. Doesn’t matter if yer tired, yer story’s messy, or yer NPC names are all just barnyard animal puns. If you’re there, if you care, and if you respect the table — yer already better than half the GMs who quit when things go sideways.
Forget the polish. Focus on presence. Your party will follow.
Be the GM They Brag About — Not the One They Compare
👉 So what if yer prep’s messy and yer voices sound like gravel in a stew? If yer table’s laughin’, leanin’ in, and livin’ the tale — that’s all that matters. Find yer footing in GM Wisdom, sharpen yer tools in the Tavern Toolshed, and read up on the folks who ran it raw but true.
Links Ya’ll Find Useful (Unless Yer Tryna Be Mercer Again)
FAQ
Q: What if I really want to be like Mercer or Mulligan?
A: Then take inspiration — not imitation. Watch what they do well, then find your way to do it.
Q: Will players think I’m a worse GM if I’m not like them?
A: Only if you don’t believe in yer own style. Players follow confidence, not comparisons.
Q: Can I still improve if I don’t model myself after someone famous?
A: Of course. Improvement’s about reflection, not mimicry. The best GM grows from within.
