Pinterest is a GM Tool
Pinterest is probably my favorite GM tool! My Pinterest boards focus on characters, because that’s what best suits my GM style. Here’s how I use Pinterest:
Introduce players to a new game/series/playtest
Create PCs and NPCs
Introduce Players to the Game
A Pinterest board is a great visual introduction to the game and its vibes. I often create Pinterest boards while I’m getting a game ready for playtesting, or when I set up a new series. When I send this to my players, they get to daydream about the game, what characters they could play, and the characters they want to meet. (“daydream” is a lovely gameplay term I’m borrowing from my new friend Judd).
Here’s my Pinterest page, you can see I have several boards for games I’ve run over the years!
Create PCs and NPCs
A Pinterest board can inspire character creation and move along the first session. My players appreciate having what feels like part of a ready made character.
But most importantly, I always keep the Pinterest board open on one tab when I run a game. I start clicking around when I feel I need an NPC to appear on the scene. Is it time to describe a new demon in my blades campaign? Yes, they have flesh made of metallic plates, delicate horns, and an impenetrable gaze.
As an added bonus, I can describe what I see from the image, extrapolate a personality and demeanor from it, and make the world feel more alive for my players. The Broken Sword of the House of Sand & Mist is fragile, like a butterfly. But there’s a fire in him that burns bright, a determined vulnerability that I bring to the character.
The image then is added to our collection of NPCs, making it easier to refer to our supporting cast and their details. This in turn makes it more likely for a player to want to reconnect to an NPC. It creates a living world made of nuanced characters and shifting relationships.
Do you already use Pinterest for your games? If you do, do you use it in a different way? What other online tools work best for you and your playstyle? I’d love to hear about it!
