CJ

he/they

5.0

(5)

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Queer

About CJ

I’ve been behind a GM screen for over a decade, and I tend to prefer playing the latest weird indie game over the mass market stuff. I am a software engineer by trade, but a GM by hobby. Games I have GM'ed recently include Mothership, Alien, Pirate Borg, Zombie World, Blades in the Dark, Trail of Cthulhu, Masks and Cairn. My preference leans into science fiction, horror and historical fantasy (Though Dungeon Crawl Classics or 13th Age still sneak in when the itch for loot and XP get too loud to ignore). I would never call myself an expert at TTRPGs, there's just too much to learn and experience in an industry that pivots constantly. Gen Con has been my annual con pilgrimage since 2017, but I tend to use it as an excuse to experiment and be a player on new releases when I go. Safety and comfort at the table come first. Content warnings, X-card and after-game check-ins are the norm. TTRPGs only work when everyone feels safe to lean in! I have a firm No-AI policy.

At a glance

3 years on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Rule of Cool

Featured Prompts

My favorite system of all Time is

Star Wars D6.. It's not a good system! But it gives me a special nostalgia for my first roleplaying sessions. That's what systems are for: eliciting a particular feeling or a vibe. Also, the depth of material for the original West End RPG expanded Star Wars and made it what it is today.

The three words my players would use to describe me are...

🗺️ Immersive I always base the PCs in the setting. I want the characters to have a focus in a dynamically changing world that feels alive. 🎨 Creative The stories we tell have unexpected directions and events. ✨ That third thing! The je ne sais quoi. The 'Yes, And' factor. The Juice!

How CJ runs games

I’m a theater of the mind devotee. I love to roleplay, and I give every NPC a name. A GM is someone who doesn’t just tell a story. They write it with the people at the table, every choice, every dialog, until the tale is something no one could have made alone. Everybody comes to the gaming table for different reasons. My task as GM is to direct and shape their contributions into an experience that is more than the sum of its parts. I'm ready to give that total backdrop rando a history and motivation, just start by walking up to them and talking. There are no small parts only small... actors? Anyway, you get the point.

Featured Prompts

If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...

Paul Thomas Anderson. His movies are paced to have a rhythm and flow to them, and he gives all the characters room to breathe and have their own focus.

I prep by

Reading/rereading the materials, taking copious notes. I get input from the players. I want to incorporate as much of their characters into the setting as possible. Finally, I check forums. It's good to find where people run into pitfalls and what fan material is out there with published adventures.

Rules are...

Rule books are not roleplaying games, any more than a screenplay is a movie. Like a good director with a script, we shouldn't treat "rules as written" as an imperative if they are bogging down the story the table is telling.

CJ's ideal table

Active, engaged and immersed! TTRPGs are not for passive play. I try to give everyone a spotlight and focus, and more importantly, I give the players the reins for the direction and tone the story is taking. I keep a small table, four or five players max! And I prefer a session zero for longer games to set tone and expectations. I also believe in safety tools (Especially the X-Card!) and above table communication to keep everyone feeling safe and comfortable.