Chris Kelly

n/a

5.0

(203)

Timezone

America/edmonton

Language

English

Identity

Published Writer

About Chris Kelly

Hail and well-met adventurer! I'm Chris, a FULL-TIME Game Master (GM) here on Startplaying.games focusing on my lifelong passion: Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). For over 36 years, the fun of leading the heroic good guys through adventure and the endless possibilities therein has drawn me to D&D. Join me! Let's build an epic cooperative story together!

At a glance

4 years on StartPlaying

1316 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Sets the Mood, Inclusive

Average response time: 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

the summer of '89 with the release of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. My best friend bought 'The Temple of Elemental Evil' for me to game master (GM). That was the summer of D&D that forever changed my life. D&D has been a part of my soul ever since and set me on course to be a professional GM today!

My favorite books are

The Legend of Drizzt Series by R. A. Salvatore Moonshae Trilogy by Douglas Niles Mistborn/Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss Undying Mercenaries Series by B.V. Larson Dragonlance Chronicles by Weis & Hickman Omega Force Series by Joshua Dalzelle

How Chris Kelly runs games

Chris Kelly's game style: Combat: ⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️ Roleplay: 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️ Exploration: 🧭🧭🧭 Puzzles: 🧩🧩 Rule of Cool!: 😎😎😎😎 Players cheer to, "Let's roll for initiative!" ⚔️Combat: D&D is a combat-oriented game. Expect it to be significant that it can change the course of the story, for good or bad. I'm tactically minded and love running minor skirmishes to massive hordes with boss battles. Winning isn't guaranteed, as I set up encounters to be challenging. My favorite prompt for players is, "What is your character thinking?" 🗣️ Roleplay - expect roleplaying at my table in a rich, immersive, and dynamic world. What is your character thinking? Imagine if YOU were in the situation of your character. "Where do we go from here?" Break out the map we are moving on! 🧭Exploration: The great big world is where the adventure happens. Expect a mix of roleplay, skill challenges, to possible side quests to explore the world. 📣I'm your character's biggest fan after you! 🤝🏾Play D&D with a cooperative team-based framework. 🆕 I encourage new players and veterans too. 🎵Curated music, ambiance, and sound effects 💻Owlbear Rodeo is an effortless Virtual Table Top (VTT). 📖Great storytelling. 🧔🏽Interesting NPCs in a vibrant, dynamic world. 🏫Experienced DM with masters-level knowledge of the rules. 🔦Everyone has a chance to shine. 🛃I love supporting 3rd party and independent creators. 🙋🏻‍♀️Choices matter; for your character and the world around them. 🙌🏻Open your imagination and let D&D in. 🦺A safe play environment for all. What my players say: “As always. Chris is great. He loves his players and looks at for their safety. He knows the rules and is happy to listen to ideas as players give them. He enjoys the big plays just as the players do. His story telling is on point. Chris is my go to DM and has been for years.” - Brad "Tonight was the first night of our campaign together, and I must admit that Chris knocked it out of the park." - Roxanne. "Chris gently encourages roleplay but doesn't punish players who aren't comfortable with it." - Jen. "Amazingly character-driven content and wonderfully delivered!" - Charlie. "I am a new player, and Chris helped me get ready for the game and created an enjoyable, safe game environment" - Victoria. "I can't recommend him enough to everyone." - Stephan. Let's get together and play some D&D!

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I once ran a session...

with 17 players! In the summer of '90 we played the 'D&D Hollow World' boxed set were the Inca, Aztec and Mayan civilization flourished with magical power. I remember we played at a busy university hangout with 8 tables in a horseshoe. I enlisted by best friend to be my co-GM. It was crazy fun!

My favorite trope is...

Good vs. Evil: Exploring the fundamental conflict between the opposing forces of good (the player characters) and evil (bad guys, monsters, environment, & time). The fun and joy of D&D is seeing the conflict play out and change in real time within our own imaginations. So cool!

My games focus on...

The heroic story arc. I love exploring the path of the up and coming hero. It's a foundational element of being human! From humble begins a hero rises and struggles on the path to greatness. Failing, learning, and growing to ultimately slay the dragon, gain the treasure, and win the girl.

Chris Kelly's ideal table

is one where players treats each other with respect no matter their D&D experience. I love players who want to learn, take notes, expand their character's & the party's story arc, as well as explore the game world!

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

brings their whole self to the game table, leaving behind our Muggle world. Engagement can be through in character roleplay, interacting with the other players, and actively creating the story too. Embracing the fantasy we create together is what really matters.

My perfect party mix is

a well balanced selection of character classes (and their substitutions) able to tackle the challenges of any adventure: Cleric (or Bard, Druid) Fighter (or Barbarian, Monk, Paladin, Ranger) Rogue (or Bard, Ranger) Wizard (or Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock)