Charles
he/him
4.8
(6)
Timezone
Language
About Charles
I’ve been playing TTRPGs for the past 20 years, and my journey with Dungeons & Dragons began with 4th Edition. Like many others, I’ve become what we call a “forever DM,” having run countless games for different groups of friends over the years. While I also enjoy being a player, running games as a Dungeon Master has always held a special place in my heart. These days, I primarily run D&D 5th Edition, using the 2024 rules. As time has passed—with families, careers, and the natural pace of life—my friend group hasn’t been able to meet as regularly, and D&D gradually took a backseat. That changed when I discovered StartPlaying. After joining a few games as a player and loving the experience, I felt inspired to return to my first love: being a DM. I’m passionate about worldbuilding and storytelling. Worldbuilding is something I enjoy in my spare time, crafting immersive settings for players to explore. As for storytelling, I see it as a collaborative process—I provide the framework, and the players shape the journey. My games typically include a clear end goal (whether it’s a major objective or a central villain), but how players reach that goal is entirely up to them. I aim for a balance between sandbox freedom and plot-driven structure. I hope this gives you a sense of who I am as a DM. I look forward to crafting unforgettable adventures together.
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
5 games hosted
Highly rated for: World Builder, Knows the Rules, Teacher
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
It's a fun way to unleash all my creativity and imagination.
When I'm not running games I'm...
Watching K-Dramas/C-Dramas
How Charles runs games
I tend to run combat-heavy games, with story-driven roleplay woven in between. While I absolutely welcome character interactions, I don’t usually linger too long on player-to-player roleplay unless it clearly benefits the entire group and everyone is engaged. The roleplay in my games is typically focused on character development and advancing the plot. I’m not the kind of DM who meticulously tracks every water ration, food supply, or minute of travel time—unless those elements become relevant to the story. I prefer not to include micromanagement for its own sake. So, if a player is looking for a game with a strong emphasis on detailed resource management, I may not be the right fit. My priorities are storytelling and player enjoyment. That’s why I work hard to build rich worlds to explore, compelling objectives, memorable NPCs, and dynamic, challenging combat encounters. As a rough guide, here’s how a typical session breaks down: 50% combat 25% storytelling, exposition, and exploration 25% roleplay This varies from session to session depending on the players and the story at hand, but it gives a general sense of my pacing and focus. (quick note, no PVP unless all parties are ok with it and it serves to further the plot or character development. We are here to enjoy ourselves as a group and as a team)
Featured Prompts
My games focus on...
Storytelling and adventure. My players can expect a lot of adventure hooks and objectives to be thrown at them. If they don't go out looking for adventure, it will find them.
When it comes to voices
I will voice characters relevant to the story and that contribute to role-play. However, do not expect every inn keeper and shop owner to all have a different voice and personality. I focus my efforts towards storytelling and furthering the plot.
Charles's ideal table
My ideal table is a group of people who are excited to be there and ready to have a good time. Player enjoyment is important to me—we're here to have fun, not to stress or treat this like work. I love creating these worlds and adventures, and I want my players to have just as much fun exploring them as I do building them. That said, I take our D&D sessions seriously. We all set aside time to be at the table, so I expect everyone to be respectful toward one another and to remember that we’re here to enjoy the game together.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
give me more to work with. I enjoy incorporating player characters backgrounds into the world and story we a re building together. The more a player gives me, the more i can play around with and really make them a part of the world.
I think metagaming...
It’s okay to be a little relaxed—we’re all just adults playing make-believe, so there’s no need to take ourselves too seriously. I don’t think we need to be 100% “in character” all the time. As long as it doesn’t interfere with everyone’s enjoyment, a bit of metagaming is perfectly normal.
Charles's Preferences
Systems
Game Mechanics