DC Chen
he/him
5.0
(5)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About DC Chen
Hi- My name’s Darrick, I have online folks call me DC. Lifelong artist/cartoonist, writer and storyteller. I came relatively late into the hobby when i was in college. I became player and then GM since 1998. I feel like I'm better behind the screen so I'm a Forever GM with no regrets. Straight up, I’m not a fan of edgy, grimdark or ‘gritty” narratives. I respect Warhammer but can’t bring myself to play in it. Not a fan of GoT or The Boys so my storylines do not veer into those themes. I run largely heroic or "good" themed games. PG-13 most times with occasional dips into R if the situation and group feel appropriate. All safety rules and boundaries respected. Just let me know if you’re uncomfortable. I do my best, but I don’t always catch everything. I always “try to be nice, but never fail to be kind”. As an aging nerd and oldtaku My approach to storytelling is largely shaped by 80s cartoons and comics, plus a lot of anime and JRPGs. I do have my own setting that I’ve been developing as a story and TTRPG setting for over 20 years, called Onward Bound. I may bring that to SP if my experience is positive here. I consider myself more of a storyteller than a rules lawyer. If you show up at my table, I want to make sure you have fun. As a wise wizard once said the only ill will you will find at my table is what you bring yourself. Everyone's welcome at my table unless they plan to make other people feel unwelcome. I'm pro player and I want people to walk away from my games feeling better, not worse about themselves. Everyone is welcome at my table. At my table, we do not bag on folks for their sexual orientation or identity, their chosen faith, or their heritage. I'm not perfect, but i AM open to correction. I won't ask your politics, but I will tell you I'm largely progressive and probably qualify as the leftmost side of moderate.
At a glance
1 year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Inclusive, Beginner Friendly
$20 per session
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
I ran my first game...
when I was 20. Pretty late for a gamer, I know. It was the White Wolf Street Fighter Storytelling Game
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
Fun, kind, epic
When I'm not running games I'm...
taking care of my wife and daughter and those dearest to us. I spend most of my creative time writing and drawing my own fantasy narrative called Onward Bound.
How DC Chen runs games
I consider myself more of a storyteller than a rules lawyer. I’m not here to just crunch numbers and pass out loot- I’m here to engage characters in the story, and by extension, the player. I have a background in performance…theater, standup, and writing for same. So I have to that experience to draw from. I’m an armchair linguist and I have a deep love and respect for various regional dialects. So yes, accents. Most of them serious. I usually use them as away to differentiate between multiple characters in a scene. If you show up at my table, I want to make sure you have fun. I respect all safety rules and personal boundaries such as pronouns. There’s nothing worse than dreading game night, especially one you’ve paid for, so I am open to listen. I'd rate my games as PG-13 with maybe a few spikes of R. I stay away from anything too graphic or atrocity for shock value's sake. I work best with players who can engage in the narrative as a lot of my approach is working with what the player gives me. I don't want to run a game on rails or lead players too much. I can tell a story but it's better for all involved if they're invested Everyone is welcome at my table. At my table, we do not bag on folks for their sexual orientation or identity, their chosen faith, or their heritage. I'm not perfect, but i AM open to correction. I won't ask your politics, but I will tell you I'm largely progressive and probably qualify as the leftmost side of moderate.
Featured Prompts
I once ran a session...
with 38 player characters. I ran three separate campaigns with parallel storylines that eventually intertwined. And then I brought all the players and characters together for a grand finale. I have also made multiple manly men cry from NPC death,
Rules are...
there to add structure and context. A framework. However, i am not above bending those rules on an individual basis if the outcome sounds, and this is an industry term, completely rad.
When it comes to voices
...I do a lot of voices and accents, some of them well! I have a amateur's interest in linguistics and regional dialects, including patois both Cajun and Jamaican. I use accents to differentiate and lend context to many different characters, taking care not to veer into caricature or mummery.
DC Chen's ideal table
My ideal table is about 5 players, all of whom do not see each others as adversaries. The game table should be a place where folk come to share an experience and contribute to making that experience fun and memorable. Mutual respect and awareness is a must and i will not stand for any bullying at my table. I'm not sure what's considered "combat lite" but most sessions have at least 1 conflict. Sometimes 2. All based on the actions of the players.
Featured Prompts
If you're into ___, you're going to love my table
Anime, JRPGs, heroics. Overwrought narrative melodrama. Slightly out of date pop culture references. Watching an aging nerd face fault when you subvert his carefully laid plans.
I love it when a player
takes the initiative in a scene while also encouraging others to participate. Leaders, not rulers, can rise from anywhere.
My table is not the place for...
Edgelords. Personal grudges or beef. People who are trying to prove something via antagonistic behavior. -Flakes. Seriously, if you're going to cancel, tell me ahead of time. GMing takes a lot of time and work, and no-showing (no call/text/communication of any kind) is disrespectful and rude.
DC Chen's Preferences
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