Carlos
he/him
5.0
(13)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Carlos
Hello there! I'm Carlos, long-time player and GM of many systems, currently running quite a few games for old and new friends alike. I've been playing RPGs since the late 1980s - I've rolled THaC0, spent Force Points and Willpower, lost SAN, had clones killed by Friend Computer, shot up Night City, and so on. And I've GMed for other folks having all those experiences as well. I've decided to try a wild idea: can I use my extensive RPG experience as a form of service? I plan to provide high-quality games not to make a dime for myself, but to raise money for something dear to me. I want to provide you a great RPG experience - but I also want to give something back. Professionally, I am a veteran and a physician. I am not interested in monetizing my hobby. I plan to donate every dime past StartPlaying's fees to reputable groups doing good in the world. Every dollar after StartPlaying's fees will be given away. Every player will be sent receipts showing that their payments are being passed to good causes. For my first game, I plan to benefit Undue Medical Debt, a non-profit that purchases and forgives medical debts for families in need. For every dollar used this way, approximately $100 USD of medical debt is forgiven. I want you to have a great RPG experience. I want to lift a burden off families. See you at the table.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
9 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Knows the Rules, Creativity
Featured Prompts
My 3 systems I'd bring to a desert island would be
Pathfinder/Starfinder 2e, The World of Darkness, Fiasco
My favorite system of all Time is
difficult to say. If forced to pick, I'd be in a Sophie's choice moment between Pathfinder 2e, Mage: the Ascension, Changeling: the Dreaming, KULT, translating Planescape to another engine, and whatever new game happened to catch my attention that week.
When I'm not running games I'm...
Petting cats and dogs, flying a plane, riding a motorcycle, practicing medicine, reading, finding new hobbies
How Carlos runs games
I do not believe there is a conflict between deep, thoughtful gameplay and intriguing role-playing. Many RPGs seem to confuse the idea of rules-lite with high role-playing, when these are two completely different aspects of a game. For me, every game should have the appropriate amount of depth. I enjoy the high RP, high depth of Pathfinder 2e, the chaos of Fiasco, the mechanical simplicity yet narrative depth of the World of Darkness, and so on. There's a million ways to be good at this hobby. Some people are clever at solving problems, some people spin stories, some people love a good throw-down. A GM should try to cater to all those styles and let them each flourish.
Featured Prompts
I deal with rules issues by...
I will attempt to run rules-as-intended. If a player has an alternate interpretation of a rule, then I will hear them out, decide, and allow for later discussion. This can include just admitting a mistake was made and we'll change future interpretations. Rules are to serve the people playing.
Rules are...
tools. Useful tools. A rule should always be read as rule-as-intended and played for rule-of-fun. A rule is always in service of the humans playing the game.
When it comes to voices
I encourage everyone at the table to be unafraid to be a clown. I refuse to attempt certain accents out of respect. Otherwise, I do my best knowing that I am not a voice actor or anything of the sort.
Carlos's ideal table
That player who can tell a great story and entertain other people is a great player. That player who knows every rule and can help the party overcome overwhelming foes by playing smarter than everyone else is a great player. That player who makes everyone laugh and is a good friend to everyone at the table is a great player. The bad players are those who belittle others, ruin their fun, or don't see the value other human beings bring to the table.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
shows active interest in the world around them and in organizing the game. If you're the kind of player who takes notes and metaphorically or literally cleans up after everyone, thank you.
I think min/maxing...
is a problem when the table doesn't agree how much of it to do and the system relies on a power fantasy. The main problem isn't for the GM, who can conjure infinite resources. It's for the other players. When some players are far more powerful than others, it's easy for resentment to build up.
My table is not the place for...
hate or bullying. The only thing you need to do to be welcome here is welcome others.