Craigles
he/him
5.0
(34)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Craigles
Welcome, if there is a better time which you have available to get something started, please let me know, I am widely available! Working to become a full-time storyteller this year has been a wonderfully rewarding challenge so far. I feel privileged to be able to grow and learn with my players through each story we weave together! I hope to have the opportunity to create some stories with you as well. Ready to play some games? Let's make some characters, roll some dice and have some fun! As somewhat of a philosopher, I believe that on a deeper level part of our characters and other things we create may be as reflections of ourselves in many ways. The fantasies that we create can embrace a lot about who we are in real life. They can represent some of the many things we desire to accomplish, learn or experience. The fights we want to win and the values we wish to cherish or reject. A roleplaying game gives us the opportunity to do so safely in a comfortable, relaxed space which can enable such fantasies! My intention is to enable a sacred, safe place for our imaginations to roam freely, where each of us can play off and with each other in harmony. Where we can grow and make friends. Make and receive our offers. I first fell in love with tabletop roleplaying games one Christmas back when I was almost eight years old. My neighbors had received the Basic Box Set for D&D and asked my older brother and I to play with them. I was instantly obsessed and we played for the rest of our vacation together! I had already begun designing worlds and maps and swiftly fell into the role of rotating game masters. We gathered as many interested friends as we could find and pull all-nighters just playing. We explored a lot of different systems before I ever worked my way through college. I had a bit of hiatus during the twenty-teens and came back, now online, around New Years '22. I spent my first couple of years on startplaying.games mostly playing but due to recent events, I've been trying to shift my time towards running games as a full-time occupation.
At a glance
3 years on StartPlaying
224 games hosted
Highly rated for: Beginner Friendly, Knows the Rules, Creativity
$30 per session
Average response time: 3 hours
Response rate: 67%
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
Featured Prompts
My favorite books are
Some authors whom I've really, truly enjoyed: Anne Rice Dan Simmons Robin Wall Kimmerer Robert A. Heinlein Ken Kesey Tolkien Mira Grant/ Seanan McGuire Albert Camus Aldous Huxley Lloyd Alexander Terry Brooks Tom Robbins Wesley Chu Tracy Weiss & Margaret Hickman Simon Morden RA Salvatore Faith Hunter
My favorite system of all Time is
There is no perfect system... World of Darkness is likely my fave nowadays. Then perhaps D&D, and maybe Lancer? I'd also love more Coyote & Crow, Shadowrun, Cyberpunk, Cypher, Star Wars, BattleTech, Star Frontiers. For introducing RPGs to children Kids on Bikes, Magical Kitties are wonderful fun!
People are always surprised when I tell them
That a lot of my sessions include a ton of improvisation and me rapidly adjusting to player choices. (Yes, most of my sessions are improvised in some way.)
How Craigles runs games
•Story comes first I run games with in-game consequences, twists, based on your characters actions and behavior. What you do really matters. •Character-driven play I care about characters who feel real. Messy, layered, and alive. If you’re invested, I am too. •Tailored to you Whether it’s a published module or custom content, I shape the world around your group’s choices, ideas, motivations and goals. •Collaborative worldbuilding Your backstory helps shape the setting and story. We build the world together, one decision (or lack thereof) at a time. •Inclusive and safe My tables are open to queer, trans, neurodivergent, BIPOC, and disabled players. No hate. No excuses. •Distinct NPCs You’ll meet weirdos, villains, allies, and everything in between. They all have their own quirks, motives that you'll not forget. •Everyone gets a moment Spotlight is shared with all. Everyone gets a chance to shine, grow, or crash into chaos! •Beginner friendly New to the game? Not a problem. I’ll walk you through the rules and make sure you feel right at home with us. •Fun is the point Sessions are creative, relaxed, and full of "what if" energy. The goal is good stories and a good time, shared together. •Always improving I stay sharp on rules, tools, and storytelling so each session feels smooth, focused, and fresh. Note: Nazis, racists, sexists, transphobes, homophobes, and other bigots are explicitly prohibited from playing, reading, watching, or enjoying my games. In fact, I'd rather you avoided my games altogether. If you have to ask whether this statement is about you, it is!
Featured Prompts
My games focus on...
character-driven stories! I enjoy running sandbox games and telling tales with player agency and character spotlighting. I try to encourage tables to grow where I have my players guide me.
Rules are...
Rules are like a foundation. "A strong foundation will weather any storm but a rigid foundation will crumble in the winds of change." Rules can bend or stiffen but it depends on the group and their table settings as a group.
When it comes to voices
I do love some voices and am constantly working on my consistency and sustainability. Often, they are just changes in the words they choose, or how those words are put together. I've also been practicing Improv and Tonal Singing. These have both been helping to dramatically increase my range!
Craigles's ideal table
You will experience an inclusive, comfortable atmosphere at this table. I want you to be able to feel like we are all sitting around with a group of friends in a relaxing, safe space while enjoying ourselves! Playing games together, having conversations and fun on a reliable and consistent schedule. In our game sessions you will participate in lots of roleplay with opportunities for combat, mystery, with some room for exploration and the occasional puzzle. I tend to be more Rules as Written but there will be occasional Rule of Cool lapses for something awesome to occur. Especially when it is for the benefit of the player characters interaction with the story line. My goal is to run games where we can all get along, collaborate on stories and share the spotlight with each other so everyone will be able to enjoy themselves. I'd love to see reliability and consistency in attendance, as it helps make our gameplay more stable for all involved. If you enjoy laughing, having fun, hanging out in a friendly and relaxed environment with no pressures to perform then we will all get along wonderfully. As much as I enjoy short term games or a one shot occasionally, I'd rather develop some groups that will stick around for some long-term play if possible!
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
Gets creative and introduces a new angle or beat to our story. Helps others to feel welcome and perhaps allow them to lower their guard at our table by accepting and making offers during scenes.
I think it's a red flag when players...
- Don't stop and listen to the others at the table. - Bringing authority complexes, rather than patience. - Using the "This is how my character acts" card when it is clear that it makes others uncomfortable. - Relying on the official lore as a reason to bash other player's playstyle.
I think min/maxing...
is fine as long as the story, heart, and spirit of your character come first as we play.
Craigles's Preferences
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