Christopher
he/him
5.0
(20)
Timezone
Language
Identity
About Christopher
My name is Chris--though around the table, I go by D.Master V, or simply V. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and creativity became an important part of my life early. Growing up in neighborhoods where playing outside wasn’t always an option, I spent a lot of that time drawing comics instead. In 2005, I discovered GaiaOnline and, through it, written roleplaying. I didn’t know it then, but I had found the beginning of a lifelong love of collaborative storytelling. Years later, during my final months of active-duty service in the U.S. Army, I joined my first D&D group playing 3.5e. None of us really knew what we were doing, I was undoubtedly a headache at times, and I was hooked almost immediately. After returning to civilian life in 2013, I eventually found my way behind the screen, running Scales of War in D&D 4e for a group of players who were learning the game alongside me. Since then, D&D has remained a constant. I moved into 5e and its revised rules, played organized games at my local game store, continued DMing for friends and family, and introduced new players to a hobby I genuinely love. As more of my gaming moved online, so did my DMing, with Roll20, Foundry, and D&D Beyond Maps becoming different homes for the stories my groups created together. What started with a kid drawing comics in Los Angeles eventually became forum roleplay, then D&D, and finally years of creating stories alongside other people. That progression still shapes what I love most about the hobby: bringing different personalities and ideas together, seeing what they create, and helping new players discover why tabletop roleplaying captured my imagination in the first place.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
12 games hosted
Highly rated for: Beginner Friendly, Inclusive, Storytelling
$20 per session
Average response time: 3 hours
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
People are always surprised when I tell them
People are often surprised to learn I was a Game Master before I was ever a Dungeon Master--or even a D&D player. I started GMing on a platform called BYOND around 2008, running live text events for 10–30 players at a time. D&D came later.
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
Patient, collaborative, and invested. I give players room to ask questions and find their footing, I want to build with them rather than simply for them, and once I care about what we’re creating together, I care deeply about making it something worth remembering.
When I'm not running games I'm...
Usually diving into another hobby or creative project. I love competitive card games, and if a game lets me create a guild, I probably will--I have a habit of turning whatever I’m playing into a little community. And somehow, half my hobbies still find their way back into game prep.
How Christopher runs games
My GM style began taking shape in 2008, when I first stepped into a Game Master role on a platform called BYOND. My guiding principle was simple: “Always promote the flow of roleplay.” With experience, I came to recognize that philosophy in the improv mindset of “Yes, and...”--treating what players bring to the game as something to engage with and build upon, rather than constantly searching for reasons to shut an idea down. That philosophy still shapes how I run games today. I create worlds filled with people, conflicts, and opportunities worth engaging with, but I want the players to decide what becomes important and where their choices take the story. Roleplay is paramount at my table, and I find that exploration and tactical combat carry far more weight when they grow naturally from characters who are already invested in the world, the people around them, and the consequences of their decisions. I want every character to have meaningful opportunities to contribute, both mechanically and narratively. I’ve introduced many first-time players to the hobby, and I’m happy to explain mechanics patiently without ever treating inexperience as something to be embarrassed about. I also pay attention to how the spotlight moves around the table, encouraging collaboration and creating openings for quieter players without forcing them into moments they didn’t ask for. That freedom works best when the table itself is well held. I establish expectations during Session 0, use safety tools, welcome feedback, and adjust when something isn’t working. Ultimately, I want players to feel that their ideas are taken seriously, their characters matter, and their decisions leave a real mark on the adventure we create together.
Featured Prompts
If my games were Movies they'd be directed by...
Christopher Nolan with a little James Gunn: character-first stories, active villains who get their hands dirty, interconnected plots, real consequences, and enough humor to let the tension breathe. I want victories to matter because failure was always possible.
I prep by
... building enough of the world to confidently follow the players when they surprise me, then shaping it around what they and their characters care about. Whether it’s a scene, NPC, map, or reward, I’m always asking: “How can I make this cooler--and make it matter to them?”
Rules are...
... like a paved road: they give everyone a reliable way forward, but walking on the grass is always an option. I trust the structure first, then change what serves the table--using the rules as guardrails for fairness and balance, not a cage for creativity.
Christopher's ideal table
I approach my ideal table the same way I’ve approached the gaming communities I’ve helped build: I ask myself, “If I were on the other side of this, would I be excited to be here?” I want a table that feels comfortable, fun, and relaxed--somewhere people from different walks of life can speak, contribute, and be themselves without worrying about being judged. Mutual consideration matters. Everyone brings different experiences, personalities, and comfort levels, and I want those differences treated with respect. For a few hours, the outside world can wait. Work, errands, and everything piling up on the plate give way to your character, the adventure, and the story we’re creating together. The game can challenge your character, sometimes seriously; the table itself shouldn’t feel hostile or adversarial. If you want a group that respects one another, enjoys being together, and gives each person room to belong, you’ll fit in well here.
Featured Prompts
I love it when a player
... makes their character truly their own--reflavoring familiar mechanics, leaning into details that set them apart, and making choices because they feel true to the character, not simply optimal. I especially love when the rest of the party gives those moments room to shine.
My perfect party mix is
... less about classes and more about the strengths each player brings: the roleplayer, the tactician, the quiet observer, the puzzle-solver, the newcomer, and the veteran who knows when to help. Different perspectives, shared respect, and a group that becomes more than five character sheets.
My table is not the place for...
... adversarial playstyles or competition between players--or between the players and me. Conflict belongs in the story, not above the table. Respect each other’s agency, offer advice instead of imposing it, and remember: challenge the characters, not the people playing them.
Christopher's Preferences
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