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Kahlil

Kahlil (he/him)

5.0

(5)

LGBTQ+
Black
Asian

Less than a year on StartPlaying

5 games hosted

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Inclusive, Sets the Mood

About me

Hiyo! My name is Kahlil and I love storytelling. I've spent my entire life loving and appreciating stories and games in so many of their mediums. But as a native Trini, I'd no exposure to D&D until adulthood in NY, so when it found me I fell in love hard. I've been a DM and sometimes player now for 8 years, creating fun, emotional and satisfying stories with friends and strangers in a variety of settings and genres. Tabletop gaming has become one of my favourite things in the world! It's made me a more patient and empathic person and has given me an affection and appreciation of people that I lacked in my youth. In my time creating diverse worlds where people feel safe enough be their ideal selves or tell the stories that are dear to them, I've seen so many people fall in love with tabletop gaming, and it always fills my heart with joy. That said, beginners are always welcome at my table.

GM Style

Collaborative, comedic and personal are the three things I stand for in every game. This means creating an inclusive table at which everyone feels seen, heard and welcomed in order to be themselves and truly enjoy the game. This starts at character creation with me and the players. We all agree to the setting, and tone of the world, pitch characters and intertwine their stories with guidance from me when appropriate, and establish the genre in which your individual characters view the world. I strongly believe in treating the player characters as the heroes of the stories we tell, and so my DM style is very reactive. Meaning that I will adjust or craft narratives based on what choices my players make or things they've expressed are important. All that while also staying true to the world we've created and crafting an overarching and connecting story that we can all enjoy. Comedy comes when people are invested in the world, their characters, the people at the table with them, and when they're having fun. We're all people playing a game together, so no matter the genre of story we tell or setting the world inhabits, moments of levity are natural and encouraged with a focus on RP. Lastly, I believe in combat only when it serves the narrative. Whether it's to show off cool new abilities or gear the party's acquired, to punctuate a deep rift in a relationship, or to determine the future of the world; choosing violence will always have meaning and consequence. That said I'm known for making difficult and dynamic encounters in which there can be several goals and motivations acting simultaneously, but also alternate from being a battle map where you will benefit from seeing all the moving pieces, and "theatre of the mind" where you hone in on the emotions of the moment and treat every turn as your moment in a scene.

Game platforms used
Social
Game Master Reviews (5)

Proficiencies

Players say this GM is great at:

Storytelling

Inclusive

Sets the Mood

Qilolrian avatar

Qilolrian

I feel so lucky to be a player in one of Kahlil's games. He's a master of his craft and actively makes sure everyone is getting what they want out of the experience. He's well versed in all the rules and guides everyone with so much patience as we sometimes fumble with the Fight Club app trying to give stat or spell details. I get a kick out of the unique voices he gives his NPCs and I'm always impressed with the distinct life he breathes into all of them. He can paint a vivid picture with his words but also frequently gives helpful reference images that I appreciate. Highly recommend 10/10.

Matt avatar

Matt

Played 2 sessions

Overall, the most valuable quality Kahlil has as a DM is the effectiveness with which the players' preferences, interests, and goals are incorporated into the world, events, and overall style of the game. Personally, the phenomenal quality of his story-telling has become the primary reason I continue to look forward to games with Kahlil.

Chamilsa avatar

Chamilsa

Kahlil is an incredible world building DM whose goal is to tell the best collaborative story possible. I have played at his table for 5 years and have had many laughs, many character breakthroughs, and interesting & healthy challenges. Playing with him will engage your creativity and bring the soul out of your character!

Mari avatar

Mari

I'm so lucky to have had Kahlil as my very first DM ever, he was my introduction to DND and, knowing a little bit more about DND now than I did when I started, I'm glad that my first intro was with someone that has such a great grasp of storytelling! I never felt dumb as someone who knew absolutely nothing about DND mechanics, the stories were always so exciting and captivating, the world building was immersive and the NPCs were all so fun! And speaking of which, I think he is hilarious, I was cracking up half the time I was at his table. He has a wonderful grasp of balancing comedy and sincerity, and it makes his games so fun and poignant! And on top of that, he's great at rolling with the punches when you come up with stupid ideas for your characters, like telling him you want to play a skeleton man with invisible flesh, like I did, or in-game when your character, instead of doing anything plot related, is determined to spend all his money on mangoes or something silly like that, he'll improv with the best of them. Anyway, I highly recommend playing DND with Kahlil. He's ruined me for all other DMs!

marineh alboyadjian avatar

marineh alboyadjian

Played 3 sessions

Kahlil is a wonderful DM! I can't recommend him enough! He's inclusive to all and knows his stuff! He's creative and can really immerse players by setting the right mood through the vibe/music/sounds. I always look forward to a session with him as they're always super interesting and allow me to learn the ropes and express myself creatively.

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