LaForrest Church

they/them

Timezone

America/new York

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+

Queer

Artist

Game Designer

About LaForrest Church

Hey there! I've been running tabletop games for about 15 years now, and honestly, I still get excited every time I sit down at the table (or hop online) with a new group. My go-to systems are D&D5e and the Alien RPG. There's something amazing about the contrast between high fantasy adventures and sci-fi horror that keeps things fresh for me. I've run games pretty much everywhere you can imagine, from my dining room table with friends to online sessions with players scattered across different time zones. What I love most about DMing is that moment when a player does something completely unexpected and suddenly we're all discovering the story together. Those "wait, what happens if..." moments provide the lifeblood for all campaigns and the best part is we get to experience it together! My style tends to lean into collaborative storytelling. I'll definitely throw some challenging encounters your way, but I'm really there to help you tell your character's story and see what kind of chaos (the fun kind!) emerges when everyone's ideas collide. Whether we're delving into ancient ruins or trying not to get eaten by Xenomorphs, I want everyone to feel like their choices matter and their character has a real place in the world we're building together. If you're looking for someone who's going to help create those "remember that time when..." stories that you'll still be talking about years later, I'd love to run a game for you!

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Featured Prompts

I got started GMing...

In middle school for my friends after school!

My favorite shows/movies are

Godfather Part 1, Alien and Aliens, Midnight Mass, Out of the Past

The three words my players would use to describe me are...

TBD

How LaForrest Church runs games

If you're looking for someone who gets really excited about the "why" behind your character's choices, you've found your GM! I'm all about weaving rich stories where your character isn't just along for the ride - you're genuinely connected to what's happening in the world around you. I spend a lot of time thinking about how to make the world feel real and lived-in. Whether it's the way NPCs react to your reputation, how your backstory ties into the larger plot, or just making sure the tavern feels like an actual place people would hang out, immersion is huge for me. I want you to forget you're rolling dice and just get lost in being your character. My approach is pretty laid-back when it comes to rules - I'm way more interested in "does this make sense for the story?" than "is this exactly what the book says?" If you want to try something creative or the rules would get in the way of a great moment, we'll figure it out together. The goal is always for everyone to have a blast, not to get bogged down in mechanics. Expect plenty of opportunities for your character to shine, meaningful choices that actually impact the world, and a GM who's genuinely curious about what your character would do in any given situation. I'm here to collaborate on an awesome story with you, not just run you through a predetermined plot.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

quickly making a decision that will benefit the table atmosphere and then follow up after to make sure we have a plan moving forward for implementation

Rules are...

great guidelines but shouldn't get in the way of the best part of playing!

When it comes to voices

don't feel pressured to have a vocal repertoire for you character. If you want to experiment and see what works or if you're not comfortable "voice acting" then no worries at all! I like doing different voices for my NPCs but by no means is it a requirement!

LaForrest Church's ideal table

I try to run a relaxed, safe, enjoyable atmosphere at my table. I want to make sure that players are having fun, are engaged, and looking forward to the next adventure. I have had many types of players sit at my table over the years and I am quite proficient in making the gaming experience rewarding for many different play styles. Equity is something that is important to me at my table and making sure that all players are feeling heard and attended to is something I pride myself in doing. I am always open to a discussion if things are going well or if things are not going so great, I'd much rather have a conversation and see what we can do than let things go down hill from there. If you are searching for a table where you can be yourself, have fun, and explore the fantastic world of tabletop gaming then pull up a chair!