Luke Carter

he/him

5.0

(7)

Timezone

America/new York

Language

English

Identity

Artist

Voice Actor

About Luke Carter

Hi there, I'm Luke, and I've been DMing DnD 5e basically every weekend for the past 6 years. In that time, I've run adventures from level 1 to level 20 and have completed 3 long-form campaigns as well as countless one shots. For me, TTRPGs are all about collaborative storytelling. The most fulfilling part of DMing to me is seeing characters come together to overcome seemingly impossible odds and grow beyond their limits; be it through shrewd roleplay, daring decisions, or intelligent combat. I strive to build an immersive atmosphere and palpable world for my players to explore and enjoy curating music, sound effects, maps, and other visuals to aid in the experience. I also have a good bit of experience in acting and improv, and I like to think that adds an extra layer to the game with NPCs that have distinct voices and characterizations. I also encourage players to get into character and come up with unique voices and mannerisms, though it is by no means a requirement. Ultimately, I believe we're all here to have fun escaping into a more fantastical world, and it's my goal to provide for all of us the best experience possible.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

1 games hosted

Highly rated for: Knows the Rules, Creativity, Teacher

Average response time: 24+ hours

Response rate: 100%

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

as much as I adored playing, I was enamored by the notion of running not just one character, but an entire world. The endless possibilities of different worlds, mechanics, and stories was simply too much to bear. I also think its funny to roll some dice, go "hmm," and then watch my players panic.

My favorite shows/movies are

Avatar: the Last Airbender, the first 6 seasons of Game of Thrones, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy are some of the greatest pieces of fantasy content set to screen and I will not be taking questions. Also a big fan of games like Dragon Age, Skyrim, and Elden Ring.

When I'm not running games I'm...

Planning arcs for my campaigns that realistically won't happen for 8-12 months, working on screenplays, or playing way too much Marvel Rivals.

How Luke Carter runs games

I strive to strike a balance between immersive roleplay and dynamic combat. To me, they're not even distinct pillars; roleplay shouldn't stop because combat begins. I am first and foremost interested in telling a collaborative story, and so I build my games around the narrative, which means combat can feature heavily in the story or take more of a backseat depending on the nature of the story we're telling. That said, I do not shy away from high-stakes combat. On the contrary, conflict and the risk of failure are some of the most important drivers of a narrative and I personally have a great deal of fun tinkering with combat mechanics and unique adversaries. And as I said, roleplay does not end with an initiative roll, and adversaries have motives, goals, and fears just like the players and I run them as such. As I mentioned though, I always try to strike a balance between the narrative and mechanics, so you need not worry overmuch about maintaining a "balanced comp" with your party. I will not penalize you for not having a dedicated healer archetype. At the end of the day, I want everyone to be able to explore the characters they're interested in and engage in the world in a way that is fun and immersive for them. It's my job as the GM to facilitate that and ensure the game is balanced to each unique party.

Featured Prompts

I deal with rules issues by...

finding a balance between ensuring proper application of the rules and maintaining the tempo of the game. If it's an issue that can be quickly addressed, sure, let's verify the ruling. If not, let's run with my interpretation for the time-being and do a deeper dive in between sessions.

Rules are...

the foundation of any game. I often equate ttrpgs to "make believe with rules," and that's because it's the system that gives the narrative any weight at all. Rules provide the structure the narrative needs to thrive. Without them, it's just "no dude I totally dodged that ogre's attack" and such.

When it comes to voices

I strive to do as many as possible, because I think it makes the game more immersive, and I also think it's fun. I can't promise they'll all be good voices, but that's not gonna stop me from doing them.

Luke Carter's ideal table

I am most interested in curating a table of players who are interested in thoughtful, nuanced characters first and foremost. I try to foster an environment that lends itself to discovering character dynamics, explorative curiosity, and good natured comradery. My goal is to have a table where we can have some laughs, be silly, but still take the overall game and story seriously. Think of the gaang in Avatar: the Last Airbender. They have a great dynamic amongst each other, there are silly, whimsical episodes, but the overarching plot is one that is taken seriously by all involved.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

gets lost in the character. Do a voice (even if it's not a perfect accent)! Make an unideal decision that makes sense for your character's motivations. Make a personal sacrifice that benefits the party. Do something that delights the rest of the party. Have fun!

I think min/maxing...

is fine! I fully get the appeal of tinkering with a system and making a strong character. I only ask that you do not overshadow your fellow players. As I've said, I'm most interested in what makes a good story. And while challenging combat is certainly a part of that, it's not the only part.

My perfect party mix is

one that takes the narrative in interesting directions; one that creates memorable moments and dramatic decisions. I'm not worried about so-called "balanced" party. If you make a narratively interesting party, I'll make sure the game is balanced in a way that works with what you've built.