Charles
he/him
Timezone
Identity
About Charles
Hello! I'm Essence or C.J., and I've been TTRPG'ing and running games for roughly 12 years, moreso as a GM than as a Player. I'm a Data Engineer and I enjoy science-fiction and spy thrillers, roleplaying and strategy games, weight-lifting, cats (I have three!), and acting as hobbies! I come from a variety of different gaming backgrounds, starting with D&D 3.5e before moving on to other systems like 5e, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu / Delta Green, World of Darkness (CofD and OWoD), Year Zero Engine games like Mutant: Year Zero and ALIEN, Modiphius style games like Fallout, Star Trek and Dune, and PbtA games like Blades in the Dark and MASKS, and probably many more. As a GM, I love weaving stories around rich character arcs, moral dilemmas, and the tension between choice and consequence. I’m big on collaborative storytelling and especially enjoy puzzles, investigation, and roleplay-heavy scenes — particularly when players lean into acting and character immersion. So if you’re into character-driven stories with depth, tension, and a touch of theatrical flair, then I believe that we’ll get along just fine!
At a glance
2 years on StartPlaying
Featured Prompts
I became a GM because
I enjoy telling stories and, truthfully, I was always an entertainer at heart ever since I took up acting in grade school! Sitting down and architecting worlds and narratives with my players always brings me some sense of satisfaction I can't necessarily get from being a seat-filler as a player.
My favorite shows/movies are
It depends. No, truly! I'm a huge cinephile at heart with a liking to thrillers and sci-fi dramas, so really I enjoy a whoooole lot of movies. Top series that I do love, however, are: Star Trek (NG, DS9, SNW, etc.), Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul, and Downton Abbey.
The three words my players would use to describe me are...
Comprehensive, Immersive, Adaptive.
How Charles runs games
In my games, you can expect a strong emphasis on character-driven storytelling, meaningful choices, and immersive roleplay. I love when players get deep into their characters—flaws, ideals, secrets and all—and I'm always looking for ways to spotlight personal arcs alongside the larger plot. I design stories that explore moral dilemmas, psychological tension, and the gray areas between right and wrong. Puzzles and investigations are a major part of my games. I enjoy challenging players to think critically, work together, and piece together clues—whether you're deciphering ancient runes, unraveling a conspiracy, or navigating the social puzzle of a diplomatic standoff. I design these challenges to be woven into the story, not distractions from it, so success always feels earned and story-relevant. Combat, when it happens, is usually tactical and high-stakes—fast, dangerous, and informed by narrative weight rather than random encounters. I prefer that every fight means something, whether it's the climax of a brewing conflict or a desperate bid for survival. But ultimately, I’m much more invested in why your character picks up the sword (or blaster, or spell) than how many times they swing it.
Charles's Preferences
Systems