Chris

he/him

5.0

(4)

Timezone

Europe/vienna

Language

English

German

Identity

Artist

Game Designer

About Chris

Greetings, fellow Radiants-to-be! My name is Christian, and I'm a Game Master from Vienna, Austria, where I've been weaving stories and running games since the pandemic transformed my friend group's request into a years-long journey through my custom world of the Athyria Chronicles. But storytelling, worldbuilding, and the craft of interactive narrative have been my companions for over 15 years - they've become the lens through which I understand how we create meaning together. For a decade, I worked as an archaeologist, excavating not just artifacts but the patterns of how societies transform, adapt, and transmit knowledge across generations. The question that drew me to archaeology is the same one that drives my game mastering: How did our contemporary world come to be? Why are we the way we are? And how can we collectively learn and adapt to forge a better world amidst the chaos and wonder that surrounds us? This archaeological sensibility shapes everything at my table. I approach fantasy worlds as living civilizations with layered histories, ritual practices that reveal deeper truths, and cultural institutions that respond to both crisis and opportunity. I'm just starting on StartPlaying, and I chose Sanderson's Cosmere RPG because it explores how societies respond to systemic challenges through magic and myth. I welcome you to dive into this journey with me.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, World Builder, Beginner Friendly

$25 per session

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I went down the worldbuilder path years ago after devouring the Malazan Book of the Fallen. It inspired me to become an archaeologist and start my lifelong project, the Athyria Chronicles. TTRPGs are the perfect medium for those stories; player reactions make it just worth the effort.

I got started GMing...

during the COVID pandemic, when a close friend asked me to run a game set in my writing project's world. It's been a helluva ride and just kept growing from there. Turns out bad times can spark something good, if you're willing to roll with it. ;)

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

usually creating new adventures for my homebrew setting, toiling in my garden, or playing board games with my friends. I'm also an avid gamer currently sinking way too many hours into the worlds of Crimson Desert and Dune: Awakening.

How Chris runs games

I run games as collaborative laboratories where we explore complex questions through Sanderson's meticulous worldbuilding. Your journey matters: mechanically, narratively, and thematically. Rich Worldbuilding. Alethi warcamps and Azish bureaucracies aren't generic fantasy cultures. Vorin codes create genuine moral dilemmas, Thaylen customs shape negotiations, and Parshendi rhythms communicate what words cannot. Every cultural detail serves atmosphere and meaningful choice. Collaborative Storytelling. I provide the foundation: intricate factions, mysterious ruins, political tensions. But you shape how the story unfolds. Your oaths matter. Your choices ripple through interconnected narratives, affecting NPCs and the world's trajectory. Organic progression, no railroading. Meaningful Consequences. Swearing the Ideals has weight. Conflicting oaths create genuine tension. Multiple resolution paths exist: diplomacy, investigation, combat, or finding cracks in immovable systems. Mystery Rewards Investigation. Like an archaeological dig, deeper exploration reveals hidden histories, secret societies, and the true nature of Radiants and their ancient oaths. Balanced Elements. Vivid descriptions bring Roshar's ecology and magic to life. Tactical combat where Surgebinding creates dynamic encounters. Character-driven moments where personal oaths clash with worldly demands.

Chris's ideal table

My table is story-first and slow-burning. We play through layered worlds where NPCs have agendas, history matters, and your choices echo forward. Combat is meaningful when it happens, but I lean as much on conversations, investigations, and political maneuvering as on dice. Expect cinematic description, improvised consequences, and the occasional weight of a quiet moment. You'll fit if you love roleplay, want to build a character with real flaws and room to grow, and enjoy a world that responds to your curiosity. This might not be your table if you prefer combat-only sessions, optimize over story, or want a fast loot-and-clear pace. I run warm, but seriously: safety tools are standard, player input on tone is welcome, and I work to make each character matter to the arc. Online via Foundry VTT with Discord voice. Come ready to roleplay, take risks, and let the world surprise you.