Shaj

he/him

5.0

(2)

Timezone

America/chicago

Language

English

About Shaj

Hi! You can call me Shaj (rhymes with dodge :-) Like I imagine for many others, finding Critical Role soon after they started Campaign 1 was my introduction to this amazing TTRPG gaming world I did not even know existed. I soon become hooked on all kinds of streamed live-play videos and podcasts. After a few years, I got the nerve up to play instead of watch. Thanks to StartPlaying, I found a place to play. Over the years, I met a lot of amazing folks (DMs and players) who were patient with me and helped me love the actual creating of something via roleplay. Some games i joined followed the structure of a published story...others completely invented. Regardless, I grew to love the storytelling and the best part of TTRPG: participating in that storytelling. After a couple of years of that, I realized I wanted to try my hand at guiding others in telling a story. Again, one of my DMs took a chance and let me assist him while he ran games teaching me his method for game design. My goal...take what I learned from him and all the DMs I have played with as well as the great DMs I've watched and listened to for years and build a set of stories that will draw you in and engage you, make you laugh, maybe cry a little, hopefully surprise you and enable you to create with others like you and me. My hope? Join me and let's tell a great story together.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Teacher, Inclusive, Knows the Rules

Featured Prompts

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

reading sci-fi or fantasy. Think Asimov, Weir, or Scalzi. Or Tolkien, Sanderson, and Kingfisher.

How Shaj runs games

Before the game even starts, I want to prepare everyone in advance with thing we might normally discuss in a session 0. This might be minor if its just a oneshot but if its a multipart series, it will be more involved with questionnaires to help flesh out your character and tailor the story to what you want to get out of it. I want my games to be known for great roleplay opportunities as well as meaningful encounters that aren't just "combat" but are meaningful opportunities to drive the story forward. I want players to use every inch of the characteristics/ features/ traits they have built into their character. And when it comes down to combat, I want the fights in my games to be meaninful and tactical using your battle skills, the environment I have described and our collective creativity to make it really interesting and memorable without being a slogfest. A lot of folks call it the Rule of Cool. I didn't really understand what that meant until I started playing myself. For me, it will mean following the system rules but adding just enough flexibility to add more to a situation...whether that is being knocked back a spot by a critical hit or, navigating an impromptu environmental hazard. If this is of interest to you, I feel confident we will enjoy playing together.

Shaj's ideal table

Ideally, I love players who bring their imagination and energy to the table. Hopefully, willing to roleplay a little with each other and any of my NPCs. Also...committed to the game and each other. Be on time or at the very least give me a heads up if you are running late or unable to make it to a session.

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

help me with the world building by playing into or suggesting interesting ideas and pieces to flesh out their character and its perception of the world it is experiencing.

I think min/maxing...

can be fun! If players want to do that, feel free. But I do have a special place in my heart for the ones who roll randomly for a character and just go with it. They also don't necessarily take what is necessarily "optimal" but is instead best for how they wish to play it.

My table is not the place for...

politics. I want our game to be a place for escape and fun. There are plenty of places to go to have political discourse but please do it in the places its meant for.