Chuck

About Chuck

Hi there, I'm Chuck and I serve as a Game Master and have always been a storyteller throughout my life, having gained more than ten years of experience in working with children in creative, educational, and recreational situations. I've worked with kids in a variety of age groups as a camp counselor, film instructor, tutor, and educator. One of the most satisfying aspects of my work has always been creating a friendly and encouraging atmosphere in which children can be creative, build their confidence, and enjoy themselves. I have been playing and acting as a game master for table-top role-playing games for approximately seven years, and I particularly enjoy the way D&D offers children the opportunity to work together, deal with problems, express themselves, and co-create stories. Since I have undergone training as an improviser at the Second City Conservatory Program, I have a solid foundation in communication, creativity, and thinking on the spot that I apply in each game. The aim I have as a game master is to ensure that every player feels that their views are being heard, that they are included, and that they are excited about taking part in the adventure. Since I was a child I have enjoyed making up and telling stories, instead of studying the Pythagorean theorem I used my math notebook to write fantasy stories (apologies to Mrs. Greenfield). My great interest has always been in storytelling, and I enjoy the fact that tabletop games allow young people to take an active role in the stories they create rather than just watching them happen. Above all else, D&D should be a setting in which children can have fun, make friends, try out new activities, and let their imaginations go wild. I'm looking forward to helping young adventurers roll the dice, tell some wonderful stories, and finding out just how much they can create together!

My game style

The aim of mine as a Game Master is to design adventures which are exciting, engaging and welcoming to all players: be they complete beginners at D&D or those who are already experienced adventurers. I enjoy combat that is challenging, but I think the appropriate level of difficulty should be based on the players who are at the table. When it comes to younger or more inexperienced players, I aim to design encounters that are exciting and rewarding rather than making the players feel as though they are being punished for trying something creative. Instead of making encounters more difficult by merely removing the players' choices or turns, I prefer to have dynamic battles in which the players can experiment, cooperate, and come up with creative solutions. I really enjoy roleplaying and storytelling as well. I can adopt a wide range of character voices and personalities and enjoy offering players the chance to interact with memorable characters and make important decisions. While roleplaying can be just as exciting as combat, I never expect players to act like performers. Some children might want to take on a character and make funny sounds, while others will prefer to explain what their character does—and both approaches are excellent! When I begin a game I make it a point of asking my players what sorts of things they find enjoyable and what they are at ease with. This way, I want each and every player to feel as though they have a proper place at the table, no matter whether they're there to take part in great battles, to play some silly characters, to explore a fantasy world, to solve puzzles, to tell stories, or simply to spend time with friends. Most important of all, I hope that my games promote creativity, teamwork, confidence, and above all else a great deal of fun. Since there is no one correct way to play D&D, my role is to assist each player in discovering the method that suits them best.