A well-structured narrative is essential for engaging storytelling in any RPG session. This concept, often referred to as a “narrative throughline,” is also known as a “story thread” or “story arc.” The throughline serves as the backbone of the narrative, ensuring that every event in the game contributes to a cohesive story. Without a throughline, the story risks becoming a disjointed series of events that leave players feeling disconnected and aimless. A throughline provides the overarching structure that holds the story together, giving it a clear sense of direction and purpose.

The throughline not only determines where the story begins and ends but also guides the game master in deciding which events belong in the middle. It is, in essence, what the story is about, and understanding this concept allows game masters to maintain focus and cohesion in their campaigns. The throughline helps to keep the players engaged, as they see how their actions tie into the larger narrative and help move the story forward.

To fully grasp the significance of the throughline in RPG storytelling, it’s important to examine three key elements that are closely related to it: Tension, Movement, and Filler.

Key Elements of the Throughline

Tension: Keeping Players on Edge

Tension is a fundamental element in any narrative, and it arises from the unresolved aspects of the throughline. It’s the emotional strain or anticipation that keeps players eager to see how the story unfolds. Tension can take many forms: perhaps the characters are trying to solve a mystery, escape a dangerous situation, or face a moral dilemma. Whatever the scenario, the unresolved conflict or question creates a sense of urgency and excitement.

In RPGs, tension works in tandem with the throughline to ensure that the story feels alive and dynamic. As the game progresses, the stakes rise, and the players become more invested in the outcome. A well-constructed throughline maintains this Tension throughout the campaign, continually reminding the players of the big questions or challenges they need to resolve. Without tension, the story would feel flat, and the players’ engagement would quickly dwindle.

Tension is also closely linked with the pacing of the story. A game master needs to know when to ramp up the Tension and when to give the players a moment to breathe. Balancing these elements is key to maintaining a compelling throughline.

Movement: Progressing Toward the Resolution

Movement is the sense that the story is constantly moving toward a meaningful conclusion. It’s the feeling players get when they know their actions are pushing the narrative forward. In RPGs, movement is what keeps the throughline strong and cohesive. Without movement, the story risks feeling stagnant, as if the characters are simply going through the motions without making any real progress toward resolving the central conflict.

Each event, scene, and character interaction in the game should contribute to this forward momentum. When Movement is strong, players feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment, as they know that their actions have meaningful consequences. This keeps the narrative flowing smoothly and prevents the story from becoming bogged down by unnecessary distractions.

The concept of movement has its roots in Aristotle’s Poetics, where he discussed the importance of rising and falling action in storytelling. In RPGs, Movement ensures that every event is relevant to the story’s end. A game master should always be mindful of whether the scenes they present are contributing to the throughline or if they are simply filler.

Filler: Recognizing and Avoiding Red Herrings

Filler refers to elements or entire scenes that do not contribute to the narrative throughline. These are moments where the story feels like it’s stalling, with no real progression toward the resolution. Filler can also be those moments where, in hindsight, it becomes apparent that what the players thought was meaningful movement was actually a dead end. In these cases, the players believed they were moving the story forward, but they later discover that the scenes were unrelated to the central plot. This can lead to frustration as players realize their time and efforts were spent on events that had no impact on the throughline.

A classic example of filler is the red herring, where players are misled into thinking an event or clue is crucial to the story, only to find out later that it was irrelevant. While red herrings can sometimes add intrigue, overuse or poorly executed ones can break immersion and leave players feeling like their actions were pointless. It’s essential for game masters to recognize the difference between adding depth to a story and wasting the players’ time with irrelevant content.

In an RPG, too much filler disrupts the pacing and weakens the throughline. To maintain player engagement, game masters should strive to ensure that every scene has a purpose, advancing the plot and contributing to the story’s resolution.

Conclusion

Without a strong narrative throughline, the story crafted at the gaming table can easily feel random, pointless, and aimless to the players. The throughline is the critical thread that binds the narrative together, ensuring that each event has purpose and relevance within the story. It also ensures that the story maintains tension and movement, keeping players engaged and the plot moving toward a satisfying conclusion. The presence of filler, especially when it turns into a red herring, can create frustration and disrupt the players’ connection to the story.

The ideas discussed in this post were inspired by a 2022 blog entry by Chris Winkle on mythcreants.com, which emphasizes the importance of a throughline for writers and game masters alike who seek to create compelling and cohesive narratives. Understanding and applying the concept of a throughline can transform any RPG session into a more focused and rewarding experience for both game masters and players.