Tips and tricks for RPG GMs
In tabletop role-playing games, the relationship between story and audience diverges sharply from traditional media. Unlike books, movies, or plays, where the protagonist and audience are distinct, RPGs blend these roles together. Players are both the driving force behind the story as protagonists and its recipients as the audience. This duality shapes the storytelling experience …
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Role-playing games are intricate, collaborative storytelling endeavors, where the flow of the game is structured by interconnected narrative levels. These levels – action, scene, scenario, and campaign – are the backbone of RPG storytelling. Understanding how they nest together provides game masters with a powerful framework to design compelling and cohesive narratives. The Foundations of …
Read the full post →“Connecting Narrative Levels: Action, Scene, Scenario, Campaign”
In tabletop role-playing games, every story can ultimately be understood as a linear sequence of relevations – pieces of information passed from the game master to the players. These relevations, also referred to as secrets or conclusions, shape the players’ understanding of the game world, influence their choices, and drive the narrative forward. What Are …
Crafting a compelling murder mystery requires a deep understanding of what drives individuals to commit murder. While the “whodunit” aspect often captures attention, the “whydunit” offers an equally rich vein for exploration. Murder motives reveal the darker facets of human behavior and provide the backbone for a memorable mystery narrative. This post analyzes four fundamental …
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The Three-Act Structure is one of the most enduring and widely used frameworks in storytelling. At its core, it divides a narrative into three distinct parts: an introduction to the central problem (Act I: Exposition), the development of rising action as tension builds (Act II: Rising Action), and the resolution of the problem in a …
Read the full post →“Building Better RPG Scenarios with the Three-Act Structure”
When crafting RPG scenarios, tension is the secret sauce that keeps players engaged and invested. However some scenarios fail to captivate. Why does this happen? A variety of issues can sap tension from your story, leaving players feeling detached or bored. Let’s explore some common causes behind missing tension and how you can address them …
Read the full post →“Why Tension Is Missing in Your RPG Scenarios and How to Fix It”