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 Relevations?

Relevations are critical pieces of information previously unknown to the players that they uncover during the course of a game. These are concise, impactful facts that might include:

• Hidden motives of an NPC,
• the true purpose of an ancient artifact, or
• the backstory of a mysterious event.

Relevations typically take one of two forms:

1. Player-Derived Revelations: These occur when players piece together clues and come to conclusions on their own. For example, realizing that a recurring symbol belongs to a forgotten magical order.
2. GM-Orchestrated Reveals: These are moments when the game master intentionally discloses a key piece of information, often through dramatic twists. For instance, the sudden revelation that a trusted ally is a traitor.

Crafting a Relevation List

Creating a relevation list is a valuable preparation tool for game masters. A relevation list is a simple document that outlines the key pieces of information players should discover during the session. It includes:

• Each relevation itself (e.g., The royal advisor is working with the enemy).
• Often the (predefined) associated clues for each relevation (e.g., Correspondence found in their chambers, suspicious behavior during a council meeting).

This list doesn’t dictate how or when each relevation will occur but ensures the game master remains aware of what must be conveyed for the game to progress smoothly. Furthermore, the relevation list serves as a checklist for tracking which pieces of information have already been shared with the players. By also tracking the associated clues, it provides an overview of which relevations might be at risk of going undiscovered because the players have missed the associated clues.

Integrating Relevations Into Gameplay

The effective delivery of relevations depends on a few key practices:

• Maintaining flexibility: Discoveries should align with player actions and improvisation during the session. The concept of permissive clue-finding emphasizes that the discovery arc in a mystery scenario is not about the absence of information but about uncovering previously unknown information. If players devise a clever approach to their investigation, the game master should be open to rewarding their efforts with useful information. Prepped clues act as a safety net, offering fallback options when players fail to come up with something more innovative. These predesigned solutions (aka the worst case scenario) ensure progress but should remain secondary to emergent player-driven discoveries.
• Using redundancy: The placement of clues should avoid bottlenecks or missed information. The Three Clue Rule, which recommends providing at least three clues for any conclusion players are meant to reach, ensures that important relevations remain accessible even if some clues are overlooked.
• Encouraging roleplay: Opportunities should arise for players to engage with and react to relevations in-character, fostering memorable moments that enhance immersion.

The Value of Revelations in Storytelling

Relevations are a cornerstone of effective RPG storytelling, helping to maintain intrigue and guide the narrative. Whether through player-driven discoveries or dramatic GM reveals, these moments shape the story’s progression and the players’ engagement with the world.

This exploration of relevations draws inspiration from Ben Robbins’ 2006 post on ArsLudi, from 2008 concepts by Justin Alexander on TheAlexandrian, and from Michael E. Shea’s “Secrets and Clues” technique from Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master (2018).