In many tabletop RPGs today, the worldbuilder and the GM/DM are the same person. They are responsible for the story world, its setup, its “main plot,” as well as conducting & guiding the story along with all of the players and their characters. As worldbuilding winds down – and character creation begins – there’s a…
Previously: https://storytogether.com/2019/12/30/isaiah-the-gray-part-28-tbtrpg/ Why Are You Here? Isaiah is calm, perhaps unnaturally so. “I am Isaiah Gray,” he says. “Are you Roshannon Darek?” Roshannon stands still for a moment, staring at Isaiah, using the Force to try and discern his intent. How can he be standing there, amid this flood of Light Side Force Energy, so…
The Mind’s Eye is our canvas of limitless possibilities. This “theater of the mind” empowers us to collectively and concurrently experience art, music, stories…any shared part of the human creative diaspora. And for tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), it’s the platform for our shared story experiences. “A stout bush sits atop a tall mountain, looking over…
Tabletop RPG stories contain countless journeys. From the main plot, to epic side quests, to the journeys for each individual player character, the tapestry of story is made of up these finer threads. Today’s post for TTRPG newbies focuses on those player characters’ right to that journey. And how, just for investing in that experience,…
The lifeblood of change in your tabletop RPG’s story world is often driven by NPCs (non-player characters). While players making choices are the other side of that coin, NPCs – heroes, villains, and everyone in-between – are constantly making their own decisions. All of which can impact the story universe just as significantly. Because those…
Previously: https://storytogether.com/2020/10/22/isaiah-the-gray-part-26/ Set A Course Corban, Isaac, Jimmy, and Zero-You go about their business, knowing that the conversation is over for now. “AI, set a course for the chip’s location,” says Isaiah. “With all due haste.” “Right away, Commander,” replies AI over the intercom. The sleek and elegant Defiant zooms around nearly 180 degrees in…
Developing your story world is a journey. There are so many facets, details, and threads to sort through in order to provide the best tabletop RPG experience for the players. Today’s Worldbuilding Monday post is all about how to use what inspires you to pave the road of that journey – and learn to love…
Tabletop RPG GMs/DMs have a lot to manage when they’re facilitating stories. And sometimes, when things aren’t going their way, frustration can build and boil over to railroading and over-punishing players. Today’s GM Advice is all about how shifting your mindset from being the table’s leader to the table’s guide can exponentially improve everyone’s experience…
Previously: https://storytogether.com/2020/10/15/isaiah-the-gray-part-25/ Competition is Good for Business “I believe I can be of service,” says Zero-You. The combat droid is positively beaming. “Nonsense,” says AI over the intercom. “Please, allow me to help in retrieving the chip’s data.” “And why, disembodied voice, do you get to have all the fun, huh!?” replies Zero-You, his expression…
In both real life and tabletop RPGs, choices have tangible consequences. When you’re playing a story, its ultimate quality strongly correlates with the players’ choices & their corresponding consequences. So today’s Newbie Tuesday post is all about the importance of those consequences and how new players can begin to dig deeper with their constituent choice(s).…
