When players are coming up with their characters’ backstories, oftentimes they’re not doing so together. Character creation after all traditionally is a highly individual process; although, there’s certainly collaboration here and there. So as the GM when the players submit their characters’ various backstories, it becomes clear pretty quickly that sometimes their various elements can…
A tabletop role-playing game story is not a straight line between points A and B. There are many twists and turns, some planned for, some completely unforeseen. Some come from you, the worldbuilder and GM, and other directions dictated by the players. Each change in direction has the opportunity to be a significant tangent in…
Happy 2021 everyone! On the surface, the sheer scale and variety of tabletop RPG systems makes it seem as though your story – your world – is meant to be tailored to just one of them. That it’s your world which needs to confirm to their rules in order to be brought to life. Today’s…
The characters in your tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) story are likely to encounter all sorts of obstacles and opportunities. Whether they’re epic battles, heartbreak, or perhaps summiting your world’s tallest peak. But no matter what those milestones in your story look like, it’s crucial that the theme, meaning, and choices of/during those experiences have an…
When players are coming up with their characters’ backstories, oftentimes they’re not doing so together. Character creation after all traditionally is a highly individual process; although, there’s certainly collaboration here and there. So as the GM when the players submit their characters’ various backstories, it becomes clear pretty quickly that sometimes their various elements can…
A byproduct of today’s faced-paced world, shock value has in many cased replaced the simple beauty of being in awe in stories. That sense of amazement – of wonder – is both an underrated and crucial component of tabletop role-playing game stories as well. Today’s Worldbuilding Monday advice aims to help the worldbuilder invest in…
We’ve all been there: you’ve finished setting up an exciting new arc in your tabletop RPG story and you’re pumped to get started. But right after its first prompt, the players go off in an unexpected & unintended direction, focusing their attention on something else entirely. Frustration can set in, clouding your attitude. Today’s Worldbuilding…
I’ve spoken with many tabletop RPG players who are intimidated by the idea of being a GM/DM. Whether it’s conducting a session, doing the voices, or worldbuilding, these players just have a hard time envisioning themselves in the GM chair. Today’s Worldbuilding Monday post though aims to help erase some of those doubts by shining…
Borrowing elements from other stories is a perfectly natural part of worldbuilding. You get inspired by great scenes, moments, and dialogue from movies, TV, video games, and books. And you want to find a way to translate that inspiration to your tabletop RPG. So today’s Worldbuilding Monday post is about how to stay on the…
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…