Whenever I’m talking with a group of people who are just learning about playing stories for the first time, the topic of speaking as one’s character invariably comes up. “Do I have to speak in their voice?” “Do I have to say what they would say?” etc. So today’s newbie Tuesday post helps answer those…
Part 10 (rest at the bottom): https://storytogether.com/2020/05/07/isaiah-the-gray-part-10/ Deployed Jimmy motions to the Away Pod. “After you.” As an act of good faith, the three Gray, Captain Issac, Hanari, and T’Enora, enter the pod. Jimmy follows close behind. At the main hatch, Isaiah stops for a moment. “Computer, please stay in close communication. We may need…
Last week’s worldbuilding post discussed how to best integrate character backstory into your story’s overall plot. Today’s post is an extension of that topic and delves into how to best connect character threads with one another. When players are coming up with their character’s backstories, oftentimes they’re not doing so in concert with one another.…
For people who haven’t played stories before, one of the first images that’s conjured is a noble knight or a powerful wizard doing battle with an enormous dragon. Fire is being haphazardly tossed about to and fro among the combatants – magic no doubt fueling the flames. And when these folks sit down to play…
Whether you’re an experienced or first time GM, planning your campaign’s first session, as fun as it is, brings some pressure along for the ride as well. You want all the players to enjoy the story and really dig into where it’s going. And perhaps most of all, you want everyone to be excited playing…
When you’re the GM of a tabletop role-playing game, it’s pretty standard to expect that the players’ characters will come with various degrees of backstories. Some will be short and sweet and others complex, and full of twists and intrigue. Either way, the onus will be on you, the GM, to integrate various aspects of…
Part 9 (rest at the bottom): https://storytogether.com/2020/04/30/isaiah-the-gray-part-9/ The Obvious Question “Who are the Gray?” asks Isaiah. Captain Issac ponders a moment as his lieutenants look-on nervously, knowing he’s being prevented from lying. “Can’t say I’ve ever had to directly answer that question before,” he says with a heavy sigh. “The Gray are simply a group…
Being a new player can sometimes be an intimidating experience. You’re often surrounded by folks who know exactly what to do when, where, how, and why. So when the GM turns to you and says “It’s your turn,” it’s all on you now to act. Today’s post aims to help demystify what it is exactly…
Balance is a crucially important component of worldbuilding. The players need to feel there’s a harmony between the story’s traditional yin and yang: role-playing and combat. Yes, there’s a obvious duality; but together in the traditional tabletop role-playing game, role-playing and combat form the foundation of great stories. Today’s worldbuilding advice digs deeper into the…
You’ve been playing for six hours – and everyone is having a great time. But you’re running out of material and you’re starting to lose focus. Eventually, the story’s flow goes off the rails and the session falters. Sound familiar? Today’s GM Advice centers on how best to manage these long sessions so that you…