Comments on: 30 Fiction Writing Tips That Will Make You A Better DM (part 1)

By: 30 Fiction Writing Tips That Will Make You A Better DM (part 2) – Dungeon Mastering – D&D blog, DM tips, Dungeons and Dragons Tools

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:00:12 +0000

[...] #1 – #10 [...]

By: Yax

Yax — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:02:10 +0000

@Eoghan: Yep, constantly sifting through notes can slow down a game. It’s a fine balance between prep and improv.

By: 30 Fiction Writing Tips That Will Make You A Better DM (part 3) | Dungeon Mastering

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:52:07 +0000

[...] #1 – #10 [...]

By: Yax

Yax — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:41:35 +0000

@Jeff Carlsen: I strongly believe RPGs are about collaborative storytelling, not merely interacting with the environment.

@Jake: We play roleplaying games to entertain the characters??? I thought we played to entertain the players!

By: Friday Links for November 6, 2009 | Moebius Adventures

Friday Links for November 6, 2009 | Moebius Adventures — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:30:47 +0000

[...] And Yax over at Dungeon Mastering has come up with 30 fiction writing tips to make us all better GMs… And, like Wimwick’s thoughts about engaging players, Yax’s #1 tip is to focus on the well crafted detail or NPC to help tell a great story. How can anybody really argue with that?? This is the first 10 tips… more are coming in the next couple of days! http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/30-fiction-writing-tips-that-will-make-you-a-better-... [...]

By: Scott Compton

Scott Compton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:13:30 +0000

The premise that Roleplaying games are not about Roleplaying is slightly misleading, but I understand where the author was going with it. After 25 years of role-playing, the games, adventures and campaigns, the times that were the most memorable had well developed story aspects; granted, the role-playing interactivity contributed to the story aspects. The main difference between a book and a game is the interactivity, so the fact that a player can adjust the story on the fly helps to create new fiction on the fly to create the story.

By: Jake

Jake — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:30:56 +0000

I agree with Jeff. This is a good article, and lots of useful ideas in here.

However, roleplaying games don’t make good stories, nor should they have to. Stories arn’t written to entertain the characters in them, they’re writen to entertain outside observers with no stake in the events unfolding either way.

By: Jeff Carlsen

Jeff Carlsen — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:46:46 +0000

As an avid writer and roleplayer, I agree with you on everything but your very first point. Granted, personal taste and play style always matters, but roleplaying is in no way about the story. It’s about interacting with the environment.

Just like good storytelling, the thing that matters most is what’s going on at this exact moment. But whereas a story has to hold together with a satisfying structure and come to a great climax, roleplaying doesn’t. Role-playing merely has to engage.

Presenting challenges, interesting conversations with NPCs, arguments between player characters, and entertaining moments are examples of what matters most.

By: Kolbold Minion

Kolbold Minion — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:15:20 +0000

Great article. I always ask new players how much lore and backround they are willing to work with, then create backstories off of their quotas. No use in palnning something they will not care about.

By: Eoghan

Eoghan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:58:14 +0000

Hey, great article, Yax.

I need to improv more and rely on my knowledge of my gaming world to pull me through. Players hate it when I have to look at notes – they feel like their being led by the nose. I think I’m past that now :)