Writing Excuses Transcripts

Writing Excuses 11.5: Writing and World Building for Role-Playing Games

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2016/01/31/11-05-writing-and-world-building-for-role-playing-games/

Key Points: Writing an RPG is not writing a story or novel. Start with what does a player do in your game? Next, what do 3 to 6 players do sitting at a table, adventuring and telling stories? What do you want the characters to do? What is the reward system? Then, what needs to be in the book to play the game? How does someone who picks up the book learn to play the game and about your world? Who is going to read this book, play this RPG? Think about multiple types of character creation. Think about giving the players a road to learning, from small basic things they can do on up. Consider including a sample session, both to teach mechanics and show what it's like to play in this world. What's the reward? Other people getting excited and playing in your world. Mini-tasking, little chunks that you can get done! Chocolate is always good. Watching everybody else doing the hard parts!

( Roll for initiative? )

[Howard] Michelle, can you send our listeners home with a writing prompt?
[Michelle] Sure. So, think about what a player does in your game, or a character, right? Not Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, but the guy who works in the cantina and he's cleaning up after everybody. Drill down to find one person who's not your heroic character, and write that.
[Howard] Outstanding. You are out of excuses. Now go write.