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Hello Bonus Babies,
Today I’m joined by friend and colleague Alex Guerrero to discuss how video games utilize narrative and setting design to create a sense of wonder and mystery – and how you can bring that to the table in your own tabletop RPGs!
We discuss:
Good writing and pacing of lore
Creating and fostering mystery while running games
Supporting an action-RPG feel at the table
Using techniques from GMless gaming
Integrating social influence into games
Building lore for your game using other games
Also discussed in the extended cut:
- Monica’s favorite GM sleight-of-hand and the judicious handling of “yes, but”
- Behind the scenes in trying to close the show
- WARNING: SPOILERS FOR GENSHIN IMPACT FROM 15:32 to 19:05. They’re called out with a musical bumper so if you don’t want the plot spoiled PLEASE SKIP AHEAD.
We mention a lot of things we said we would link, so here are quite literally all of them:
- “Are You Satisfied?” by Marina and the Diamonds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWywn51-B_I
- Ashikai https://www.youtube.com/@Ashikai
(The lore analyst that Alex mentioned) - Video games
- Genshin Impacthttps://genshin.hoyoverse.com/
- Honkai: Star Railhttps://hsr.hoyoverse.com/
- TTRPGs mentioned for Genshin-style play
- Exalted Essencehttps://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/427275/Exalted-Essence
- Godbound
- AGE System https://greenroninstore.com/collections/age-system
- Storypath System https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/431162/Storypath-Ultra-Preview-2023
- Anima Primehttps://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/90234/Anima-Prime-RPG
- Other TTRPGs mentioned
- Microscope https://www.lamemage.com/microscope/
- The Quiet Yearhttps://buriedwithoutceremony.com/the-quiet-year
- Spindlewheel https://www.teacabbage.com/spindlewheel
- Blades in the Darkhttps://evilhat.com/product/blades-in-the-dark/
- Alex’s links