Exchange of Realities

I come today with one of the most flexible tools a writer could have.

It isn’t exactly uncommon for people to tell writers that they should try playing in tabletop role-playing games. After all, it’s a chance at characterization, a way to work on descriptions a bit, and a chance to see what sorts of interactions with worlds work. I, on the other hand, maintain that going a step further is necessary.

It is my belief that all writers should at some point run a role-playing game.

I’m not saying they need to pick a specific system; freeform works just as well. It definitely doesn’t need to be based on the story they plan to write; while useful in picking . It doesn’t need to be long-running, or even particularly good; it just needs to be a game.

It teaches them to get used to characters who think for themselves, and find ways to motivate them that are as consistent with their concepts as with the plot. It allows them to observe said characters’ reactions to as wide a variety of situations as the writer can dream up. It provides excellent practice for the principle of “Show, don’t tell”, as there is somewhat less room for exposition in a roleplaying game than a story. Last but not least, it is a way of getting instant feedback as to the writer’s ability to move a plot and establish a world.

So, from a literary standpoint, how do we get the most out of our games? That’s what I’m here for: to explore the synergy between the writer’s world and the gamer’s, and show members of both the way to best take advantage of the tricks of the trade.