Setting: There is time and a place for it

This is the part of game writing that I have the most issue with since I tend to leave the details to the imagination of the players. This is a bad habit and shame on myself and others who are in this boat. Not only should the GM outline and describe the events that take place they should also describe the world in which these events take place. This will give the players a sense of the world in which their characters exist as well as provide details that will allow for better role playing. A good way I've learned to get around the issue of description is to try to find as close to the experience as you can. If there is a part of your city that loosely represents the kind of area you are describing then go there and start taking notes.

Photo courtesy of Proteon

      However, plenty of rpgs are in fantasy or sci-fi settings so finding a real source for inspiration may be difficult. In this case, there is another exercise you can do that will help you describe your setting. Find a picture similar to your setting and describe it and then adjust your description to add whatever little details you'd like to make it your own. As an example I provided a picture I found of an old tavern the likes of which could be used in a Dungeon and Dragon's campaign. I would spend at least 5 minutes just writing down details from this picture to help me describe my own tavern. By practicing using descriptors with pictures you will become proficient at describing your own worlds. Some online tabletop resources might allow sharing of pictures in which case by finding a suitable photo the hard part is done for you.
      The key to describing a setting isn't just mentioning what is seen but also to engage the other senses. Does the place have a strange smell? What sort of background noise is going on? What type of people are in the area if anyone at all? Little details like this will help you create a world for the players just as vivid as you see when you close your eyes.

A Little Backstory

My name is Brian and I been playing tabletop role playing games for over a decade with a variety of different groups and several different systems. During that time, I have encountered a plethora of situations, some great and others that were horrible. My hope with this blog is to share some of those experiences and offer a few tips to help gamemasters and players alike avoid some of those pitfalls and create a game that you all will talk about over and over. Whether you are new to the hobby and are a little lost on how to begin or an experienced gamer who is looking to take their games to the next level hopefully this blog will be an asset to you.