Monday Musings #73 🤬
The story of the non-story.
Good Monday, Gamer!
"I came. I rolled. I crit’ed." – Julius Caesar, Warlord.
After a game of The One Ring: Moria this week, I fielded questions about my so-called “non-story” approach in the aftermath of my panels last week. I’ve been running it as an open-table sandbox game, which got some of the players scratching their heads. The big questions were: “How is what we just played not you, the GM, telling a story? And why is wanting to tell a story at my game table somehow wrong?”
Well, you’re not wrong. I’d never do that to you. If you and your table are having fun with what is happening, then that’s awesome. But for me, I’m here for the game part of tabletop RPGs. I’m fascinated by what a game’s mechanics do during play, what they allow, what they reward, and what they leave up for interpretation. If you pinned me down and made me choose, yes, I’d say story is a byproduct of gameplay. But it’s not my primary focus. I’m in it for the experience—the unknowns, the tension, and the surprise moments where everyone at the table is on the edge of their seat. That’s my “story.”
Think of it like coffee: we’re all drinking the same thing at the end of the day, but I like mine black while others load up on sugar, cream, bacon, and sprinkles... It’s all coffee...ish. But it’s still coffee.
What I’m offering up is an alternative way of playing. Let go of story-focused prep. Prep situations instead and let go of the need to protect the Big Bad. Forget about the rails players might “go off.” You’ll still get a story, but it will be organic and emergent. The best part? You, the GM, will discover it at almost the same pace as your players. The story isn’t something you force; it’s something you uncover together.
For me, it’s all about emergent play. That’s why I gravitate toward sandbox play—they’re like a playground for this kind of dynamic, collaborative storytelling. I get to run multiple antagonists, and through player action, one might naturally rise to become the Big Bad without me ever planning it that way.
I’m not trying to sell anyone on this approach or convince anyone to change. Life’s short, and I’ve got a finite number of gaming weekends left. If you and your group are having a blast with what you’re doing, keep on keeping on.
Happy Veteran’s Day from this cranky, old vet.
Catch you next week! 🎲
Nov:
RPGKC Monthly - Balin’s Moria Expedition.
RinCon Tucson,AZ ??? 🤞🏽
Dec:
PAXU!! Lifted: Indomitable
Games on Demand
RPG Designer Meet & Greet
PANELS!!!