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
    
    
    
    • Free edition https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/185959/Godbound-A-Game-of-Divine-Heroes-Free-Edition
    
    
    
    
    
    • Deluxe edition https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/185960/Godbound-A-Game-of-Divine-Heroes
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
  
  • 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
  
  
  
  • Twitter https://twitter.com/AFractalDragon
  
  
  
  
  
  • Itch https://fractaldragon.itch.io/
  
  
  
  
  
  • Tumblr https://letourswordsdecide.tumblr.com/