More Than Quest-Givers
Why Good Characters Matter
“Is this just a story game talk?”
“This isn’t relevant to my interests. My game doesn’t need a story.”
“This isn’t relevant to my interests. My game doesn’t need a story.”
You’re right.
“This isn’t relevant to my interests. My game doesn’t need a story.”
You’re right.
(but you’re here anyway, so…)
What makes players care?
What makes players care?
What makes players care?
What makes players care?
What makes players care?
What makes players care?
�
What makes players care?
�
Spoilers:
Spoilers: It’s Characters
?
what’s a
Spoilers: It’s Characters
Spoilers: It’s Characters
+
Spoilers: It’s Characters
+
Spoilers: It’s Characters
Spoilers: It’s Characters
If your game has characters, it already has a story
If your game has characters, it already has a story
If your game has characters, it already has a story
If your game has characters, it already has a story
If your game has characters, it already has a story
...
Characters are Tools
They keep people playing your game and engaging with the content.
They provide:
Strong characters make strong tools!
What makes a strong character?
APPEAL | STAKES |
...
What is “Appeal?”
“Appeal in a character corresponds to what would be called charisma in an actor. A character who is appealing is not necessarily sympathetic, villains or monsters can also be appealing, the important thing is that the viewer feels the character is real and interesting.”
- Walt Disney’s 12 Principles of Animation�(#12: “Appeal”)
What makes a strong character?
APPEAL | STAKES |
What makes a strong character?
APPEAL | STAKES |
...
What makes a strong character?
APPEAL | STAKES�Aka. “Why do I care?” |
Lore
What is lore, really?
...
What is lore, really?
Lore is just stuff you want players to know.
Why lore matters as a storytelling tool: �It Provides background information, color and context for the world
The purpose of lore is to help the player insert themselves into your world.
The Lore Trap
...
The Lore Trap
When defining and explaining the rules of your world �gets in the way of actually experiencing it.
The Lore Trap
A noble warrior saves the life of a child.
The Lore Trap
A noble warrior saves the life of a child.
The Lore Trap
A noble^ warrior saves the life of a child.
mystical
The Lore Trap
A noble^ warrior saves the life of a child with amazing powers.
mystical
The Lore Trap
A noble^ warrior saves the life of a child with amazing powers.
A Jedi Knight
mystical
The Lore Trap
A noble^ warrior saves the life of a child with amazing powers.
mystical
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy
The Lore Trap
A noble^ warrior saves the life of a child with amazing powers.
mystical
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy
The Lore Trap
A noble^ warrior saves the life of a child with amazing powers.
mystical
stumbles upon
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy
The Lore Trap
A noble^ warrior saves the life of a child with amazing powers.
mystical
stumbles upon
incredible
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy
The Lore Trap
A noble^ warrior saves the life of a child with amazing powers and rescues him.
mystical
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy
stumbles upon
incredible
The Lore Trap
A noble^ warrior saves the life of a child with amazing powers and rescues him.
mystical
from a life of slavery in the desert.
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy
stumbles upon
incredible
The Lore Trap
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy stumbles upon a child with incredible powers and rescues him from a life of slavery in the desert.
The Lore Trap
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy stumbles upon a child with incredible powers and rescues him from a life of slavery in the desert.
negotiating a blockade with the Trade Federation
The Lore Trap
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy stumbles upon a child with incredible powers and rescues him from a life of slavery in the desert.
winds up on the desert planet of Tatooine
negotiating a blockade with the Trade Federation
The Lore Trap
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy stumbles upon a child with incredible powers and rescues him from a life of slavery in the desert.
winds up on the desert planet of Tatooine
where he finds a young child
negotiating a blockade with the Trade Federation
The Lore Trap
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy stumbles upon a child with^incredible powers and rescues him from a life of slavery in the desert.
winds up on the desert planet of Tatooine
where he finds a young child
with a super-high Midichlorian count
negotiating a blockade with the Trade Federation
The Lore Trap
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy stumbles upon a child with^incredible powers and rescues him from a life of slavery in the desert.
winds up on the desert planet of Tatooine
where he finds a young child
with a super-high Midichlorian count
(who is good at Podracing)
negotiating a blockade with the Trade Federation
The Lore Trap
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy stumbles upon a child with^incredible powers and rescues him from a life of slavery in the desert.
winds up on the desert planet of Tatooine
where he finds a young child
with a super-high Midichlorian count
(who is good at Podracing)
who he rescues from a life of slavery. That child turns out to be Darth Vader. And there’s a princess. Disguised as her own handmaiden.
negotiating a blockade with the Trade Federation
The Lore Trap
A Jedi Knight on a mission of diplomacy stumbles upon a child with^incredible powers and rescues him from a life of slavery in the desert.
winds up on the desert planet of Tatooine
where he finds a young child
with a super-high Midichlorian count
(who is good at Podracing)
who he rescues from a life of slavery. That child turns out to be Darth Vader. And there’s a princess. Disguised as her own handmaiden.
Oh and Obi-Wan.
negotiating a blockade with the Trade Federation
...
THE LORE TRAP
Lore is like spices: �Some makes food taste delicious, but too much is overpowering.
Lore: WHAT, WHY, HOW
The 3 Types of Lore:
...
Lore: WHAT, WHY, HOW
The 3 Types of Lore:
The lore that matters for what I’m doing.
The lore that tells me why things are.
The lore that tells me how things work.
...
Lore: WHAT, WHY, HOW
Ask yourself:
Does the WHAT need the WHY to make sense?
Does the WHY need the HOW to make sense?
If so, you might want to simplify.
...
3 Types of Lore
What: Only Priests can carry swords
Reason I need to know this? I’ll be attacked if I have a sword equipped in town.
Why: Because swords are considered holy
Reason I need to know this? If I want to get a sword, I’ll need to pretend to be a priest.
How: It started with this legend like 2500 years ago...
Reason I need to know this? I don’t. But it’s interesting flavor.
WHAT am I doing? > WHY am I doing it? > HOW does it work?
Hooking Players on Lore
In the best games (and films and shows) people get hooked on the lore.
...
Hooking Players on Lore
In the best games (and films and shows) people get hooked on the lore.
But they got hooked on the characters first.
Practical Tips!
Making Multi-Dimensional Characters
There are lots of little things you can give your characters to make them more interesting! Things like…
...
Making Multi-Dimensional Characters
There are lots of little things you can give your characters to make them more interesting! Things like…
...
How to use a character to deliver lore
Bronze Tier - “Let me tell you my tragic backstory…”
Silver Tier - “Do this thing and I’ll tell you my tragic backstory…”
Gold Tier - “That thing you did reminds me of my tragic backstory... which I will tell you in pieces, over time.”
Platinum Tier - “That thing you did that you thought was unrelated to me was actually connected to my tragic backstory. But I don’t want to tell you. And I won’t tell you until you invest a bunch of time into doing things with me and earn it. Because that’s how people work.”
NPC Archetypes
Helpers
Obstacles
Catalysts
Quest-Givers
“The Big Bad,” �“Person Trapped in the Castle”
“Bring me 9 gecko hearts and I’ll unlock the door.”
Allies! Party members!
Bad guys! Gatekeepers!
NPC Archetypes�(Please don’t @ me)
Helpers
Quest-Givers
Obstacles
Catalysts
(“hey listen”)
...
“Turning the Character”
A character walks in the door and sits down to eat:
Character studies from Big Hero 6 (2014)
...
In conclusion...
A good story isn’t motivated by plot, it’s motivated by people.
Characters:
Lore:
A story is only as good
as its characters.
So make them great!
(Questions? Feel free to email us at
Hello@Stirpicus.com)