In game lore descriptions of cities, towns and lands
Mar 7, 2020 16:45:55 GMT
joatmoniac and daxredhammer like this
Post by TheDMV on Mar 7, 2020 16:45:55 GMT
Hello everyone, I wanted to share an idea I've been pursuing when it comes to sprinkling in lore about the world while also describing a location. Typically I don't share these things but I've been having such a great time writing them I thought perhaps they could be inspirational for others.
I've started writing introductions to cities, towns, lands, mountains, etc using little pieces of in game lore. I was inspired by Loading Screens in video games. I've seen many games include snippets of diaries, love letters, books and notes from NPCs or in game lore characters to describe an area or an item. I always thought these were fun, maybe a NPC talked about a great warrior who's long dead and the load screen would have an excerpt from his diary on the first time he layed eyes on a frozen land. It's such an interesting little way to bring more volume to the world, and it doesn't necessarily have to be something you have to explain unless the players show a great amount of interest! I got tired of the "you ride up to a large grey castle, the land around it is murky and there is mist in the air" Heres an example of a description from a location in my home brew world called the Falvall Mountains.
"Towering over your shoulder like a hungering Troll, its sharp-toothed nose and thick elongated fingers reaching out to grasp you. Formidable like an immovable object, proud and true. But within its mighty walls... Tiny crevices inch like worms down a hill, break through twisting caverns and alleyways into the stout exterior of the mountain. Its whole face, blanketed with a snow beard, warmly rounding the sharp angles of a stern mountain jaw. To seek treasure in the depths or renowned in its summit, pass through the angles of time through its twisting black belly and emerge from the other side. These mountains, so blunt stand like a wall of time, a mirror, wearing the reflection of our lives upon its windblown face. I awe in its beauty. The mist passes on my younger days and all seems pale in comparison..." Excerpt from "The Poetry and Song Collections of F.F.D."
I enjoy this avenue of description because it can be as detailed or as sparse as you want. The above example provides the players with a lot of visual context, how seeing the mountains made someone feel, their representation of it. But on the flip side, I have also written introductions which are not very descriptive of the land, which in turn opens up a bigger avenue for player engagement, for them to ask questions of what it looks like. Here is an example of the introductions to a active volcano/dwarven mining colony called The Crimson Den.
“...A Dark and peering man sits over an open table. Nothing on it but one square piece of paper, a quill ticking away. One torch burning in a corner, barely covering half the room in a golden brulee Hue.
'Ostos and the crimson Den,' he says as the quill whirls in tiny script circles onto the paper. 'What more can I say?' He says as he shrugs, 'Of course I'll meet you there. For too long we've been apart. Too long have we missed each other.' The quill swirling and swirling more now, 'My rage for you is like the endless lava springs of that mountain, so its only fitting that's where we shall go.' Maniacally scratching at the paper now the quill drags audibly. The mans face, a mask of gleeful delight. 'Let the dwarves toil away in the mines. The endless rabble of 'clang clang' and 'ting ting' fill the cavern tunnels. You and I know where we shall be instead. In the Crimson Den. The Blood Red Pit. The Offering. The Alter. The Sacrifice. The final scene where the story of you and I and this blood feud finally boils over! I shall have my revenge, and there will not be a single scrap left of you in this or any other existence!' He screams to the shimmering magical image of his rival projected just above the paper, ending in a crescendo just before its magic twinkles away to nothing. The man, palms on the table, head down, shoulders breathing in cooling anger, collects himself. The quill ceases all movement. After some time, he turns, and with a tired, resolved flourish of his hand, shrugs the magical letter away. It floats into the air, folding itself, sealing and stamping before whipping out the window.” Scene from an unwritten Screenplay from “The Works of Daniel, of the Abracadaniels”
Now I can see some DM's having issue with this, where is the lore coming from? did the players find the books? whos reading it? Why are they reading it? Isnt describing a NPC describing a man in a scene from his unwritten play just a little too insane and meta?
My response would be no, its not insane. As a DM the storytelling and the world building, thats where i get my joy from the game. The players get to play, but I get to write, Im allowed to have fun too! And I have a hell of a time writing these weird little lore snippits to throw out at my players.
I hope someone took the time to read this an enjoyed the idea, and perhaps, will consider using it in their own game.
I've started writing introductions to cities, towns, lands, mountains, etc using little pieces of in game lore. I was inspired by Loading Screens in video games. I've seen many games include snippets of diaries, love letters, books and notes from NPCs or in game lore characters to describe an area or an item. I always thought these were fun, maybe a NPC talked about a great warrior who's long dead and the load screen would have an excerpt from his diary on the first time he layed eyes on a frozen land. It's such an interesting little way to bring more volume to the world, and it doesn't necessarily have to be something you have to explain unless the players show a great amount of interest! I got tired of the "you ride up to a large grey castle, the land around it is murky and there is mist in the air" Heres an example of a description from a location in my home brew world called the Falvall Mountains.
"Towering over your shoulder like a hungering Troll, its sharp-toothed nose and thick elongated fingers reaching out to grasp you. Formidable like an immovable object, proud and true. But within its mighty walls... Tiny crevices inch like worms down a hill, break through twisting caverns and alleyways into the stout exterior of the mountain. Its whole face, blanketed with a snow beard, warmly rounding the sharp angles of a stern mountain jaw. To seek treasure in the depths or renowned in its summit, pass through the angles of time through its twisting black belly and emerge from the other side. These mountains, so blunt stand like a wall of time, a mirror, wearing the reflection of our lives upon its windblown face. I awe in its beauty. The mist passes on my younger days and all seems pale in comparison..." Excerpt from "The Poetry and Song Collections of F.F.D."
I enjoy this avenue of description because it can be as detailed or as sparse as you want. The above example provides the players with a lot of visual context, how seeing the mountains made someone feel, their representation of it. But on the flip side, I have also written introductions which are not very descriptive of the land, which in turn opens up a bigger avenue for player engagement, for them to ask questions of what it looks like. Here is an example of the introductions to a active volcano/dwarven mining colony called The Crimson Den.
“...A Dark and peering man sits over an open table. Nothing on it but one square piece of paper, a quill ticking away. One torch burning in a corner, barely covering half the room in a golden brulee Hue.
'Ostos and the crimson Den,' he says as the quill whirls in tiny script circles onto the paper. 'What more can I say?' He says as he shrugs, 'Of course I'll meet you there. For too long we've been apart. Too long have we missed each other.' The quill swirling and swirling more now, 'My rage for you is like the endless lava springs of that mountain, so its only fitting that's where we shall go.' Maniacally scratching at the paper now the quill drags audibly. The mans face, a mask of gleeful delight. 'Let the dwarves toil away in the mines. The endless rabble of 'clang clang' and 'ting ting' fill the cavern tunnels. You and I know where we shall be instead. In the Crimson Den. The Blood Red Pit. The Offering. The Alter. The Sacrifice. The final scene where the story of you and I and this blood feud finally boils over! I shall have my revenge, and there will not be a single scrap left of you in this or any other existence!' He screams to the shimmering magical image of his rival projected just above the paper, ending in a crescendo just before its magic twinkles away to nothing. The man, palms on the table, head down, shoulders breathing in cooling anger, collects himself. The quill ceases all movement. After some time, he turns, and with a tired, resolved flourish of his hand, shrugs the magical letter away. It floats into the air, folding itself, sealing and stamping before whipping out the window.” Scene from an unwritten Screenplay from “The Works of Daniel, of the Abracadaniels”
Now I can see some DM's having issue with this, where is the lore coming from? did the players find the books? whos reading it? Why are they reading it? Isnt describing a NPC describing a man in a scene from his unwritten play just a little too insane and meta?
My response would be no, its not insane. As a DM the storytelling and the world building, thats where i get my joy from the game. The players get to play, but I get to write, Im allowed to have fun too! And I have a hell of a time writing these weird little lore snippits to throw out at my players.
I hope someone took the time to read this an enjoyed the idea, and perhaps, will consider using it in their own game.