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There is a big brou-ha-ha about what storytelling games are and aren't. I tried a search on Google, only to find most of their leads unreliable. Especially the Wikipedia entry. Then I found Storytelling Games, where the webmaster, one eldrberry by nom de web, provides introductions to STGs or various sorts. He also includes RPGs, but he starts with story games per se (where the players do tell a story) and goes on to improf and card games.

The purpose of a storytelling game (STG) is to tell a story. Start with a situation and various elements, then the players take turns using that situation and those elements to compose a story. Each player after the first takes what his predecessor has done and continues with it, changes it, or brings it to a conclusion.

He also includes improvisational theater and roleplaying games, though strictly they are something else entirely. On a different board on respondent point out what players in an RPG do during a session. She was right, so far as it goes, but she misidentified what the players do.

What players in an RPG do is not storytelling, what players in an RPG do is acting. They are playing a role, that is what acting is. When you, should you happen to be a mother, play your role as mother, you are acting.

I suspect that the first people to call RPGs storytelling had no idea what it was they were doing, so they fixed on the first thing that came to mind that they, sort of, understood. Yet if you look at an RPG, and you consult people in the theater, it will soon come to your attention that as your Character wanders down that musty old hall in that musty old chauteau, hunting those musty old ghouls, that he is acting; playing a part.

But look up Storytelling Games and follow the leads he provides, especially under Games Without Equipment and Card Games (Atlas Games is mentioned). I hope you find something to keep your group happily storytelling till the commuters come home.

Some people insist on ice skating up a hill.

Were I an admin a certain two people would be taking a 2 week vacation from these boards.

Nov 23, 2012 -- 8:24PM, Alan-Kellogg wrote:

Were I an admin a certain two people would be taking a 2 week vacation from these boards.

But you aren't, are you?

Nov 23, 2012 -- 8:29PM, Alan-Kellogg wrote:

Nov 23, 2012 -- 8:26PM, homicidal_squirrel wrote:

Nov 23, 2012 -- 8:24PM, Alan-Kellogg wrote:

Were I an admin a certain two people would be taking a 2 week vacation from these boards.

Talking about banning people is against the CoC. Pretending to have the authority of an ORC is also against the CoC. You're better off not mentining stuff like that around here.

Where did I say I was, specify.

Where did you say what?