Storytellers in Your Campaign: Listen to the Bard's Tale!

In previous entries I have discussed actor type players who interact with the game world mostly by advancing their own storyline. But there is also a similar player type that is defined by their commitment to advancing the story of the campaign itself. Their focus is external rather than internal. They are the Storytellers, and they are a great benefit to any tabletop game with a strong focus on the narrative.

The defining difference between actors and storytellers is whether they prioritize their own story or the broader storyline of the game. A PC played by an actor might reluctantly go on a mission because they were asked by their mentor, but storyteller's PC may go simply by virtue of the adventure it presents. The storyteller puts the main storyline, the adventure that the group is on, ahead of their character's own development.

Storytellers are experiencing the game like reading a book or watching a TV show. They want to find out what happens next. They will follow plot hooks based on what seems most interesting to them, rather than what would be most important to their particular character. Often they will adapt their own character to match the campaign's storyline rather than demanding the storyline be changed to fit the character.

Storytellers are most happy if the game has a compelling and interesting narrative. They are looking for high stakes and an emotional pay-off. They are looking for plot threads that unfold as the game progresses, leading to new situations and possibilities. Above all, they want a story that will be remembered fondly after the campaign ends.

In order to satisfy a storyteller, it helps to be good at storytelling yourself. Don't be afraid to borrow from your own favorite books and movies to add interesting plotlines and characters to your own campaign. Create rough outlines of plot hooks to present to your group, and give them opportunities to make important decisions that will effect future events. Storytellers will like having this kind of control over the story, and will be eager to add details that will take your campaign in exciting new directions. Sharing control of the narrative is one of those aspects of tabletop RPGs that few other storytelling mediums allow for, so it is very important to use this feature to its fullest potential.

There are an infinite number of stories to tell, so always challenge yourself to create something new and unique, and your storyteller players will have plenty of material to keep them amused. If your storytellers are happy and allowed to flourish, they will help you to craft stories that will not only be fun to share at the game table, but also great to reminisce about many campaigns later!