Others, and Why You Should Care

Everyone loves different stories for different reasons. If this were not true, there would be no industry in literature or books. We all want to be engrossed and we all want a story we love. For some of us, this love of story and love of friends leads us to tabletop gaming.

For the sake of full disclosure, I do not have the hubris to call myself a ‘writer’ really, but I have written my own stories featuring my own characters since at least 2 years old. I used to just try to write out the words and cry when my mom could not read them. True story. Some of the stories I have written have received attention from others, and some are not half bad.

This all comes together at the game table. I game because I like developing my characters. I like finding out more about their backstory and how it really can be a cool process of discovery. At times it is frustrating, and at times exhilarating. The best part of playing a tabletop game with good friends is that you want to find out more about their characters, too. What are their pasts? What brought them to where they are now? It’s great! I live for those moments. You need  to pay attention to the other players at the table because their insights are valuable. You can learn from your friends and your friends’ characters. If that is a horribly untrue statement, get to another gaming group.

But wait! There are wonderful other people in these worlds. The official term for them is NPCs, or Non Player Characters. To me they are as alive and real as the other people at the table. These people also have a background, people they love, things they hate, and causes they believe in. Interacting with these people, finding out what makes them tick, and helping them is a fun thrill. It is as much fun as interacting with the other players at times. It is in essence, meeting new people.

So how do all these disparate points coincide? When you are in the game world, get out there and meet new people! Get to know the NPCs. Have a quick cup of coffee. If you have great GMs, as I have been blessed with, usually those NPCs will have things to offer both you and the other players – but if you never ask, you never find out. If you are gaming only because you want to explore YOUR character and YOUR backstory, then by all means, write a short fiction or long fiction yourself. Write about you doing what you want all day long. But, when you come to the table pay attention to your friends, pay attention to the NPCs, and immerse yourself in this wonderful world that everyone has created together.