Move Over Main Character Energy
My little brother is a vocal performance major. More specifically, he sings opera. Trust me, it’s relevant. You see, my little brother is a baritone. In opera, tenors traditionally play the heroes and basses the villains. Baritones, however, play the “fifth business.” The fifth business isn’t the main character but the person who pulls it all together, the axis on which the story spins but not the driving force. Think Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet, Nick Fury from the Avengers movies, or Rafiki in the Lion King…
… I’m putting myself in rather good company, aren’t I? It’s my brother’s fault. He played the genie godfather in a Cinderellaesque opera, put on a fantastic show, explained this notion at the afterparty, and… well, enough about my epic little brother.
This post is about what I think the dungeon master’s (DM) role ought to be.
A Dungeon Master’s Mindset
I didn’t start out running table-top role playing games (TTRPGs), I imagine only a few folks do. In the games I’ve played, the moments that I’ve taken the most pride in as a player have been when I surprised the DM and, to mutual delight, changed the story they were telling.
This is where I’d like to touch on the idea of “yes, and…” This is a concept from improvisational theater; the idea that when telling a story and someone interjects, you don’t ignore them and plow forward, but rather welcome what they say and work it into the piece. After all, people like to be included.
This is what my favorite DMs did and what I strive to do. Rather than telling a story and occasionally prompting people to roll some dice, I hope to tell our story by actively engaging my players to participate in the adventure’s direction. Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) can be arranged like an old video game: a simple, linear path stocked with bad guys, or even good guys, upon which the players rain various flavors of doom. That can be quite fun.
However, in my eyes, the greatest moments happen when a player sinks into their character and genuinely feels like part of the story. When their decisions matter, have consequences, can even change the world. Which is more exciting, more fulfilling? Dreaming up a story and walking someone through it, or being part of a story as it’s told?
That point, the axis of a living story where memories are made; that’s where I want to be. Not driving the story, but nudging it forward. Not the storyteller, or at least not the only one, but coaxing the story out of others. In a sense when I’m happiest as a DM, I’m not running the game. Not really. I’m just hosting the adventure.
Accessible Dungeons & Dragons at New York Comic Con
Speaking of hosting! I’m both thrilled and deeply flattered to tell you I’ll be co-hosting an upcoming adventure with fellow dungeon master Andrew Zhang at the New York Comic Con (NYCC) with Inclusive Communication Services (ICS)!
The event will feature ASL interpretation, live captioning, and action description to ensure the story we tell is shared, a privilege I’ve never had and am excited to try.
As someone placed on the autism spectrum at a young age I’m passionate about accessibility in general, seeing inclusion as a vital part of both D&D and life at large. Hence the aforementioned thrill and flattery, along with a healthy hope of meeting you there! → Register and learn more about ICS at NYCC here!
