REWIND: Make it feel real!

Building a World -- 5 beats 2!

[Originally posted 10/03/2013]

On tv, The Tribe was definitely 2-D. The only senses the show could manipulate were sight & sound. Through them, the characters & the plot drew you in, made you care. That was exactly what we wanted and, ultimately, what we loved about the show.

As a viewer, you didn't worry so much about how Tribe-world tasted or smelled, if it was rough or smooth.

That's not the case with Keep The Dream Alive role-playing game. Our game is word-based, which presents specific challenges to bring players in & get them excited about our game world. To do it, we have to focus on touching all 5 senses. Luckily, with words, that's very do-able as long as you concentrate.

Ask any of our players. They'll tell you about Chyna's rants: "What does it feel like? What does it smell like? Describe everything so you can MAKE IT REAL for the reader!"

You know what? That's exactly what they do.

Tyla's reactions to Jet's Fight Club make you feel it--sticky tables & floors, the sounds of the fighters, the smell of stale beer & sweat... Ari has done the same with fight scenes, and Hawk in the City Clinic & in the wilderness. Sid made us experience his anguish at the loss of his son...and even the anguish he felt at beating Chyna in their cage-match. Krystal's loss of her love, Maggie's impressions of the people she meets at Home, the stories our bards tell -- there are so many good examples from so many good players that I can't begin to list them all. This is just a taste for you. If you aren't a KTDA member, you're missing something special.

So we are truly 5-D -- sight, sound, touch, taste & smell! That doesn't mean everything's all pleasant, tasting like steak or smelling like flowers. Our game-world continues to be a tough place that we endure & try to make better.

Come & see--or touch! or smell!--for yourself.

~~~~~~
-Chyna

Photo source: copyright Cloud-9 "The Tribe"