Talemaster’s Guide
The Game Master or Talemaster takes upon themselves the most important task and duty of running the game. They serve as a gateway for players to enter the world of fantasy by setting up the rules, explaining the world in which they are, and allowing players to make decisions for themselves. There are many elements that the Game Master has to focus on, as they take on the role of every NPC, describe the environment, answer players’ questions, and control the gameplay. The amount of work that a Game Master has to do is only dependent on how much they would like to enhance the players’ experience, as TTRPGs are at their core, storytelling adventures.
In their simplest form, the Game Master tells a part of their story, and players decide on their actions. Then, the Game Master continues the story by incorporating the players’ decisions, thus establishing the basic game loop. Playing the roles is what is enjoyable for many players, and the adventures created together will become cherished memories in the future.
Now, we face a difficult question of how much we, as Game Masters, would like to enhance those experiences. The possibilities are limitless, and I am sure there are thousands of videos on the Internet that can provide you with endless ideas. However, I would like to point out concepts that, in my experience, are the most important. These concepts form the core of what makes a good session for both players and the Game Master. They are the story, atmosphere, and delivery. It is easy to get lost in the endless small details or try out that one trick you’ve heard of, but I believe that the fundamental elements of the game should take priority.
This chapter is divided into 2 main sections; regarding how to be a game master and how to make your own story for the game. To see the relevant sections see: