Miyazaki, creator of #ELDENRING, is a great Dungeon Master.
The true genius of Elden Ring's worldbuilding is the way it preserves the best parts of D&D. Story can only emerge through a player's interaction with the world, the game, and their friends.
The true genius of Elden Ring's worldbuilding is the way it preserves the best parts of D&D. Story can only emerge through a player's interaction with the world, the game, and their friends.
Miyazaki's directive to Martin is to say less. This idea may be a revelation in AAA videogames, but it's the classic technique of experienced Dungeon Masters.
ftw.usatoday.com/2022/02/george…
ftw.usatoday.com/2022/02/george…
Look at the legacy of Dark Souls.
The brilliance of Dark Souls is that its difficulty serves a narrative purpose. It reinforces the fact that you are not special. You are nothing but a lost soul in a crumbling world. Your success is not assured.
The brilliance of Dark Souls is that its difficulty serves a narrative purpose. It reinforces the fact that you are not special. You are nothing but a lost soul in a crumbling world. Your success is not assured.
As you explore the world, the puzzle of Dark Souls opens up to you.
You are left with an even greater sense of accomplishment when you solve it.
You are rewarded with a unique and personal interpretation of the world that you weave together during your quest.
You are left with an even greater sense of accomplishment when you solve it.
You are rewarded with a unique and personal interpretation of the world that you weave together during your quest.
D&D 5e is not as difficult as early versions of the game, but this hard-earned story discovery remains at its core.
Player groups tell of their victories, their losses, and what to watch out for in the dungeon's depths.
Player groups tell of their victories, their losses, and what to watch out for in the dungeon's depths.
“[...] the challenges are put into place to give life to a world where the narrative itself is interactable. Instead of telling the story linearly, Dark Souls builds an interconnected world where every element is related to the lore.”
collider.com/dark-souls-dif…
collider.com/dark-souls-dif…
Miyazaki understands the power of leaving room for interpretation–leaving gaps in the story for players to fill in.
This is a radical approach in AAA videogames, but every Dungeon Master relies on this principle of world design.
This is a radical approach in AAA videogames, but every Dungeon Master relies on this principle of world design.
“That power of imagination is important to me [...] Offering room for user interpretation creates a sense of communication with the audience—and, of course, communication between users in the community.
newyorker.com/culture/person…
newyorker.com/culture/person…
One of the best parts about being a Dungeon Master is sitting back and listening to your players come up with theories on what will happen next.
Their theories often shape the future of the world, and their actions cement their contributions as canon.
Their theories often shape the future of the world, and their actions cement their contributions as canon.
Miyazaki loves his role as Dungeon Master. He intentionally leaves gaps for the community to place themselves into, then watches on with delight as we share our theories.
The subreddit IS the worldbuilding reddit.com/r/Eldenring/co…
The subreddit IS the worldbuilding reddit.com/r/Eldenring/co…
With Miyazaki as our new DM, Braden, Justin, and I spun up a new LegendKeeper project and started dropping map pins to communicate.
It was way more fun to map the world as a group! I had just as much fun reading notes from my friends as I did playing the game.
It was way more fun to map the world as a group! I had just as much fun reading notes from my friends as I did playing the game.
Leaving room for interpretation is the invitation to contribute to a world. Building an experience centered around player actions is the reward for contributing.
Like a great Dungeon Master, Miyazaki understands the value of player-centered design.
Like a great Dungeon Master, Miyazaki understands the value of player-centered design.
Elden Ring pushes further than other open-world games to give players this sense of agency.
Most open-world games use quest structures and cut scenes to convey the story. But quest structures can impose weird constraints, making the world less coherent and immersive.
Most open-world games use quest structures and cut scenes to convey the story. But quest structures can impose weird constraints, making the world less coherent and immersive.
Elden Ring keeps the world immersive by fading intrusive quest structures to the background. This decision keeps the interests and actions of the player front and center.
When we play any RPG, we want to follow our interests, explore vast worlds, and inject ourselves into the story.
When we're in that state of mind, being pushed back onto a predetermined quest path is just not fun.
When we're in that state of mind, being pushed back onto a predetermined quest path is just not fun.
Good Dungeon Masters don't write stories.
They set the stage then react to the actions of their players at the table.
The story is free to move in unexpected directions, and the world is discovered by players in a non-linear way.
They set the stage then react to the actions of their players at the table.
The story is free to move in unexpected directions, and the world is discovered by players in a non-linear way.
Dungeons & Dragons is delightfully free from the constraints of software, while Elden Ring is not.
Despite that, Miyazaki and the team at FromSoftware have crafted an incredible game that puts those constraints in the right places.
Despite that, Miyazaki and the team at FromSoftware have crafted an incredible game that puts those constraints in the right places.
Elden Ring feels like a grand stage set by your favorite Dungeon Master.
Through play, the world and the story emerge.
Through play, the world and the story emerge.
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