I think it is fair to say that everybody loves a good story. Vivid descriptions, good delivery and an engaging plot all come together to leave us, as an audience, enthralled. But what if I told you that there is a way to not just engage in but also be a direct part of a story as it is being told?

That’s exactly what tabletop games allow you to do. Tabletop roleplaying games, such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) or Cyberpunk RED, are a part of larger popular culture due to the success of the video games Baldur’s Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, respectively. Since D&D and Cyberpunk RED are played in person, it’s a lot more dynamic in how events play out. The actions you take as a player directly shape the course of the story you’re playing. Character interactions can lead to entirely different outcomes, ones that the Game Master running the session didn’t even anticipate.

However, it is not only roleplaying games that can make for good storytelling. I have found tabletop war games to also make for great stories. Just from recounting some Trench Crusade matches I have played against a friend to others and explaining the events that transpire, the inside jokes behind them and context behind certain moves, it transforms from a mere battle report to a narrative.

Another thing that’s great about tabletop games as a medium for storytelling is their settings. The settings and rules are already established, each with their own unique world building. That framework can allow you to take the concepts already there and fill in the gaps via world building to make something truly interesting and unique.

I think it is also worth not just restricting yourself to a single roleplaying game. There are tons of interesting systems and settings out there. Do not be afraid to get all the inspiration you can find.