The Story Prompt

This is Storyteller’s core Story Prompt. If writing for a new genre (not horror), consider changing the wording and even the fill-in-the-blank labels. That said, this prompt layout can be easily changed to adjacent genres with tweaking the prompt options, and maybe the title of the prompt (Such as “Antagonist” to “Mastermind” for a mystery game).

Make it clear that even though we define the ‘ending’ in the story prompt, it is more of a guide for how the Storyteller can wrap up the game, and shouldn’t be set in stone.

Our story begins in LOCATION in the MOOD SETTING . A group of CHARACTER GROUP discovers DISCOVERY **. The ANTAGONIST is HAPPENINGS . In the end, **ENDING**.

Story Prompt Options

Locations

Geographical Locations, such as a state, national park, or cities.

Mood

What is the overall mood of the story? Think of this as a sub-genre. Maybe it’s an eerie story, so the setting is shrouded in fog and silence. Or perhaps it is bloody, and thus will be more graphic than usual (and a perfect time to redo your Safety Tools discussion).

Setting

Specific Location the story takes place. The haunted mansion in the city. The campground in the park. The lake in the forest.

Character Group

Who are the players? Why are they all working together? What kind of group do they form?

Discovery

Inciting incident. This is the event that tips off the characters that something isn’t right; the start of the journey.

Antagonist

Who or what is the opposition of the players? A monster, a mastermind, a catastrophic weather event.

Happenings

What are the real goals of the Antagonist? What is actually happening that the characters must solve, uncover, defeat or survive?

Ending

How does this story end? This is a great place to define, to the Storyteller, how difficult this game should be.