dangol'..commentary on playeragency telyouwha. metanarrativesonvabitch
August 13, 2025 at 6:17 PM
dangol'..commentary on playeragency telyouwha. metanarrativesonvabitch
Game: “You need to decide now.”
Player: “I NEED A MOMENT.”
Game: “You do not have one.”
Player: 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #NarrativeTension #GameDev
Player: “I NEED A MOMENT.”
Game: “You do not have one.”
Player: 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #NarrativeTension #GameDev
February 4, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Game: “You need to decide now.”
Player: “I NEED A MOMENT.”
Game: “You do not have one.”
Player: 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #NarrativeTension #GameDev
Player: “I NEED A MOMENT.”
Game: “You do not have one.”
Player: 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #NarrativeTension #GameDev
Me: “These dialogue options represent nuanced emotional intent.”
Player: “Which one sounds the pettiest.”
Me: “…valid.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #InteractiveDialogue #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Player: “Which one sounds the pettiest.”
Me: “…valid.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #InteractiveDialogue #PlayerAgency #GameDev
December 29, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Me: “These dialogue options represent nuanced emotional intent.”
Player: “Which one sounds the pettiest.”
Me: “…valid.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #InteractiveDialogue #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Player: “Which one sounds the pettiest.”
Me: “…valid.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #InteractiveDialogue #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Player: “Did that choice matter?”
Me: “Emotionally? Yes.”
Player: “…that’s worse.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
Me: “Emotionally? Yes.”
Player: “…that’s worse.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
April 9, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Player: “Did that choice matter?”
Me: “Emotionally? Yes.”
Player: “…that’s worse.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
Me: “Emotionally? Yes.”
Player: “…that’s worse.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
Tags: (see above thread for context)
#IndieGame #GameDev #IndieDev #JRPG #RPG #ActionRPG #OpenWorld #GameDesign #NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #Worldbuilding #Cyberpunk #Solarpunk #SciFi #Fantasy #PixelArt #MetaFiction #PlayerAgency #MoralChoice #CharacterWriting #VGM #GameMusic #Gaming #VideoGames
#IndieGame #GameDev #IndieDev #JRPG #RPG #ActionRPG #OpenWorld #GameDesign #NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #Worldbuilding #Cyberpunk #Solarpunk #SciFi #Fantasy #PixelArt #MetaFiction #PlayerAgency #MoralChoice #CharacterWriting #VGM #GameMusic #Gaming #VideoGames
August 7, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Player: *steals one apple*
NPCs: “So you’ve chosen a life of crime.”
Me: “Guys he’s literally hungry.” 🍎💀
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #NPCDesign #PlayerAgency #GameDev
NPCs: “So you’ve chosen a life of crime.”
Me: “Guys he’s literally hungry.” 🍎💀
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #NPCDesign #PlayerAgency #GameDev
December 5, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Player: *steals one apple*
NPCs: “So you’ve chosen a life of crime.”
Me: “Guys he’s literally hungry.” 🍎💀
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #NPCDesign #PlayerAgency #GameDev
NPCs: “So you’ve chosen a life of crime.”
Me: “Guys he’s literally hungry.” 🍎💀
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #NPCDesign #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Game: “Choose your alignment.”
Player: *plays for 10 hours*
Game: “Actually… you’re a menace.”
Player: “Yeah that tracks.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #Roleplay #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
Player: *plays for 10 hours*
Game: “Actually… you’re a menace.”
Player: “Yeah that tracks.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #Roleplay #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
January 27, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Game: “Choose your alignment.”
Player: *plays for 10 hours*
Game: “Actually… you’re a menace.”
Player: “Yeah that tracks.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #Roleplay #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
Player: *plays for 10 hours*
Game: “Actually… you’re a menace.”
Player: “Yeah that tracks.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #Roleplay #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
Experimenting with more player agency. Replaced the random reward with a reward selection.
Wish list on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3039650/...
#screenshotsaturday #gamedev #indiedev #godot #madewithgodot #steam #indiegame #indie #game #playeragency
Wish list on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3039650/...
#screenshotsaturday #gamedev #indiedev #godot #madewithgodot #steam #indiegame #indie #game #playeragency
January 11, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Experimenting with more player agency. Replaced the random reward with a reward selection.
Wish list on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3039650/...
#screenshotsaturday #gamedev #indiedev #godot #madewithgodot #steam #indiegame #indie #game #playeragency
Wish list on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3039650/...
#screenshotsaturday #gamedev #indiedev #godot #madewithgodot #steam #indiegame #indie #game #playeragency
It’s possible to beat Spud Customs without firing a single missile, but will you?
#SpudCustoms #gameDesign #playerAgency
#SpudCustoms #gameDesign #playerAgency
April 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
It’s possible to beat Spud Customs without firing a single missile, but will you?
#SpudCustoms #gameDesign #playerAgency
#SpudCustoms #gameDesign #playerAgency
Player: “Why did that happen?”
Game: “Because of you.”
Player: “…oh.” 😶🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #EmotionalDesign #GameDev
Game: “Because of you.”
Player: “…oh.” 😶🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #EmotionalDesign #GameDev
December 24, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Player: “Why did that happen?”
Game: “Because of you.”
Player: “…oh.” 😶🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #EmotionalDesign #GameDev
Game: “Because of you.”
Player: “…oh.” 😶🔥
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #EmotionalDesign #GameDev
Day 189 – Running every day for the rest of my life to improve my mental health (5.12 km)
🎵 Chris King, Chills, Josh A, Trippie Redd - Dallas
🎮 Red Steel 2
#running #fitness #cardio #motivation #mentalhealth #resilience #healing #gamedev #indiedev #gameculture #creativeprocess #playeragency #wii
🎵 Chris King, Chills, Josh A, Trippie Redd - Dallas
🎮 Red Steel 2
#running #fitness #cardio #motivation #mentalhealth #resilience #healing #gamedev #indiedev #gameculture #creativeprocess #playeragency #wii
October 29, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Day 189 – Running every day for the rest of my life to improve my mental health (5.12 km)
🎵 Chris King, Chills, Josh A, Trippie Redd - Dallas
🎮 Red Steel 2
#running #fitness #cardio #motivation #mentalhealth #resilience #healing #gamedev #indiedev #gameculture #creativeprocess #playeragency #wii
🎵 Chris King, Chills, Josh A, Trippie Redd - Dallas
🎮 Red Steel 2
#running #fitness #cardio #motivation #mentalhealth #resilience #healing #gamedev #indiedev #gameculture #creativeprocess #playeragency #wii
Alright, let’s introduce this game idea right. If you wish to know what Time Will Tell is, please refer to the #elevatorpitch below.
Tags #metafiction #indiegame #jrpg #cyberpunk #solarpunk #openworld #scifi #fantasy #playeragency #moralchoice #gamemusic #gaming #videogames #VGM #indiedev #gamedev
Tags #metafiction #indiegame #jrpg #cyberpunk #solarpunk #openworld #scifi #fantasy #playeragency #moralchoice #gamemusic #gaming #videogames #VGM #indiedev #gamedev
August 13, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Alright, let’s introduce this game idea right. If you wish to know what Time Will Tell is, please refer to the #elevatorpitch below.
Tags #metafiction #indiegame #jrpg #cyberpunk #solarpunk #openworld #scifi #fantasy #playeragency #moralchoice #gamemusic #gaming #videogames #VGM #indiedev #gamedev
Tags #metafiction #indiegame #jrpg #cyberpunk #solarpunk #openworld #scifi #fantasy #playeragency #moralchoice #gamemusic #gaming #videogames #VGM #indiedev #gamedev
Player: *accidentally saves village*
NPCs later: “We remember what you did.”
Player: “I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW I WAS DOING IT.”
Me: “Best kind of story.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #OpenWorldNarrative #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
NPCs later: “We remember what you did.”
Player: “I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW I WAS DOING IT.”
Me: “Best kind of story.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #OpenWorldNarrative #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
March 20, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Player: *accidentally saves village*
NPCs later: “We remember what you did.”
Player: “I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW I WAS DOING IT.”
Me: “Best kind of story.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #OpenWorldNarrative #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
NPCs later: “We remember what you did.”
Player: “I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW I WAS DOING IT.”
Me: “Best kind of story.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #OpenWorldNarrative #PlayerAgency #GameWriting #GameDev
Your players should be rolling the dice less:
madcleric.com/the-less-dic...
Reflections following my group's play-through of Rise of the Blood Olms by @cairnrpg.com
#osr #ttrpg #cairn #dice #playeragency
madcleric.com/the-less-dic...
Reflections following my group's play-through of Rise of the Blood Olms by @cairnrpg.com
#osr #ttrpg #cairn #dice #playeragency
The Less Dice the Better
Why less dice-rolling makes for a more engaging TTRPG session.
madcleric.com
May 26, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Your players should be rolling the dice less:
madcleric.com/the-less-dic...
Reflections following my group's play-through of Rise of the Blood Olms by @cairnrpg.com
#osr #ttrpg #cairn #dice #playeragency
madcleric.com/the-less-dic...
Reflections following my group's play-through of Rise of the Blood Olms by @cairnrpg.com
#osr #ttrpg #cairn #dice #playeragency
Player: “Does this choice matter?”
Game: *NPC remembers it 12 hours later*
Player: “I WILL NEVER RECOVER.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #InteractiveStorytelling #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Game: *NPC remembers it 12 hours later*
Player: “I WILL NEVER RECOVER.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #InteractiveStorytelling #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #GameDev
December 31, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Player: “Does this choice matter?”
Game: *NPC remembers it 12 hours later*
Player: “I WILL NEVER RECOVER.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #InteractiveStorytelling #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Game: *NPC remembers it 12 hours later*
Player: “I WILL NEVER RECOVER.” 😭🔥
#NarrativeDesign #InteractiveStorytelling #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Me: “This story will respond to the player.”
Player: *does something I never predicted ever*
Me: “HELLO?? WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT.” 😭🎮
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #InteractiveStorytelling #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Player: *does something I never predicted ever*
Me: “HELLO?? WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT.” 😭🎮
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #InteractiveStorytelling #PlayerAgency #GameDev
December 1, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Me: “This story will respond to the player.”
Player: *does something I never predicted ever*
Me: “HELLO?? WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT.” 😭🎮
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #InteractiveStorytelling #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Player: *does something I never predicted ever*
Me: “HELLO?? WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT.” 😭🎮
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting #InteractiveStorytelling #PlayerAgency #GameDev
This hands-on "make a bad game on purpose" activity has been extremely well received each time.
You can read about a version of it here: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/what-does-...
#gamedesign #dungeoncrawl #playeragency #choice
You can read about a version of it here: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/what-does-...
#gamedesign #dungeoncrawl #playeragency #choice
November 12, 2025 at 12:05 AM
This hands-on "make a bad game on purpose" activity has been extremely well received each time.
You can read about a version of it here: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/what-does-...
#gamedesign #dungeoncrawl #playeragency #choice
You can read about a version of it here: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/what-does-...
#gamedesign #dungeoncrawl #playeragency #choice
Magical Athlete brings up some interesting questions about the need for player agency in games (or the lack thereof). I wrote about it last year at Skeleton Code Machine: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/magical-at...
#boardgames #playeragency #hugebaby
#boardgames #playeragency #hugebaby
January 8, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Magical Athlete brings up some interesting questions about the need for player agency in games (or the lack thereof). I wrote about it last year at Skeleton Code Machine: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/magical-at...
#boardgames #playeragency #hugebaby
#boardgames #playeragency #hugebaby
Me: “Here are three morally complex choices.”
Player: *chooses chaos option every time*
Me: “…I respect it, actually.” 🔥💀
#NarrativeDesign #ChoiceDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Player: *chooses chaos option every time*
Me: “…I respect it, actually.” 🔥💀
#NarrativeDesign #ChoiceDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #GameDev
December 2, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Me: “Here are three morally complex choices.”
Player: *chooses chaos option every time*
Me: “…I respect it, actually.” 🔥💀
#NarrativeDesign #ChoiceDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Player: *chooses chaos option every time*
Me: “…I respect it, actually.” 🔥💀
#NarrativeDesign #ChoiceDesign #GameWriting #PlayerAgency #GameDev
Listened to this episode yesterday and have been ruminating on what Ben and Gaz had to say all day. There is a lot to unpack and digest.
I'm going to sum it up as: "maybe not the advice you want but probably the advice you need"
As always, ymmv, though.
#ttrpg #PlayerAgency
I'm going to sum it up as: "maybe not the advice you want but probably the advice you need"
As always, ymmv, though.
#ttrpg #PlayerAgency
🚨 New Podcast Alert! 🚨
Player agency - are you getting enough as a player? Do you demand more? Is your GM hogging the talky stick? We discuss all this and more!
#ttrpg
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gar...
Player agency - are you getting enough as a player? Do you demand more? Is your GM hogging the talky stick? We discuss all this and more!
#ttrpg
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gar...
Player Agency by What Would The Smart Party Do?
How much should players contribute to the ttrpg experience? How much are they allowed too? The lads discuss getting more out of your gaming sessions.
podcasters.spotify.com
June 15, 2024 at 6:24 PM
Listened to this episode yesterday and have been ruminating on what Ben and Gaz had to say all day. There is a lot to unpack and digest.
I'm going to sum it up as: "maybe not the advice you want but probably the advice you need"
As always, ymmv, though.
#ttrpg #PlayerAgency
I'm going to sum it up as: "maybe not the advice you want but probably the advice you need"
As always, ymmv, though.
#ttrpg #PlayerAgency
Have you ever built a mechanic that was intentionally left for players to discover without tutorial guidance? How did that secret mechanic shape the experience? #Unity3D #gamedesign #playeragency
November 3, 2024 at 2:16 AM
Have you ever built a mechanic that was intentionally left for players to discover without tutorial guidance? How did that secret mechanic shape the experience? #Unity3D #gamedesign #playeragency
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQNP...
This was a thought provoking and entertaining discussion on Player Agency. I'm gonna check out more of her vids.
Fostering trust between players and GMs allows these types of tools to safely be used during session.
#DnD #playeragency #playertrust
This was a thought provoking and entertaining discussion on Player Agency. I'm gonna check out more of her vids.
Fostering trust between players and GMs allows these types of tools to safely be used during session.
#DnD #playeragency #playertrust
We need to talk about Player Agency (D&D / TTRPG)
YouTube video by Corkboards & Curiosities
www.youtube.com
March 19, 2025 at 8:27 PM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQNP...
This was a thought provoking and entertaining discussion on Player Agency. I'm gonna check out more of her vids.
Fostering trust between players and GMs allows these types of tools to safely be used during session.
#DnD #playeragency #playertrust
This was a thought provoking and entertaining discussion on Player Agency. I'm gonna check out more of her vids.
Fostering trust between players and GMs allows these types of tools to safely be used during session.
#DnD #playeragency #playertrust
One of the best GM moves I ever made?
Asking, “What do you need from this scene emotionally?”
Try it. You’ll be surprised what players say.
#TTRPGTips #StoryDrivenPlay #SELPrompts #PlayerAgency #GMAdvice
Asking, “What do you need from this scene emotionally?”
Try it. You’ll be surprised what players say.
#TTRPGTips #StoryDrivenPlay #SELPrompts #PlayerAgency #GMAdvice
July 15, 2025 at 7:50 PM
One of the best GM moves I ever made?
Asking, “What do you need from this scene emotionally?”
Try it. You’ll be surprised what players say.
#TTRPGTips #StoryDrivenPlay #SELPrompts #PlayerAgency #GMAdvice
Asking, “What do you need from this scene emotionally?”
Try it. You’ll be surprised what players say.
#TTRPGTips #StoryDrivenPlay #SELPrompts #PlayerAgency #GMAdvice
One of the hardest pieces of #fiction to work with especially in a #TTRPG I've found is time, time magic, #chronomancy. It's given me a riveting set of #characterconflict but it also has a high risk of dismembering #playeragency. It feels like driving a cliffside road in Yellowstone. #DnD #GM #AU
a cartoon drawing of a person holding a paddle
ALT: a cartoon drawing of a person holding a paddle
media.tenor.com
August 15, 2025 at 4:53 PM
One of the hardest pieces of #fiction to work with especially in a #TTRPG I've found is time, time magic, #chronomancy. It's given me a riveting set of #characterconflict but it also has a high risk of dismembering #playeragency. It feels like driving a cliffside road in Yellowstone. #DnD #GM #AU