Burning Sands - A Game About Stories
Art by Jorge Jacinto Skip to the Game A Game About Stories Without question, I play games for the story. My favorite video games, TTRPGs, and even board games all contain these beautiful, unpredictable stories that leave me with feelings about the events that transpired while we were having fun. And the trouble I've run into lately with writing RPGs is that my systems tend to consist of different mechanics to tell the same type of stories: stories about monster-hunters and treasure-delvers who risk life and limb for gold and glory. Sometimes the stories stretch beyond those simple bounds, of course, but they usually do this on their own , not because the rules actively encouraged them to do so. Saving children doesn't make you a better Barbarian. There are few game mechanics that actually encourage you to save the orphanage or pursue whatever else it is your character believes in. 5e has its oft-forgotten "Inspiration", but it falls flat when put to the test. It is