Room 2111. Done.
This week was interesting. I had a few days where the stars aligned. The cosmos
opened up and showered visions down on me. The very nature of the universe wrapped
me in its arms and whispered ideas into my soul. I designed rooms. I drew maps. I had
visions of future levels, and I feverishly jotted them down as I laughed (I must admit)
maniacally aloud.
I also had a few days, after hours of manual work (which is how I earn my living), that I
sat down at my desk, stared at the map, and saw nothing but lines and numbers.
Nothing. Nothing at all.
I find that is the case with the creative process. It comes and goes in waves, and you
need to ride the waves while you can.
The other day, my son and I were talking about running campaigns. He wanted to run
something for his friends. He did not have a lot to start with, but figured he would create
new things during the weeks between gaming sessions. He wanted the characters to
drive the adventure, making choices at the end of each session that would lead him to
create the next step. I was wary about this approach.
Since I was a young game master, my much older brothers drilled it into my head to
have everything done before you start gaming. So, that is what I do. I create the
dungeon or scenario ahead of time, giving myself a few weeks of sessions to create new
things for the Players to do when they complete the first. Because what happens if life
gets in the way and you don’t have time to create the next step, or if inspiration just
vanishes and you’re left staring at a blank page with no idea what that next step will be.
Inspiration is fickle, and it is not something you can force. But, luckily, it has been around
enough to keep the Dwarven Dungeon moving forward. I am nearing completion of the
third level, ahead of schedule. Just a few hundred more rooms and I can move on to
level 4.
Let’s hope the universe keeps whispering. And if not to me, at least to the other game
masters out there trying to create. There are countless worlds and adventures that need
to be created. I hope we all find the inspiration to write them down.