The storyworld will need to be peopled with characters… main characters, minor characters, perhaps non-performing characters or just background ‘extras’, as on a film set. In a game, players may be able to ‘inhabit’ characters or maybe create their own characters to inhabit to move through the game narrative. Will there be more than one inhabited character so that players can collaborate with one another, or interact in some other way (ie fighting or providing a service)? How will your player move through the game… in one way, or in more ways than one… can they choose?
Character appearance is extremely important, as is the way in which they behave (ie their traits and abilities, socially conditioned or not). This includes size, color, costume, the nature of the body’s covering (hair, scales etc), as well as how they move, how they nourish themselves, how they move objects around, social gestures, the physical forms they take (which don’t have to be humanoid, although many are). They may be able to morph or shapeshift… they could be ‘queer’ in some way.
If the scenario is meant to reflect a particular period, ie the Middle Ages, how will it be conveyed, and how accurate (in terms of current scholarship) will that be? Why/why not?
Characters will need to interact in relation to other characters and to their environment. They may have roles or occupations within society, or they may be marginal or outcast. Do they have interests or pastimes, and what will these be? They may have friends and/or enemies…this will need to worked out within the storyworld scenario, according to whether it is informed or lightly informed fantasy, or a (relatively) accurate representation of a particular period or literary (or performative) work – for example a Chaucerian or Arthurian ‘world’, a historically-based ‘world’ or a Mystery/Morality Play ‘world’.
What motivates a character? Do they share this motivation with others, is it an ideology or a something more practical, and is it shared with society in general?
Will the player be aware of all these things from the beginning, or will they gain this knowledge as they move through the storyworld? How, where and when?
Answers and solutions to these questions can be kept in a portfolio for later use and reflection, or if it’s a class exercise, for marking purposes.
