One of the most common pitfalls that game designers fall into is a plot device called ‘deux ex machina’. In Latin, it literally translates to ‘an unlikely resolution’. Today we use the phrase to mean plots in which the plot climax is resolved much too easily or in an unlikely or cliche way. Is it likely that the king of the castle will suddenly offer up his princess to the squire at the end of the plot without proffering of any kind? Is it likely that a man living in Chicago would fall down a rabbit hole and find a long lost castle?

While some of this plot device must be used in gaming to help the story along, it is important to avoid it as much as possible in order to make your story more believable. In the real world, such things would never happen without hard work and determination. Reflecting some of that into your setting and plot will not only add believability to your story, but players will become much more attached to the characters because they become more human.

First off, what genre is this story? If you want to tell a fantasy story is it a medieval fantasy world, or are you going to tell a story set with a Renaissance flair? Something science fiction perhaps? Choose a rough time period and flavor to get you going. Once you know the where and the when, ask what the story is. Are you chasing a magic item? Are you trying to stop the encroachment of a greater force politically or militarily? Or are you just trying to make enough money to save your town by bringing back the trade of monster hunting?

Once you know what has to be done, all that’s left for your skeleton is to figure out who is doing it. Don’t be afraid to get inspiration from other games or novels either; even old Grimm’s Fairy Tale stories can provide proper story insight, if that is what you need.

As the years passed, video games and their characters became more complex. From this complexity came intense plots and character backstories. That has continued to the present day, with game genres ranging from RPGs to puzzle games including fascinating characters.

With a wide array of different characters and personalities, each game usually has at least one character the player can relate to. Something about them will ring true with the player’s own nature. Perhaps the character is aloof and introverted, perky and open, a good friend or a die-hard romantic. And as they go through changes and learn about life through their quests and adventures, the player is interested and wants to see what happens. Even with characters they do not necessarily connect with, if they’re well-rounded the chances are that the player will be interested in knowing what happens to them. They feel real, sometimes almost like friends. When gaming developers achieve this, their games are often successful.

While graphics are nice, and an epic score can set the mood, these attributes don’t build depth, and they pale in comparison to what really matters. Players know that an RPG game lives or dies by its story. A compelling storyline can whisk the gamer away, and fire up the imagination. If a role player has a vested interest in the tale, and feels something for a fully fleshed out hero and party, rather than a one dimensional cut out, they will enjoy and experience tenfold.

To fully immerse themselves into an RPG, players have come to expect an original tale, with traditional fantasy elements. An original tale doesn’t mean that the story can’t contain elves, dwarfs and dragons, players have come to expect these old stalwarts but, to keep the game fresh their tales need to be told in an inventive way.

A truly great RPG is akin to reading a fantasy tome, with the exception that the hero can be controlled in a non linear fashion. By branching story-lines and leaving ethical and moral quandaries up to the player, RPG’s can create a unique experience that isn’t to be found in any other gaming genre.