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So far I have run two full-length role playing game campaigns for my friends at Virginia Tech--one during my freshman year and one during my sophomore year--and I am currently in the middle of a third. We play a homemade game called The Depths, and it is a game primarily concerned with creating interesting characters and engaging stories. By running Depths games, I both have an amazingly fun time with my friends and become a more skilled storyteller.
Goals and Hopes:
My Depths games have become a weekly activity that push me toward constantly evolving as a writer. My players are creative people who always find unbelievable escapes from the challenges I set up, forcing me to learn as I go along. My goal is to become a better storyteller, a more creative writer, and a more flexible thinker. Certainly, after four years of running these games I have learned to think on my feet. Most of my stories now happen on the fly mid-game, unplanned.
However, the primary goal of any game is to become friends with the people you play with, and in that sense I have also succeeded. My players quickly became my best friends here, and every time somebody new joins the game I become friends with them as well.
Challenges and Opportunities:
It is by no means easy to come up with dynamic stories that are populated by characters that actively work against you. My first Depths game that I ran in my freshman year was somewhat of a letdown; there was a plot-twist with no plot. It was disappointing. But I learned from the mistakes of the past; my second game ended up having an amazing story that everybody enjoyed, and I built up my confidence and ability as a storyteller.
Skills and Competencies Gained:
As I've mentioned, through running these games I have gained an insight into telling stories to people. I've learned how various characters interact with each other, how to set goals for people, and how to engage people in an adventure story. My ability to think quickly in impromptu situations has also drastically improved due to the challenge of having characters perform in ways that I want them to without forcing them. And by playing in the games that other people have run, I have also become better at making my own characters, making them seem like real and believable people.
Impact:
In a larger sense my Depths games have given me an outlet for my creativity and relief from weekly stress. My skills as a writer have improved through a social entertainment experience just as much as they have from studying here in college. I have even considered going into writing and publishing rules and stories for games like The Depths; I think that it would be something that I would love to do if the opportunity ever came up.