Creating the Atmosphere

A good Game Master can be recognized by his ability to generate well builded and structured scenarios and by his perfect knowledge of the rules but a great Game Master is also able to create a particular atmosphere during the game.  This ability can be seen when Players are scared during frightening scenarios or are filled with melancholy during sad scenarios or when they are shaking with laughters during humoristic scenarios. We'll try to give you "tips" to create  a pleasant and lasting atmosphere for your scenarios.

The Musical Environment :

During your scenarios, you can set a backgrounf music to underline your game. However, you should notice the following advices :

    1) The music must not deafen your Players. Music must be a support for the atmosphere and not an obstacle. When the Game Master cannot hear the Players, there's a problem! Don't hesitate to turn down the music even if you appreciate the track which is playing!

   2) Try to have a playlist chosen unanimously. If not, your Players may have an unpleasant remembrance of the game. Don't hesitate to suppress tracks you like!

    3) Another important fact is that the music must not impede Players. Try to choose  musics without lyrics which are more adapted to atmosphere games. 

We will recommend you tracks and artists in a next version of this site.

Distilling the Atmosphere among Players :

When Players laugh, thrill or are afraid, the Game Master is skilled. The essential  components to brightly enliven a game are vocabulary and tone :

The Vocabulary

Maybe you're suprised, but the vocabulary of the Game Master must be rich and various to describe places, characters and actions. Each language possesses his own vocabulary and each word has an accurate meaning which his different from it's various synonyms. There's no magical potion to enrich the vocabulary : you must read a lot! Never hesitate to ask for the meaning of a word you don't know. The Game Master must also explain to his Player the meaning of  complicated words he uses without taunting them.This behavior contributes to the greatest quality of Roleplaying Games : Personnal Improvement.

Enrich your vocabulary : your descriptions will be more accurate, your atmospheres more lively and your games more dynamic. Don't forget to improve your syntax and grammar. 

The Tone

This is the other component of language. It's fundamental. You have noticed that the same sentence pronounced with two different tones  radically change the meaning of the sentence (congratulation becomes raillery or irony!). Improve your tone to reinforce the atmosphere or underline a fact or describe a Non-Playing Character. The linked component to tone is the elocution; Don't hesite to train by reading loudly.

Details which Create the Difference :

Don't hesitate to give an accent to a Non-Playing Character to enliven and realistic. You can also grin a deformity to make him outstanding and credible. These efforts will make you a Great Game Master. 

Describe the different places the Players cross by givint these places a grandiose aspect : it will help Players to travel through your imaginary world. However, be careful! Don't spend your time describing : "Description kills action!". Lost in your lyric description, you may forget your Players!  

Life of Player Characters between scenarios :

It's the "cerise sur le gâteau*"! If the Player Characters live between scenarios (such as matrimonial or commercial or politic life or all of these!) so realism wins and your Players will be fond of your Roleplaying Game!. Game where the Players stop living between each scenairos are common : as a consequence, Players stop dreaming! A Game Master who describe even briefly the events between scenarios make his world real for the Players and that's marvellous!

* French idiom meaning the detail that makes things different and greater! (you can translate as "Cherry on the cake")

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