The cowards won’t hire me.

  • TheGreatDarkness@ttrpg.network
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    1 year ago

    Rule #1 of Horror writing is ADD SOME FUCKING HUMOR! If your story is doom and gloom all the time, it stops being scary and dark and becomes insufferable and boring.

    • KurtDunniehue@ttrpg.network
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      1 year ago

      A tale that is perpetually dark in tone becomes tiresome very quickly. It needs to feature the occasional ray of light for contrast and to create a sense of hope. Monsters and other terrors must be offset with creatures that are kind and lovable, giving the characters even more reasons to stand against the darkness. Here are a couple of ways to add glimmers of light to a tragic tale:

      • In a land as dreary as Barovia, take the time to describe the occasional scene of beauty, such as a pretty flower growing atop a grave.
      • Make sure that the heroes have contact with NPCs who are honest, friendly, and helpful, such as the Martikovs in Vallaki or the Krezkovs in Krezk.

      -Curse of Strahd, Introduction. Marks of Horror. 2016.

    • Ahdok@ttrpg.networkOP
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      1 year ago

      This was drawn while I was running Rime of the Frostmaiden, and is loosely based on that, but changed to give no spoilers.

      • TheGreatDarkness@ttrpg.network
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        1 year ago

        The adventures are always product of many people. You speak with confidence of someone who doesn’t know how creative process actually looks like.

        • Ahdok@ttrpg.networkOP
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          1 year ago

          You can achieve tonal consistency with a large team though - it’s a case of having a writing lead who’s invested in that and checks through everything.