Diversity - How to Be a Great Narrator (Game Master), #2

I’d like to carry on with the theme that I started in my last HTBAGN (now pronounced “hit-boggan”) post. In that post, I talked about having an “open chair” policy for anyone that wants to come over and game. Our gaming group has seemed to become a magnet for people with disabilitities. 

I want to start off on this topic by telling you about one of our group members. I won’t use his name. One day, as we were gaming our usual friday night game, there was a knock on the door. I answered it, and saw a nervous, but pleasant-looking chap standing there. After I said hello, he said something like, “Hello. Is this where the game is going on?”

I was a little taken back, so I hesitated. It turns out that one of our group members had invited him to come play with us. But that member wasn’t there that night, and hadn’t mentioned to me that he’d be inviting anyone. 

I wasn’t sure what to do. But it only took me a moment of internal debate to swing the door open and let him in. He’s been coming pretty much every week since then.

We’ve gotten to know him. He’s told us that he’s on the Autism spectrum, and we can kinda tell that in some of his behaviors. He hesitates to make eye contact, and his characters are, well, unique, to say the least.

Nonetheless, he’s become a welcome member of our group, and we’ve come to enjoy his creativity.

Sometimes, though, I’ve thought back on that first night, and considered how difficult it must have been for him to reach out and find us, just on the recommendation of a friend. A friend, who, wasn’t even there at the time! The social struggles that many on the Autism spectrum can have must have made that a particularly difficult challenge. I sometimes think that it must have been quite a risk for him. I’m quite pleased that he took that risk. Our lives are richer for it.

Some practical thoughts, and some questions:

We’ve had several gamers at our table who are “on the spectrum” and have been diagnosed with some level of ASD. How does one integrate them into an adventure, and into a gaming group. Here are some thoughts (from someone who is definitely NOT an expert):

• Integrate them. Engage them in the game like any other player. Help them set up characters if they’ve never played RPGs or never played your system, and just get them into the game, just like any other person at your table.
• Give them plenty of space. That’s a tricky one, because I don’t mean to isolate or avoid them. I mean, when they do something that “doesn’t quite fit in”, either in game or in the room, let them. Have the game respond to them as they choose, kinda like the game is normally supposed to. There is always a lot of banter around the table about what should be done, and there is always a time when any player says, “I’m doing this or that thing.” As a GM, you respond to that. So, allow that same freedom of choice for all players. 
• Overall, I’m saying to just engage them as you would any other player, and it will all work out.

Now, if any of you reading this have personal or professional experience in this area, I would love to have a conversation (phone or social media) about additional ideas about gaming and ASD. Any thoughts?

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Here I'm just talking about my ideas for being a Narrator (a GM), in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing.

“I See Them!” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 57: DeFrantis

The moment hung heavily in the air. DeFrantis stood, frozen, in front of Antonerri and an unknown human man. She stared at his feet, her arms tense. She gently flexed her wrists. They were tied, it’s true, but lightly. She could scrunch her hands together and slip them out of the ropes very easily. They were only there for show. The man had made an offer, and Antonerri was silent.

What’s he thinking? I hope he’s playing this like he’s considering the offer. He’s probably scared to death. He doesn’t have a lot of practice playing a slaver. Maybe he can work that to his advantage.

Antonerri cleared his throat and finally spoke. “Hmmm.  Two gold is a lot. I could buy a lot with two gold.”

No! You’re not supposed to actually sell me!

“But I have to split any coin I get with her father. I’ll have to go at least four.” She heard Antonerri’s voice, trying to sound resolute. “At least four gold pieces.”

The other man laughed. “You’ll not get even two from anyone but me! Look at her!”  She began to glance from side to side, always keeping her head down, trying to figure out what was happening around her. She vaguely heard Antonerri’s voice responding. As she looked to her right, through the forest of legs and torsos, she thought she saw a small person’s bare foot.

He head snapped to her right and her eyes focused, shifting forward and back to see through the people. Yes! There they are! She could clearly see two children - no, three - huddled close together. They were dressed in dirty, ill-fitting tunics and without shoes. Her body tensed as chills shivered through her. They look so lost! I have to save them! Wait! No. I have to follow them. I have to find who’s buying them and where they’re being taken - 

She looked up at Antonerri, but his attention was on the buyer’s face. They were deep in negotiations, but the thoughts in her head blocked out any words she was hearing. She shook her head toward the children to try and get his attention. It wasn’t working. She looked back at the children, but like a spider on the floor, they were gone.

Wait! Where did they go? I only looked away! Where are they? She leaned her body to get a better look at where they were, but other captives and sellers had moved in her way. She lifted up on her toes and craned her neck, but she was not very tall in the first place, and couldn’t see over the press of people. She suddenly heard the buyer’s voice cut through.

“Hey, where are you going?” She looked at him, then at Antonerri and suddenly realized she had slipped several feet away, and the rope was tugging at her hands. “You’d better keep your maid in line!” Antonerri was stunned, not sure what to do.

DeFrantis immediately went back to her demure role, but glanced up and pointed to where she saw the children with her head. Please, just look over there! Help me find them!

A loud crash and shouts from the other side of the room interrupted the hesitation of the instant. Everyone’s head turned. Sellers and buyers alike were shouting and falling away from what looked like a fight. Someone bumped into DeFrantis and knocked her over. Immediately, she shouted and moved her hands to shelter her face from the rushing feet around her. The rope seemed loose, so she started working her hands free. She rolled over and tried to get up on her knees, but it was difficult with tied hands.

“Antonerri!” She called out, but his voice was lost in the noise.

My hands are free! Now it was easy for her to lean forward and stand. Her street instincts reminded her to stay fairly low, for a more solid balance. She looked left, and right, searching for both the children and Antonerri.

A loud and bright explosion instantly lit the small room and knocked everyone off their feet, either struck by it’s force or ducking for cover. The concussion left DeFrantis stunned. As the ringing in her ears subsided, she sat up and shook her head, crawling away from where the explosion had happened.

She started to make out actual voices, mostly shouting things like, “Wizards!” and “Run!” She saw people begin to flood away from the room looking for exits wherever they could. As she crawled and struggled to stand, she saw a familiar face on the floor, contorted in pain.

“Karendle? What... ?” Her voice trailed off as she saw the dagger and the blood.

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This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing.


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Start the whole story from the beginning. Start from where this current story arc begins.

“A walk in the Countryside” - A Tale of Heroes - Scene 56: Granthurg

Granthurg and Thissraelle left the chapel and walked in silence. It was just before mid-day, so the streets were very busy with townspeople going about their business. In spite of the noise around them, they said nothing to each other.

Their original plan had been for each group to find out what they could and to reconvene at the inn for further planning. Somehow, Granthurg felt an urgency to go where Brother Mathazar had directed them. In a hushed voice, the acolyte had said, “Keep following the main road west, along the river. You’ll leave the town. Soon, you’ll find a way that turns off to the north and leads to a few buildings. One of those buildings used to be a waypoint inn. It’s the dark market, now.”

Brother Mathazar continued, “But be cautious, and ready. If you’re attacked and defeated, you’ll be taken and sold. I daresay, you’d both get a pretty hefty price. You, for your strength.” He had motioned to Granthurg, then to Thissraelle, “And you, for, well... Other things.”

After the quiet pause that followed, he’d added, “You’re both very selfless and brave for helping your friends. I wish you the very best!”

It wasn’t long before the buildings became groves, meadows, and farmlands. They had been plowed and sown, but the crops were only beginning to appear above the ground. Keeping the unwanted weeds away was a constant task, and there were farmers and vassals out in the fields striking at them with hoes and digging them with sticks.

They were less than a mile from the edge of the town when they saw the small cluster of buildings around a larger, central structure. There were lots of wagons and horses tied to posts and fences around the perimeter.

“Hmph.” Granthurg grunted, “For such a remote place, there are a lot of people.”

Thissraelle nodded, “We probably shouldn’t approach from the road.”

“Good point.” He looked around. “How about that knoll with the hedges on the far side?”

“We’ll keep walking on the road as if we’re passing onward, and then double back.” She drew her cloak around her, in spite of the noonday sun.

A wagon started leave the compound, its driver steering the team along the narrow, but well-worn path to the main road. They picked up their pace a bit so they wouldn’t cross their paths.

Another man had been walking along behind them. He carried a bulging pack over his shoulder, filled with a bundle of sticks.

Granthurg glanced down at Thisraelle and turned his gaze back to the road.

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing.


Previous Scene, Next Scene
Start the whole story from the beginning. Start from where this current story arc begins.