A storytelling game is a game where two or more persons collaborate on telling a spontaneous story. Usually, each player takes care of one or more characters in the developing story. These characters are often reused in different stories, and players often bond quite closely with their alter ego. At least one participant takes the roles of the various supporting characters, as well as introducing non-character forces (for example, a flood). Since this person usually sets the ground and setting for the story, he or she is often referred to as the "storyteller" (often contracted to "ST") or "narrator". Any number of other alternate forms may be used, many of which are variations on the term "gamemaster"; these variants are especially common in storytelling games derived from or similar to role-playing games. A game is a recreational activity involving one or more players. ... Storytelling is the art of portraying in words, images, and sounds what has happened in real or imagined events. ... Story has several different meanings as outlined below. ... For the Jim Henson production, see The Storyteller Storytelling is the art of portraying in words, images, and sounds what has happened in real or imagined events. ... The Narrator is the entity within a story that tells the story to the reader. ... In role-playing games, the game master or GM is the organizer, storyteller, and arbitrator. ... A role-playing game (RPG) is a type of game in which players assume the roles of fictional characters via role-playing. ...

In contrast to improv theater, storytelling gamers describe the actions of their characters rather than acting them out, except during dialogue or, in some games, monologue. That said, live action versions exist, which are very much akin to theater except in the crucial absence of a non-participating audience. Improvisational Theatre (also known as improv or impro) is a form of theatre in which the actors perform spontaneously, without a script. ... The term dialogue (or dialog) expresses basically reciprocal conversation between two or more persons. ... A monologue (or monolog) is a speech by one person directly addressing an audience. ... A live action role-playing game, or LARP as it is commonly known, is a form of role-playing game where the participants perform some or all of the physical actions of the characters they play the role of. ...

The most popular modern storytelling games originated as a sub-genre of role-playing games, where the game rules and statistics are heavily de-emphasised in favor of creating a believable story and immersive experience for all involved. So while in a conventional tabletop role-playing game the announcement that one's character is going to leap over a seven-meters-wide canyon will be greeted with the request to roll a number of dice, a player in a storytelling game who wishes to have a character perform a similar feat will have to convince the others (especially the storyteller) why it is both probable and keeping within the established traits of their character to successfully do so. Some storytelling systems provide for randomness in the arbitration of the rules, often in the form of a contest of Rock, Paper, Scissors or a card drawn from a deck of cards. In practice, most "Storytelling" games are simplifed or streamlined forms of traditional tabletop role-playing games. A genre is any of the traditional divisions of art forms from a single field of activity into various kinds according to criteria particular to that form. ... A role-playing game (RPG) is a type of game in which players assume the roles of fictional characters via role-playing. ... Tabletop role-playing games are a particular form of role-playing game. ... Rolling dice A die (Old French de, from Latin datum something given or played [1]) is a small polyhedral object (usually a cube) suitable as a gambling device (especially for craps or sic bo). ... A contest is an event involving a competition at least two opposing individuals or teams, to be awarded a prize to the champion. ... Rock, Paper, Scissors chart Rock, Paper, Scissors (also known by other names) is a popular hand game most often played by children. ... A card is generally a small flat object, typically made from heavy paper or plastic, that has information on it: Business card, a card containing contact information for a person or business Credit card, a plastic card for buying things on credit Debit card, a plastic card for buying things...

It takes a certain kind of gamer to enact in good storytelling, one that is more interested in the path to a goal than reaching it. Many role-playing gamers are more comfortable in a system that gives them relatively less freedom, but where they do not need to police themselves; others find it easier to enjoy a system where a more concrete framework of rules is already present.

White Wolf Game Studio's Storyteller System, which is used in World of Darkness role-playing games such as Vampire: The Masquerade and live-action games under the Mind's Eye Theatre imprint, is the best-known and most popular role-playing-style storytelling game. White Wolf, Inc. ... The Storyteller System (now called The Storytelling System), is the basic set of game mechanics in the role-playing games published by White Wolf Game Studio. ... The World of Darkness is the name given to two distinct fictional universes developed by White Wolf Game Studio. ... Vampire: The Masquerade (Revised Edition) cover. ... Minds Eye Theatre is a live action role-playing game based on the White Wolf World of Darkness universe, sharing a theme and setting with Vampire: The Masquerade. ...

See also

• letter game
• Mind's Eye Theatre
• Universalis
• Collaborative fiction