Scriptnotes Podcast 691 - Collaborative Storytelling and RPGs
Jun 17, 2025
In this engaging conversation, author Stu Horvath, known for his book on tabletop RPGs, dives into the evolution and cultural significance of role-playing games. He shares stories from his impressive collection of over 2300 RPGs and explores how collaborative storytelling has transformed gaming. The discussion touches on the impact of giants like Tolkien and Lovecraft on Dungeons & Dragons, pushing RPGs towards greater innovation. Plus, don't miss their insights on the accessibility of modern RPGs and the joy of discovering lost gaming treasures.
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Collector's Passion Drives RPG Archive
- Stu Horvath lost many RPG materials to flood and lending but started collecting again out of passion.
- He created an Instagram, podcast, and eventually a book to share and celebrate RPG history and culture.
D&D’s Origins in Wargaming
- Dungeons & Dragons emerged from military wargames with a novel focus on individual characters.
- Fantasy elements merged with war games to birth a storytelling experience rather than reenactment.
Roleplay's Late Mechanic Codification
- Role-playing and narrative were always part of RPGs but hard to codify in early rules.
- Narrative-heavy RPGs with structured rules emerged mostly around the 1990s with the Storyteller system.
