Miskatonic University Podcast MUP Ep 335 – Moral Ambiguity with Keeper Doc
Oct 27, 2025
Keeper Doc, a talented game writer and scenario designer, dives deep into the concept of moral ambiguity in tabletop role-playing games. He discusses how ethical dilemmas enrich storytelling and contrasts them with railroading scenarios. Listeners will enjoy learning about crafting nuanced dilemmas that resonate with player values and create memorable decisions. Doc also shares insights on building complex characters caught in ethical conflicts, emphasizing the importance of reflecting on these moments to improve future gameplay.
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Episode notes
Gray Choices Make Stronger Stories
- Moral ambiguity reflects real-life complexity and yields richer, more interesting stories at the table.
- Keeper Doc says it lets players safely wrestle with identity, values, and responsibility through play.
Build Dilemmas, Not Railroads
- Craft moral ambiguity as a dilemma, not a railroad, and accept you'll improvise as players choose.
- Provide consequences tied to choices rather than forcing a foregone conclusion.
Privacy Crossed A Player's Line
- Keeper Bridget describes discomfort when another player's mechanic allowed invasive access to her character's private data.
- She tolerated extreme supernatural abuses in play but drew a hard line at invasions of privacy.
