gamemasters
Tabletop narrative controllers
Gamemasters are people who run tabletop roleplaying games, creating scenarios, controlling non-player characters, and adjudicating rules.
The gamemaster sets the scene and responds to player choices, acting as both storyteller and referee: The gamemaster described the dungeon's entrance.
Different games use different titles—dungeon master, keeper, narrator—but the role is essentially the same.
One who recounts tales
- worldbuildingConstructing imaginary universes for fiction
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
campaign · saga · chronicle · mythology · scenario · setting · arc · twist
Sports rule enforcer
- arbiterOne who settles disputes
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
- organizerArrangement tool or person
- coordinatorOne who arranges activities
overseer · mediator · host · director · conductor · administrator · manager · supervisor
Faculty for forming ideas
- inventionNew device or method
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- brainstormingGenerating many ideas freely
- originalityNovel creative quality
ingenuity · conceptualization · visualization · homebrewing · adaptation · innovation · divergent · inspiration
Nature, symbol, or role
- NPCUncontrolled game character
- protagonistStory's central figure
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
interaction · motivation · persona · improv · voicing · acting · immersion · encounter
Planned approach to goals
- balancingAchieving equal distribution
- pacingRate of movement
- challengeTest of ability
- difficultyState of being hard
combat · skirmish · maneuvering · positioning · flanking · ambush · terrain · foresight
storyteller
One who recounts tales
- worldbuildingConstructing imaginary universes for fiction
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
backstory · campaign · saga · chronicle · mythology · scenario · setting · arc · twist · fable
referee
Sports rule enforcer
- arbiterOne who settles disputes
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
- organizerArrangement tool or person
coordinator · overseer · mediator · host · director · conductor · administrator · manager · supervisor · umpire
imagination
Faculty for forming ideas
- inventionNew device or method
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- brainstormingGenerating many ideas freely
originality · ingenuity · conceptualization · visualization · homebrewing · adaptation · innovation · divergent · inspiration · freeform
character
Nature, symbol, or role
- NPCUncontrolled game character
- protagonistStory's central figure
- antagonistOne who opposes another
dialogue · interaction · motivation · persona · improv · voicing · acting · immersion · encounter · session
strategy
Planned approach to goals
difficulty · combat · skirmish · maneuvering · positioning · flanking · ambush · terrain · foresight · planning
gamemastersplayers
Game participants
player characters · PCs · party members · adventurers · participants
gamemastersplayers
Game participants
followers · actors · performers · reactors · respondents