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Writing for Games: Text Composition for Rules and Story

Code: SOTA208

Credits: 15

Semester: Semester 1

This module teaches students the skills of writing for games through practical group exercises leading to the creation of a distinctive portfolio item. Following a structured project format built around taught sessions and workshops, students will work in small groups to create a complete narrative module for a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) of their choice, comprising a setting, a plot, a selection of characters, specific locations, opponents and monsters. Students will practice both descriptive and technical writing skills and learn how to write in ways that leave room for player agency, as well as developing their ability to create collaboratively with others around shared narrative and thematic goals. At the end of the module, students should have a complete short adventure in a format suitable for commercial distribution, from which each student will identify some of their own contributions to be assessed on, along with a short reflection on the decisions they made.