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Step 1
Start by considering what type of RPG you'd like to create. There are tons of genres out there, from soap opera dramas, to high school, to fantasy and science fiction. Choose the genre you most like to write in and begin the basis of your RPG there.
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Step 2
Create your setting. Imagine the greatest number of possibilities for storylines and plot ideas. For example, if your RPG genre is medical drama, would it be better to have your RPG set in a private practice or in an emergency room? Sure, there could be all kinds of story ideas from a private practice, but having the setting in an emergency room gives writers more freedom to write about fantastic plots. The setting needs to be fast paced, exciting and durable.
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Step 3
Consider background information and a timeline. Using the emergency room example, you could write that perhaps 3 years before your RPG begins, there was a gang riot started in the waiting room, which led to having a full-time security guard there. Interesting background information can provide writers with a sense of realism, giving them inspiration from where to write. A
timeline also plays a huge part in RPGs. Is your game in the past, present or future? You need to specify this along with your background story. -
Step 4
Create your characters. Start by listing the basics like name, age, weight, height and other general physical characteristics. Then describe, in detail, your characters' personality, their mannerisms and quirks. Put it in a format that will allow others to create their characters in similar ways.
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Step 5
Design codes of conduct. If you want people to be respectful of one another in your game, you need to state so. Next, make up your own rules for the game itself. Do members have to write one story a week in order to stay a member? That part is up to you. In order to make the game run smoothly, you need to specify how often members need to write, when deadlines are and when a new story will be up for writing.
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Step 6
Start your game in a user-friendly group. Many sites offer such groups for free and will allow you to create your own group for the purpose of running a story-based RPG (see links below for examples to free groups). Or if you would prefer to have a free website, finding a host is relatively simple (see Resources below).
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Step 7
Recruit! You can do this by searching for RPG directories and posting your link, joining forums and blogging about your game.
