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Questions Without Answers

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What can change a person's very nature?

How can the broken be made whole?

What does it mean to be a hero?

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In a world where most people still dismiss genre fiction as ‘trash’ or ‘pulp,' it should be no surprise that role playing games don’t have a reputation for literary value. And, to be fair, I can understand why: most adventures are just for fun, and are not intended to be particularly literary. 

On the other hand, though, neither are most novels written to be literary, and I don’t see anyone pointing at Twilight and saying, “See? If that’s a book, books can’t possibly be literature!”

While not all games should be literary, the stories we tell with them can be literary experiences. And one thing that separates literature from 'trash' (even fun, satisfying trash), at least for me, is the asking of a grand question.

So, drawing on more than two decades of combined gaming and teaching experience, I offer a list of 50 Questions Without Answers, and brief advice on using them in three ways: As a player running a character with a grand question, as a GameMaster planning a story with literary drive, and as a game designer who wants to support this kind of play.

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Reviews (2)
Discussions (2)
Customer avatar
Xenith S September 07, 2022 1:19 pm UTC
PURCHASER
This looks great, thank you. I think I will use this for any campaign I start.
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Customer avatar
Nathan R September 07, 2022 3:19 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks for your kind words! I appreciate it, and I hope you get a lot of good use out of QWA!
Customer avatar
James L May 02, 2021 11:10 am UTC
PURCHASER
I can't express to you what a blessing it is to run across a teacher with a love for true literature. I was absolutely appalled at the list of Common Core approved 'literature' my son was offered in Middle School. Some of the books were literally pulled off the lists of worst books ever written. I got personally involved with the school and demanded that they withdraw the ill conceived course content permanently. Our local school had no way to refute the obvious horrific choices for their 'literature' class, but the state educational agencies (including the teachers union) refused to even acknowledge the problem.

So yes, when I use the word 'blessing', I don't use that term lightly. You.. are a blessing. Please do keep the literary torch burning for our children, and keep those young minds nurtured and growing. :)
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Customer avatar
Nathan R September 07, 2022 3:17 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
So, I was just notified here to reply to the newer comment above, and I don’t know how I missed yours as well when it posted over a year ago! I can only blame distraction by school :-p But thanks very much for your kind words, and I’m glad you found my musings helpful! :-)
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Product Information
Electrum seller
Author(s)
Artist(s)
Pages
7
Publisher Stock #
LD202
File Size:
0.94 MB
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Original electronic Click for more information
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File Last Updated:
June 02, 2016
This title was added to our catalog on June 02, 2016.