RSS
Symbolism is a great thing to use. Screenwriters and film directors use it all the time. They show things that have significant meanings or allusions and we pick up them, sometimes consciously, sometimes subconsciously. Symbolism and how to use it is a thing that is actually taught in film school, it's considered so essential to telling a compelling story on film. Some examples:
- The red coat in Schindler’s List.
- The spinning top in Inception.
- The unicorn in Blade Runner.
- The deserted playground where Harry sits in The Order of the Phoenix.
- The exploding mirror in Carrie.
What does this have to do with roleplaying games?
Use symbolism in your games. For example:
- A raven appears and calls just before any confrontation where combat could be expected.
- Neon lighting in the city shifts from blue to red dominated as the heroes move to grungier districts.
- The old king's crown has started to corrode.
- Grim stone effigies of dwarven lords of the past stand covered in the dust of centuries.
- Recurring grafitti or street art tags echo themes present in the current campaign.
- A lone tree stands in the heart of a great city, but is slowly dying.
- Rain washes the blood from a vast battlefield after a decisive battle.
- The shimmering mirror-like lake that reflects the distant mountains turns ripply and distorted.
Commentary by memnarch (who has not seen the movie)
Okay, so I knew little things could teleport across space with the Force. Luke may or may not have been able to teleport himself as well. Now we've got large things teleporting between places as well? I'm starting to suspect that a lot of these instances, including this bit with the red berries, might just all be Force Illusions or Visions only. It would be really weird to have that consistent over all three episodes, but that would explain a lot of the weirdness here and there, like this white room. Plus, while it wouldn't be good writing, it would be a good catch-all for any inconsistencies between scenes.
I bet the fight still looks pretty cool though, so it's a little bit of a shame I'm getting this as a series of stills.
Transcript
Kylo Ren: I counterattack Rey! 7!
[SFX]: whooom!
Rey: It’s a bit distracting having Force visions while in the middle of a fight.
[SFX]: whooom!
[SFX]: whooom! {they spar; the background is Kijimi}
GM: Well, that’s not my problem.
[SFX]: whooom!
[SFX]: slash!
GM: Your sword slashes a clay urn on Kijimi. Red berries spill across the floor on the Steadfast.
[SFX]: Ksssshhhh!!! {the sound of berries spilling all over the gleaming white floor}
Kylo Ren: What happens if one of us gets hit by a sword?
Rey: See those berries? Imagine they’re blood cells.
GM: You won’t actually know until it happens.
[SFX]: whooom!
[SFX]: whooom! {more fighting; the background is the white room on the Steadfast}
Kylo Ren: What are those berries supposed to symbolise, anyway?
Rey: Probably blood. Or passion. Or your repressed issues.
Kylo Ren: Or maybe they’re just meant to be messy. Getting all over the place, underfoot, releasing squishy slop everywhere.
Rey: Like your sappy family trauma?
[SFX]: Whooom!
[SFX]: Kzzrzzkk!
GM: Ouch. Roll for burn damage.