Table Of ContentCharacter Development and
S torytelling for Games
Tis is the third edition of Character Development and Storytelling for Games, a standard
work in the feld that brings all of the teaching from the frst two books up to date and
tackles the new challenges of today. Professional game writer and designer Lee Sheldon
combines his experience and expertise in this updated edition. New examples, new game
types, and new challenges throughout the text highlight the fundamentals of character
writing and storytelling.
But this book is not just a box of techniques for writers of video games. It is an explo-
ration of the roots of character development and storytelling that readers can trace from
Homer to Chaucer to Cervantes to Dickens and even Mozart. Many contemporary writers
also contribute insights from books, plays, television, flms, and, yes, games.
Sheldon and his contributors emphasize the importance of creative instinct and listen-
ing to the inner voice that guides successful game writers and designers. Join him on his
quest to instruct, inform, and maybe even inspire your next great game.
Character Development and
S torytelling for Games
Tird Edition
Lee Sheldon
Tird Edition published 2023
by CRC Press
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
and by CRC Press
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
© 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
First edition published by Cengage Learning 2004
Second Edition published by Cengage Learning 2014
Reasonable eforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and publisher cannot
assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use. Te authors and publishers
have attempted to trace the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to
copyright holders if permission to publish in this form has not been obtained. If any copyright material has not been
acknowledged please write and let us know so we may rectify in any future reprint.
Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Law, no part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, transmitted, or
utilized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying, microflming, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written
permission from the publishers.
For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, access www.copyright.com or contact the
Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400. For works that are
not available on CCC please contact [email protected].
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are used only for
identifcation and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Sheldon, Lee, author.
Title: Character development and storytelling for games / Lee Sheldon.
Description: Tird edition. | Boca Raton : CRC Press, 2023. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifers: LCCN 2022023874 (print) | LCCN 2022023875 (ebook) | ISBN 9780367248994 (hardback) |
ISBN 9780367248987 (paperback) | ISBN 9780429284991 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Video game characters. | Video games—Authorship. | Video games—Design.
Classifcation: LCC GV1469.34.A97 S54 2023 (print) | LCC GV1469.34.A97 (ebook) |
DDC 794.8/3—dc23/eng/20220713
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022023874
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022023875
ISBN: 978-0-367-24899-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-24898-7 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-28499-1 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/9780429284991
Typeset in Minion
by codeMantra
First of all, I dedicate this book to all of my students
who patiently taught me how to teach.
Also, I dedicate it to all the game writers and designers
around the world and to those that teach the craft. It has
been a pleasure and a privilege to be one of you.
Contents
Preface to the Tird Edition, xv
Acknowledgments, xvii
About the Author, xix
Introduction 1
PART I Background
CHAPTER 1 ◾ E quations 7
CHAPTER 2 ◾ T he Story Remains the Same 15
ARISTOTLE AND THOSE OTHER GREEKS 17
Aristotle 17
Unity of Time 20
Unity of Place 21
Unity of Action 21
Homer 22
Sophocles 23
Aristophanes 24
Jung’s Collective Unconscious 25
Campbell’s Hero’s Journey 26
Primary Sources 27
From Te Great Train Robbery to Birth of a Nation 27
Te Language of Drama and Film 29
Universal Temes 29
Drama 30
Confict 31
vii
viii ◾ Contents
Character 31
Cut Scenes 31
Part II Creating Characters
ChaPter 3 ◾ Respecting Characters 35
THREE DIMENSIONS 35
The Physical Character 36
The Sociological Character 37
The Psychological Character 37
CHARACTER PROGRESSION 38
Growth 38
Development 40
THE PIVOTAL CHARACTER 40
THE PLAYER-CHARACTER 42
IS THE PC MEANT ONLY TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE PLAYER, OR IS IT
MEANT TO BE THE PLAYER? 42
IS THE PC ORIGINAL, OR BASED ON A CHARACTER
FROM ANOTHER MEDIUM? 43
HOW MUCH DOES THE PLAYER KNOW ABOUT THE CHARACTER? 45
HOW MUCH DOES THE CHARACTER KNOW ABOUT THE PLAYER? 47
IF THE PLAYER-CHARACTER NEEDS CERTAIN SKILLS, MUST THE PLAYER
HAVE THEM, TOO? 48
IF THE PLAYER CAN CONTROL MORE THAN ONE CHARACTER, HOW
DOES THIS AFFECT THE NPCs AND STORYTELLING? 49
Major Characters 49
Minor Characters and Extras 50
AVOIDING STEREOTYPES 55
ChaPter 4 ◾ Character Roles 57
THE CHARACTER’S ROLE IN STORY 57
POPULATING THE WORLD 59
COMMENTARY AND GOSSIP 59
LIVING USEFUL LIVES 63
THE PLAYER-CHARACTER REVISITED (PROTAGONIST) 63
VILLAINS (ANTAGONISTS) 68
MENTORS 70
SIDEKICKS 73
Contents ◾ ix
SERVANTS AND PETS 75
MERCHANTS 77
TRAINERS 77
QUEST GIVERS 78
ChaPter 5 ◾ Character Traits 79
MOBILITY 79
CONTROLLING THE SPACE 80
PHYSICAL SKILLS 86
PROFESSIONS 88
RACE 89
SEX 90
CHARACTER EMOTION 92
CHARACTERS IN OPPOSITION 93
Conflict 93
Orchestration 94
Memory 95
REVEALING CHARACTER THROUGH ACTION 97
ChaPter 6 ◾ Character Encounters 101
PERCEPTION 101
PERSPECTIVE (FIRST PERSON VERSUS THIRD PERSON) 104
DIALOGUE 107
DIALOGUE SYSTEMS 113
Canned Speeches 113
Canned Conversations 115
Mood Meter 115
Attitude Chart 116
Iconic Choices 116
Topic List 116
Highlighted Text 117
Dialogue Menu 118
Natural Language/AI-Based Conversations 119
ENTRANCES AND EXITS 120
Time 120
Place 121
Action 121
