Turn a flash of fear into one of your character's most defining moments.
When you're in the middle of an epic fight, whether you're the one inspiring the darkest fears in your enemies, or they're the one summoning the terror within you, it feels like that should be a big deal, right? Yet what we so often end up with is a restrictive mechanic slapped down that makes someone hang out for a turn or two. But we're talking about one of our most primal human emotions here! The one that can reduce us to a shivering pile, or cause us to funnel it all into pure rage and explode against our foes! Shouldn't this be a moment? We think it should, so that's what this episode is about.
In Kinship Camp, we use the five-step structure we talked about in Episode 126. The Five Steps to Every Story.
Step one, the inciting incident, covers how we can make that moment of causing fear land. What can your character or monster do that's truly terrifying, and what are the physiological effects of fear that we can describe?
In step two, challenges, we discuss what your character could do in their fight, flight, or freeze, and what it feels like to come down from fear.
Step three, the choice, is about whether you're going to actually overcome your fear at that moment, or lean in, and turn the fear into something to wrestle with as a character.
Step four, action, is about looking for your moment to show your choice, whether it be a two-handed screaming ax blow or a retreat to the shadows.
And finally, step five is figuring out how your character feels about their fear afterward.
Then we go to Grandma B's Schoolhouse to take inspiration from three real-world creatures, and how they cast fear on their enemies. It gets nasty.
As always, huge thanks to the support of our patrons for making this episode a reality.
Garr the Pirate, Time Warp, Nico Y., Zach G., No Ma'am, Michelle T., Hentenius, Alan E., Matthew T., Felix R., Chris F., The Senate, Lucas D., Lyla G., The GM Tim, Nevermour, Thomas W., Tyler G., Ty N., Heavyarms, Erik R, Aldrost, Leprecan, and Will H-P.