Story is found in many unheralded places, and games are one of the most obvious. A few months ago I shared the game, Fall of Magic. Another of my favorite storytelling games is Fiasco. Far from a fairytale and not meant for children, Fiasco encourages creative mayhem and dysfunctional problem-solving for a group of three to five (although I’ve played with more, many times) friends. Storytelling games tend to be cooperative, and Fiasco is no exception. Players need to feel comfortable working together to tell a story and follow the tale to its inevitable fiasco of a conclusion.
Fiasco
Fiasco, developed and written by Jason Morningstar and published by Bully Pulpit Games in 2009, has won many game awards and is designed to be accessible to players of varying levels of storytelling experience. The former theater kids will have it easy, and writers will be all over it, but civilians who give Fiasco a try can find new levels of imagination through the game’s helpful prompts. Tapping new abilities in yourself or seeing them in your friends is exciting!
Currently Fiasco is packaged as a book (available in paperback and ebook), with other supplemental materials available. Developers aim to make it look like a proper tabletop game (that is, with playing cards sold in a box) very soon. A Kickstarter is underway, and you’ll see those boxes at your favorite big-box department store soon. Although I enjoy games with a homespun vibe, particularly storytelling games, I understand the point. A Fiasco player needs no roleplaying game experience, and that perception is a barrier for many who’d otherwise enjoy Fiasco very much.
What Is The Storytelling Game, Fiasco?
According to the website, in Fiasco “the players engineer and play out stupid, disastrous situations, general at the intersection of greed, fear, and lust.” Fiasco is character driven. The group comes up with deeply flawed people, who, of course, make bad decisions.
“It’s like making your own Coen Brothers movie.”
Bully Pulpit Games
Playing Fiasco
So, how do you and your friends create a Fiasco? (Click here to see Will Wheaton in action with Fiasco on YouTube.) You’ll need a few things found in most homes as well as a downloaded playset.
- A whole bunch of six-sided dice. Rob the Yahtzee box.
- A stack of index cards or slips of paper.
- A marker, dark and thick enough to be read across the table.
- A few relaxed hours. Snacks and delicious beverages are important.
- Four or five friends.
Fiasco Playsets
Your group will weave your tale starting with a playset—the basic scenario of the story.
- Setting
- Situation
- Subgenre
- A list of possible relationships
- Several lists of details to flesh out the relationships
The core book comes with four playsets: Main Street, Boomtown, Suburbia, and The Ice (Artic research station). These setting are generic, and a different story can be created every time they are used. Many more playsets are available online.
What Are The Dice For?
The roll of the dice determines which items on the lists are available for the story. Players take turns establishing relationships and details among the group, based on available dice. Then they write the information on cards, which they position between fellow players, to remind everyone of the relationship and its details.
Some discussion will flesh out the situations, and watching the web of intrigue spin out among your law-abiding friends is a joy. One caveat: It is never a bad idea, be it during traditional roleplaying games, storytelling scenarios, or even charades, to ensure all players are on the same page regarding content that makes them uncomfortable. A good time can be had by all while respecting each other’s boundaries.
Let The Game Begin
Next the story really gets rolling. Characters and their needs are introduced. Players take turns being in the spotlight, roleplaying short scenes with other players. If someone has no idea what they want to do, they can opt to ask the group to create the scene idea for them to get started.
The game mechanisms do a good job of guiding the players to establish a story arc and shaping it toward resolution, as well as working together. The rules also encourages the quieter members of the group to shine!
Storytelling games are not just a fun way to spend the evening. For any artist or consumer of art, the process really helps us understand how it all works, what makes a satisfying tale, and the craft of a successful narrative. Don’t just watch a movie; live one, at least in your imagination. Give Fiasco a try at your next gathering.
Addendum 9/29/2019
Zach Lorton was kind enough to oversee my first Fiasco, and I wanted to give him a shout-out in this blog. But I couldn’t find the business card with his last name until yesterday. (I’m decent with remembering faces and any details of people’s lives they share but very bad with names.) I met Zach at my local board game convention, Geekway To The West, a few years back. An excellent improv actor, game designer, and all-around cool dude, he blogs at livingonthebackburner.blogspot.com.
And Now a Word From Our Sponsor
Like the blog? Subscribe (form at the bottom of my website) to never miss an issue. Want more? Subscribe to the quinterly newsletter for exclusive content. And, of course, I’m selling books. Check them all out at Amazon.com. Order my new novella, The Resurrectionist, here. If you’ve enjoyed one of my books, tell the world! Consider leaving a short review at Amazon or Goodreads. The direct link to review The Resurrectionist on Amazon is here and for Water of Life, here. Thanks in advance. Even five reviews will put the book in a more prominent position on Amazon.