When does gambling become an all-consuming addiction, triggering a dizzying rush of dopamine?
It happens when desperation and pressure take hold.
Truly, it’s when someone is willing to risk everything—even their life—for a singular goal. When they are at a loss, willing to do anything to achieve it, the roll of the dice in that moment embodies all of a human’s Five Desires and Seven Emotions.
Of course, I had no intention of subjecting anyone to that level of pressure in a simple game we were playing for fun.
The essence of playing would be lost if a sword incident occurred over a mere board game.
The key to crafting an engaging story lies in ‘immersion’ and ‘motivation.’ I focused entirely on these two aspects.
TRPGs come with a steep learning curve.
Coordinating schedules, identifying personal preferences, familiarizing yourself with the rules, learning the mechanics, and creating character sheets⋯⋯ these are just a few of the many hurdles beginners face.
Yet, if I had to pinpoint the most challenging aspect⋯⋯
“So, you’re telling me to act?”“You expect me to speak as if I’m someone else?”
“⋯⋯Hmph. Ridiculous⋯⋯.”
It would undoubtedly be the role-playing itself.
Unlike casual online chats, doing this face-to-face made people second-guess themselves. It could feel awkward, cringeworthy, or even make them stutter.
And honestly, that was natural. I had experienced the same thing when I did it for the first time.
Breaking through that initial discomfort was what immersion was all about. Once players became fully engrossed in the story and found a clear sense of purpose, the awkwardness would dissolve, leaving only the thrill of the game.
“I’ll start by explaining the background of this story.”
The first step was to pique their curiosity.
“There was a virtual nation called Lukeln—a dominant force worthy of its title, positioned much like the Empire in our reality. But one thing set it apart⋯⋯ the Emperor of Lukeln was a goblin.”
“⋯⋯the Emperor is a goblin?”
“How could a goblin be an Emperor?!”
“He was a peculiar mutant, born with a goblin’s body. But as you might expect⋯⋯ the people didn’t really like the Goblin Emperor. Simply because he was a different species.”
The next step was to connect this intrigue to a more personal emotion.
“The Goblin Emperor was a virtuous ruler, yet he held an unwavering devotion not only to his own kind but to all species. This was his greatest and only flaw. He enacted laws restricting all forms of hunting—to preserve life.”
“So, does that mean people couldn’t do things like⋯⋯ wipe out Orcs or Trolls?”
“It wasn’t outright forbidden, but he was a bit⋯⋯ fussy. To hunt monsters, one had to present undeniable proof of human casualties, backed by solid evidence. Naturally, this made things incredibly difficult for Adventurers.”
As I continued, both the Warrior and the Thief seemed deep in thought, contemplating the implications of this fictive world.
Even something as routine as raiding a goblin camp like we were about to do would be illegal unless they first proved the goblins had harmed the villagers. The job of an Adventurer had become significantly harder.
“⋯⋯in such a situation, we definitely need smart party members like Wizards in the party. It’s hard to find Wizards these days, so their cut of the earnings must be⋯⋯.”
“That’s true. Some arrogant Wizards used to demand up to 50% of the profits, claiming that without them, the legal issues wouldn’t even be resolved.”
“No matter where you go, it’s always those out-of-touch, bookish Wizards causing problems—ah, no offense, Mr. Wizard. I wasn’t talking about you. I meant⋯⋯ there are some punks like that.”
“Because of this setting, a new profession emerged in this world: Detectives.”
After all, it wouldn’t be particularly fun to ask a Soldier to play a soldier in a TRPG. Similarly, asking Adventurers to play an adventurer who wants to catch dragons, it might not leave much of an impact.
So, I added a touch of the unfamiliar—an element they had likely never encountered before—along with an intellectual challenge. Because the satisfaction of solving mysteries was addictive.
This session’s theme was a fantasy adventure infused with detective fiction.
“You have all gathered at the inn──”
The story needed to build up gradually, allowing them to take the first step through familiar emotions before leading them to form a deeper connection with their characters.
It was unfortunate that there was no Illusion Magic, but my heart was racing because this, in its own way, also felt fresh and quintessentially immersive.
I understood my players’ minds well, and found the stories they desired. Then, I seamlessly intertwined those desires with the concept.
Just as I adapted to my players, I also guided them to adapt to me. I established clear boundaries on what they could do and reached an unspoken agreement on the rules of engagement.
“⋯⋯I’m going to hide myself and rob the stores⋯⋯.”
“Are you sure about that? Alright. Roll the dice⋯⋯ Let’s see if you can evade the guards.”
Every action came with consequences.
“My character is extremely attractive, so it’s only natural that women fall for him at first sight!”
“That’s fair. But if he’s attractive to the point where even strangers fall in love with him, then even men would fall for him as well!”
“⋯⋯I don’t think that’s how it works.”
Using a character’s traits was fair game, but there were still limits.
And with that, the story continued to snowball⋯⋯.
===============================================================
I let out a wicked snicker, my voice rising into a screech.
“Goblin Min says… Kihihihihi! So, what can you do? The fools who raided the village were the idiots of my kind—not me. In a situation where you have no evidence or a witness⋯⋯ are you really going to break the law and kill me?”
“How dare you act so shameless after mercilessly destroying an entire village, Goblin! That’s it—I’m going to lunge at that bastard and split its skull with my axe!”
“Wait! If this Goblin is cunning enough to orchestrate a scheme like this, he might have set a trap! Besides⋯⋯ I’m sure i heard that the Law Enforcement Knight arrived in the city?”
“Fuck, what’s the point of a law that only protects these wicked motherfuckers, instead of the weak-!!”
The Warrior roared in frustration. The Goblin Emperor’s law shackled them. Based on everything they had seen, they knew the culprit was standing right in front of them. And yet, without solid proof or a witness, they couldn’t punish him.
Even though they were certain this mastermind Goblin had orchestrated the tragedy, their hands were tied⋯⋯!
If they defied the law and cut down the scheming Goblin without evidence, the Law Enforcement Knight would immediately brand them as criminals and hunt them down.
Faced with this harsh reality, the Warrior pounded his chest in frustration, while Selvier also clenched her fists.
The Thief let out a dry chuckle.
“⋯⋯Hmph. I’d rather take him out with a surprise attack⋯⋯.”
“And end up in prison? That would be the end of your Adventurer career! And what about Nella, waiting for you back in the village? Didn’t you say you were going to confess when you returned!”
“⋯⋯I won’t get caught if I roll a pure 20. Besides, a Thief fits right in behind bars⋯⋯ she’d probably find someone better anyway⋯⋯.”
“Hey. Then I’ll do it. I’ve got no one waiting for me, and honestly? I’m done with this Adventurer life!”
The righteous Adventurers found themselves at a crossroads. Someone had to take the fall. Would their journey end with one of them going to jail? As they looked gloomy⋯⋯
“Wait. Everyone, do you remember the first village?”
“The Merchant—he was tricked by the Orcs! But… there was that recording crystal ball⋯⋯ so that’s why Goblin Min went after the villagers!”
“⋯⋯Hmph. If that’s still at the scene, then maybe… there’s something decisive left behind⋯⋯.”
A glimmer of hope sparked. There was still a chance—some crucial piece of evidence that could turn the tide in their favor.
“Then, Master. We’re heading back to the scene of the crime!”
“Make sure to stop by the Magic Tools store first. Buy a detector and some reagents—just in case!”
I clapped my hands together.
“Alright, then. You all decide to return to the crime scene for one last move that could change everything. Will you be able to expose and judge Goblin Min, the mastermind behind this incident? …That’s it for today.”
“Wait, what?!”
“Why are we stopping here!”
“Because⋯⋯ we’ve arrived. We came to work.”
I pointed toward the lumber camp with a nod of my chin. In the distance, we could see the lumberjacks pacing near the entrance, waiting for the Adventurers who had promised to handle the Goblin problem.
“⋯⋯Can’t we just finish the session first?”
“No. Work comes first.”
It would be ridiculous to come here intending to make money, only to slack off playing a game instead. As I crossed my arms, standing firm in my decision, the Warrior scratched his bald head in disappointment. The Thief also sulked beside him.
Then, Selvier spoke up on their behalf.
“Oppa, we can continue once we’re done working, right?”
“Yeah?”
“⋯⋯Hmph, I see⋯⋯.”
“Really? So if we take care of the Goblins, we can continue the game?!”
Their eyes lit up. Their expressions sharpened with resolve. If I had to describe it, they looked just like gamers about to start a speedrun.
As we approached the lumber camp, one of the workers greeted us with a friendly smile.
“Ah, you’re finally here! Those Goblin troublemakers have been keeping us from working. We’ve prepared a simple meal for you, so take a rest first⋯⋯.”
“This isn’t the time to rest. Just tell us where they areare!”
“⋯⋯pardon me?”
“We’re in a hurry to catch Goblin Min, so just tell us where the Goblin camp is!”
The lumberjack blinked in confusion at the Adventurers, who were 100% motivated to work. Normally, people took a day or two to rest before getting to work. He looked like he was wondering why we were so eager.
“The camp? Ah, I’ll show you the way. If you follow this path and keep going⋯⋯.”
“Too slow! Just give us the directions!”
“Oh, well, it’s⋯⋯.”
“Still too slow!!”
Before the lumberjack could finish, the Warrior hoisted him up like a sack of potatoes and ran into the forest. The Thief and Selvier dashed after him without hesitation.
I stood there, momentarily dumbfounded as they kicked up a storm of dust, before snapping back to reality and sprinting after them. Being in a rush was fine, but at least we should stick together!
===============================================================
Like a runaway locomotive, our party burst into the Goblin camp, boldly announcing our intentions.
“Based on the lumberjacks’ testimony, we’re here to take down your Goblin camp immediately! You have the right to remain silent—and to appoint counsel!”
“⋯⋯Hmph. Say whatever you want. We have the evidence and a witness. All that’s left is for you lot to become rust on our daggers⋯⋯.”
“If you refuse to explain yourselves, we’ll execute you with this flame of justice!”
“Kieek⋯⋯?”
The Goblins, who had been preparing for battle, paused to chatter among themselves, their incomprehensible kiek kiek noises filling the air. It was as if people speaking to them was something completely new to them.
Even the lumberjack, who had been carried all this way like a human compass, looked bewildered.
“Uh… why are you talking to the Goblins⋯⋯?”
“You can’t even defend yourselves, huh? Of course, you can’t—your guilt is obvious. By decree of Lukeln’s law, you’ll all die here!”
“Wait, who’s Lukeln⋯⋯.”
“Enough talk! It’s time for Detective Mercenaries to take action—charge!!”
The battle that followed was swift and one-sided. With a Metamorphosis-level mage in our party, victory was inevitable, but the brute-force Warrior and the slippery Thief still played key roles. We fought as efficiently as possible because we were fighting the best we could.
“『Flame Harpoon』. 『Flame Harpoon』.”
I wasn’t slacking off either—I provided backup, shooting Flame Magic from the rear. Within ten minutes, there wasn’t a single Goblin left in the camp.
“We wrapped that up fast. Alright, let’s head back and—”
“⋯⋯Hmph. We’re done with work. Now, as promised… resume the session⋯⋯.”
“Here? In this place that reeks of charred Goblin flesh⋯⋯? You’re joking right?”
“I’m not joking. We made a deal. We worked, now it’s your turn, Master. We need to find the evidence and split that damn Goblin’s head in half!”
As I looked at Selvier, she also seemed impatient for the story to continue as well.
Not that I minded. How could a Game Master back down when the players were this invested? I made a seat and resumed the session.
“Alright. You all remember where we stopped, right? The last announcement stated that the three-member Detective Mercenaries returned to the scene of the crime in search of a clue.”
“⋯⋯Hey, aren’t we heading bac⋯⋯?”
The lumberjack stood nearby, looking utterly lost. Watching us abruptly sit down to play out our session must have been bizarre. Not wanting to leave alone, he sat nearby, silently waiting for us to finish.
By the time we wrapped up and made it back to the village⋯⋯
“I think being a detective is really cool. Actually, there was a bread theft incident in our village recently, and based on the traces left in the kitchen, I think I can deduce──”
It seemed we had just recruited one more detective for Lukeln.
***
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