You the stone gateway into the dungeon. Rounding the first turn, you come face to snout with a giant rat. g6j1k

In most RPGs, digital or table-top, an encounter with a giant rat or three is a pretty standard introduction to combat. Fallout? I don’t have anything against giant rats, I’ve used them, but good design happens when there’s a why.

Fallout again. Those giant rats were the neon sign, reminding you why Vault 13 was such a great place to live through a nuclear holocaust.

One of my favorite movies is Hot Fuzz, written by Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg. Everything in the movie has a reason, everything is connected, and nothing is wasted. That’s great design.

Good adventure design, good game design, uses every opportunity to tell a bigger story.

Love game design? Subscribe for the latest tips and tricks from Write – Design – Program.

Rising Phoenix Games, a line developer for Steampunk Musha at Fat Goblin Games, and a freelancer. You can find him on Twitter.