Smells are so important in descriptions. It's one of those things (similar to taste) that humans can immediately identify and have a pretty visceral reaction to.
I agree! What I like about smells is that they automatically meets the "character's perspective" criterion. There is no "top down battle-map" description of how something smells; it's always described by comparing it to something that the player/character has experienced already.
Smells can be powerful triggers. I remember once driving through the desert on a motorcycle when I suddenly smelled roses. Part of my mind knew that strange breezes can carry scents for miles, but the other half of my brain knew that my departed mother was checking in on me.
I would have no problem adding a similar scene to a game if I thought it fit the mood of a lone traveler left to their own thoughts.
Oh, that is a lovely image, and it would work great in just such a story! (If you don't mind, that might end up in Endling, which is a lonely solo journaling game that I've had percolating for a while).
Smells are so important in descriptions. It's one of those things (similar to taste) that humans can immediately identify and have a pretty visceral reaction to.
I agree! What I like about smells is that they automatically meets the "character's perspective" criterion. There is no "top down battle-map" description of how something smells; it's always described by comparing it to something that the player/character has experienced already.
This post smells so good! Awesome post! 👏🏽👌🏾
I’m glad you liked it!
Smells can be powerful triggers. I remember once driving through the desert on a motorcycle when I suddenly smelled roses. Part of my mind knew that strange breezes can carry scents for miles, but the other half of my brain knew that my departed mother was checking in on me.
I would have no problem adding a similar scene to a game if I thought it fit the mood of a lone traveler left to their own thoughts.
Oh, that is a lovely image, and it would work great in just such a story! (If you don't mind, that might end up in Endling, which is a lonely solo journaling game that I've had percolating for a while).
Go for it. I'm sure mom would approve. :-)
Really loved the section about setting the scene, especially. Good stuff.