How To Use Real Life Unbelievable Events And Coincidences In Your World

A rule of fiction is that it should follow consistent logic, unlike the real world, where unbelievable things happen all the time. But you can use these real world events and coincidences if you adapt them to a fantasy RPG setting.
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[@Marcus-ki1en]

For unbelievable events, the movie Ladyhawk comes to mind. For my world, Elves and Dwarves have stereotypical enmity. But I have a tavern where the owners are a Dwarf and Elf couple. When using prophecy, make sure it is sufficiently vague and can be applied to an event.

[@DDHomebrew]

I like the idea of the dwarf and elf couple. A little more believable than the patriarch and the hag! And I'd forgotten about Ladyhawke. A blast from the past!

[@Marcus-ki1en]

@@DDHomebrew Patriarch and Hag are fine, you would rather have a Princess and a Toad, or a Princess and an Ogre? ; )

[@DDHomebrew]

@@Marcus-ki1en It's funny: when you get into fairy tale world it seems more believable!

[@shadomain7918]

Nice video. I knew the "both died on July 4th" one, as my paternal Grandfather also died on July 4th. But it' a good idea to think about what is believable in your game, so you don't break immersion.

[@DDHomebrew]

Hence the prophecy of NPC's (or even PC's!) dying on some specific anniversary date. It has to have some internal story logic.

[@Zarion13]

Awesome video! Great food for thought. Never knew about the Titanic book...the law of large numbers!

[@DDHomebrew]

Glad you liked the video!

[@YawdroGaming]

I really like having former heroes, possibly from a previous campaign, becoming less good versions of themselves doing what they believe is right because they have the power to inflict their will on the normal populous. They can be morally gray because they have good intentions but they could take it to the extreme. There are plenty of examples in history of this occurring.

[@DDHomebrew]

This is the old "power corrupts" theme. If you watched Game of Throne, the ending was unsatisfying to some because the "transformation" of one main character seemed unbelievable. Yet there's no saying what might happen to such a person in real life: it doesn't have to fit with logic!

[@EruditeDM]

Some great observations KR looking for patterns in current news and human events. Maybe it’s not overly simple but looking for patterns of behavior and transposing them onto the table is a fun idea. Great fun for any GM I believe. This is as much a part of the game as playing it with your friends. Love the video and keep up the great work! Thank you!

[@DDHomebrew]

Glad you liked it!

[@michaelwest4325]

I try to recall that a fictional world is curated, nothing is their unless it belongs, like Chekov's gun, every detail either builds the setting or moves the plot, unlike the rwal world that has random and nonsensical happenstance and clutter!

[@GaryWeinheimer]

Unless it's a red herring. Maybe the GM just wants to give a dead end clue.

[@DDHomebrew]

What happens with the flavor that is just that is you're tempted as a GM to just say "it doesn't mean anything" or "it's just a coincidence." But then you have to stick with that!

[@DDHomebrew]

I use them all the time. Heh heh.

[@michaelwest4325]

@GaryWeinheimer then it is still placed and serving a purpose.

[@GaryWeinheimer]

@@michaelwest4325 indeed

[@GRIMSVOLT]

Great points with great examples.

[@DDHomebrew]

Thanks!

[@beansmalone1305]

In my game I had the tyrannical king demand that everyone wear a lower face mask and show documentation before entering any shop or market. They were angry but the irony was lost on a few of them.

[@DDHomebrew]

Great idea!

[@krispalermo8133]

Carol Burnett comedy show, over the years more than a few times I seen comedy stretches happen in real life. So what you seen on tv/stage wasn't so completely made up. My brother was dunk and went to show me this Wonderful soup our aunt made. He tips the bowel and spilled soup on my coat hanging on the back of the kitchen table chair. This happen at the same time my dad was watching the Carol Burnett show, hazer a guest what was being enacted on tv at that time ? The soup was good, not too much got spilt on my coat or kitchen floor.

[@DDHomebrew]

Quite a coincidence!

[@krispalermo8133]

@@DDHomebrew I was just in a burnt-out state of, " .. WTF .. ?! " Is this really happening ?