Learning from Trigun

I’ve spent the last six months running a Trigun tabletop RPG. The game has been a challenge and it’s forced me to deal with something that’s rather applicable to both writing and gaming. So I thought I’d share.

I probably won’t run a setting like Trigun again. I have no particular problem with the sci-fi or western aspects of the Gunsmoke world, but there’s an absolutely ludicrous sense of humor that’s a vital part of Trigun. I’m not very good at the funny stuff – pretty much any joke in our books was written by Aron/Eric. In fact, my lackluster sense of humor is itself kind of a joke in my home. Anytime I make a halfway decent joke, Aron cheers. It’s that rare and worthy of celebration.

As a result, my Trigun game has fallen a little flat in terms of humor. The players are wonderful and absolutely do their best to help me out with jokes of their own. But there are an awful lot of times that my game feels more like a semi-serious sci-fi western, like Rifts, than like Trigun. I studied the world lore, but it just isn’t the same without all of the jokes.

Games that require a sense of humor simply aren’t my strong suit, I’ve discovered. So when Aron and I started talking about running a Lily Quinn game (which is its own weirdness), we decided pretty early on that it was a setting that Aron would have to run. Not me. I know the Quinniverse every bit as well as Aron, but he’s the funny one. And without a hell of lot of perverted jokes, it just wouldn’t be Lily Quinn.

There’s nothing wrong with limitations. Just be aware of them.

I’m certainly not advocating never improving on weak areas! But a sense of humor can only be trained and taught so much. I’ve tried repeatedly, but being funny just isn’t one of my talents. It’s one of Aron’s, though. Especially if you let him joke about sex, he’s a riot. So I acknowledge my weakness and take advantage of his strength.

There are other things that I’m good at. I run a lot of White Wolf World of Darkness games and I’m pretty good at that. I’m good at mysteries and good at dark, so WoD is a natural fit for me. So when the time comes to try out Wraith for the first time, I’m going to be the one running. But when it’s time for a funny game, I’ll be looking at Aron.

No one can be good at everything. That’s what coauthors, beta readers and other co-creatives are for. Utilize them.

Next weekend should be the final session of my Trigun game. When it’s over, I know that I will feel incredibly accomplished. Storytelling – both running RPGs and writing – has never come easily to me, and every time I complete a game or book, I’ve managed to do something difficult. It’s deeply, truly satisfying.

But I’ll be relieved to be finished.