Creating narrative in procedural worlds – writing narrative with and for procedural generation

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Game writers are well used to hearing about the advantages and perils of The Hero’s Journey. From Story to Save the Cat, pre-baked narrative structures are sold as a magic solution to a writer’s problems. Whilst these tools can help in assessing traditional narrative structures, can they still be relevant for narrative experiences created with or for procedural generation where the game creates the experience as the player plays? If structure really is key, then how can writers provide compelling and immersive stories when there is no pre-defined structure to the game? Are there any rules or guidelines writers can follow when no one playing experience is the same as another? Should story be forgotten in favour of immersion and emotion? Our panel of writers who are adept at weaving evolving narrative experiences discussed how to create meaning in worlds of infinite possibilities.