Worldbuilding on the Fly: Improv, D&D, and The Dungeon Cocktail Experience with Jesse Theiler
What happens when you have to build an entire world on the spot? In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, we sit down with Jesse Theiler, the creator behind The Dungeon Cocktail Experience, to explore the art of worldbuilding in real time.
Jesse shares how his background in improv and D&D has shaped his approach to storytelling, including how he engages players in collaborative narrative design and the tools he uses to maintain consistency in worlds that are being built on the fly.
Whether you’re a game designer, GM, or writer, you’ll walk away with actionable insights into:
📜 How to turn improvisation into immersive worldbuilding📜 Balancing player agency with narrative coherence
📜 Tools and techniques for remembering and reusing world details📜 Using real-world inspiration to ground fantastical settings
This conversation is packed with practical advice for anyone designing living, breathing worlds in tabletop or digital games.
Listen in to learn how to stay creative under pressure and craft experiences that feel dynamic, surprising, and alive.
Where to find Jesse:
- The Dungeon Cocktail Experience: https://www.dungeoncocktailexperience.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessetheiler/
The Corner of Story and Game:
- Discord
- Facebook
- Instagram
- Bluesky
- LinkedIn
- Email: [email protected]
#TheDungeonCocktailExperience #Worldbuilding #GameDesign #NarrativeDesign #DungeonsAndDragons #TabletopRPG #DungeonMasterTips #StorytellingInGames #ImprovForGMs #PlayerEngagement #GameWriting #TTRPGDesign #TheCornerOfStoryAndGame #JesseTheiler
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