As a GM with aphantasia, I really appreciate this video. Sometimes when I'm describing, I fear I gloss over details that would help my players who don't have aphantasia -- I just don't consider them sometimes because they don't come to mind. An old piece of writing advice that I think is relevant is to never just describe visuals. Scents, sounds, textures, tastes. Invoke as many senses as possible! This helps people like me with aphantasia but it also brings the scene alive for everyone else too
Hey, Me and my friend are working on a research project trying to answer "How do board games and video games influence emotional and cognitive experiences for individuals with aphantasia?" We have prepared a questionnaire for our research purpose, it would be nice to get some feedback from you if you wish to. We are currently studying Masters in Game Design and Technology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. It would be great to get a reply from you.
I have aphantasia and I want to say, detailed description is actually the OPPOSITE of what I want, because I can't visualize adding more detail is more overwhelming than anything, since I can't paint a coherent picture in my mind I have to remember every detail on an intelectual level and so the more detail you give the less likely I get to remember important things. In fact I have this same issue with books that focused on long vivid description, since I can't picture them they're just either boring or information overload. Visual aids on the other hand are extremely helpful yes! especially when trying to figure out the general shape of a space or what things are in relation to each other or even just a general vibe. But even then it's not necessary, sometimes just answering question and giving reminder of important informations can be enough. Also If you know someone has aphantasia in the group and they might zone out during description, grabbing back their attention and concluding a scene description with like a summary of important info can also help and it can be helpful for other players too. I think it's kinda case by case but a good practice is if you're going to spend a long time in an area having a map of that area, even a crude one, can only be good. And same with recurrent location, having like a picture to represent them just for the general vibe can be great.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. That makes a lot of sense on a detailed summary being just another way to cause confusion. I love the idea of doing a conclusion/summary of important details.
"In fact I have this same issue with books that focused on long vivid description, since I can't picture them they're just either boring or information overload." Yes I'm exactly the same. For descriptions of people in books or games, all I need is something like "the big guy", or the "the disheveled one", or "she appears more bold and confident than the rest"... I don't want to know the color of their clothes, or eyes or hair. I don't want to know the shape of their face... I don't want any details. Just a brief description for how this person stands out from others. Same thing as with a scene. I'm fine with "a sketchy alley that makes you want to look over your shoulder all the time", or "The decorations in the room were clearly put in place by someone with wealth and style"... so just enough to set the mood. But that's just me. I wouldn't claim that I speak for others with apahantasia, and I wouldn't expect a GM to put my needs ahead of the other players.
I think a good distinction in description is between something superfluous and something critical. If a description adds nothing to the scene, it isn't worth including. And by "nothing" I mean something that doesn't reveals information: characterisation, or an implied history, or an important weakness, an identifying trait that can be used in the session's investigation. Something like that. Just with writing prose, its best form to include relevant details only. This keeps things focused and lets players hone in on details that actually matter, that will actually come up again if they pay attention.
@@Just_a_squirrel_64 Speaking of prose and D&D... I don't know how many people will get this reference: "The pungent stench of mildew emanates from the wet dungeon walls" Rather flowery, and typical for the timeframe, but it gets the point across.
Heh, I just binged the "crap guide to D&D" and TH-cam sends me your way, first video I watched of your channel :) While personally not affected by aphantasia, it's good to see that this niche topic is covered so well! Thank you for that. I want to make a suggestion, though: as an ADHD-affected person, the chosen background music was rather distracting to me; maybe a different choice of music might be easier to listen to while listening to your explanations. (English is also my second language, which does make it more difficult to me personally when it comes to listening comprehension)
Thank you for watching and thank you for your comments! We always welcome things that can improve our videos! Making this video has definitely opened my eyes to things like this. Perhaps a video on aids for people with ADHD would be worth doing. Your input is welcome! Thanks again!
Heck yeah, Crap Guide! Sadly, JoCat who made them got chased off the internet by bigots. The Crap Guide to Monster Hunter is also amazing, if you ever intend to play that game. It's where his wiggler-hat-wearing sword and shield wielding persona came from. But if you're new to D&D, or even just D&D content on TH-cam, it's a great way to get started, and welcome! XP to Level 3, DnD Shorts, Dungeon Dudes, Ginny Di, Matt Coleville, Pointy Hat, MrRhexx, Treantmonk's Temple, Pack Tactics, Zee Bashew, Blaine Simple, Viva La Dirt League D&D, CinderBlocksally. Critical Roll, Dimension 20, Legends of Avantris, World of IOverse. There's a ton of amazing channels and creators.
i love this video! i have aphantasia and dm too. i use these tools not just for my players but also for me too! thanks for bringing light to this for those of us that struggle with the visuals and including us. keep up the good work!
Aphantasiac (?) value 1 here. I don't see any apple. There is no apple. The apple is a lie. But I still know what things look like. Ask me to draw an apple and I can draw an apple, I just don't see the damn thing. So I really have no problem following a scene or even a complex mind's eye battle even though I don't "see" the scene in my mind. But I also work with maps and spatial frameworks everyday at work; I'm sure that helps. But it's cool to see this addressed, because not being able to "see" things in theater of the mind can definitely be an issue - and a lot of people don't know aphantasia exists (often because we don't stop to consider that not everyone thinks like we do)!
Guilty as charge...I had no idea this existed until a good friend I play with told our DM he could not visualize a roof scene. Then he explained what he meant and it opened up the world to me. Thank you for sharing your experience, I am learning a lot for your and others comments!
Think in scenes ... With the latest tool "AI artist", a scene can be given life super easy. Adding in Smell, Sound or Feel are even easier as they see the dark cave entrance. Smelling of smoke and hearing light echoes of words they can't make out.
i really dont want to spend ages generating shitty ai images and then having to settle with an image that isnt what the area actually should look like so no thanks
I'm a GM with aphantasia, and I often run short, simple scenes as theater of the mind. I just keep track of relative locations on a piece of paper. I don't use a GM screen, so my players often look at my sketch if they lose track of where everyone is. I wish I could visualize the scene, but that doesn't make it less enjoyable for me. However, I've tried to play with people who only use theater of the mind, and I really struggled. At the time I didn't know that my brain works differently in that regard, and I thought it was a deficiency or lack of attention on my part, despite my love for the game. Both me and some of my players get a lot more out of the game when there's a map.
Thank for sharing your experience. I have got a lot of feedback that people played for years without knowing they had aphantasia. And I am sure I have probably played with many people without knowing it.
Wow, that is a fascinating question. I think that is where, even for a DM, sound, pictures, and even as mentioned in another comment, smell might becoming beneficial. My mind immediately goes to focusing more on a movie type experience and less book, if that makes sense. Is there anything specific you do?
I'm in the same boat. I almost always forget about descriptions, even when I do put time into prepping them, but on the rare occasions I do focus on them these are my tricks: In general, offload as much as you can onto play aids like maps and pictures and background audio. AI is a godsend for this in regards to (human) NPCs, and there's some pretty cool sound apps out there too. Find a picture that's close enough and bring it to the session so you can use that as a basis for you visuals. Pretend you're a player and ask yourself questions about the space. Write down the answers and turn them into descriptions.
I've been playing D&D for 40 years with apahantasia, and never even realized it was an issue. The thing is, I don't care about visualization. It isn't relevant to my enjoyment of the game (probably because I have never visualized anything in the first place) Same things goes for literature. If I'm reading a fantasy novel, and the author is giving a detailed visual description of a scene, I get bored and skip ahead. I can't see it, I don't care. Get back to the plot. In literature, and in RPGs, I care about the plot, the characters, the conflict, the mystery, the challenges, and the creative solutions to challenges... etc. and none of that requires a visual (at least not for me).
Talking about something like this is always difficult and I hope I was clear I don't think it's a negative issue for those who have it. When I was made aware a friend has it I thought it was valuable enough to share. Thank you for sharing your experience. It really is important to hear all sides and like many things, many of us aren't going to let it steal our joy. Thanks again!
@@progressiveDND Oh no worries. You were clear about that. Many people call it a "disability", and you specifically didn't. I think it is fascinating to share. We all assume that our individual minds are "normal", and everyone else has a mind that generally works the same. It was only a few years ago that I realized that Aphantasia was a thing at all... I assumed that I was normal. I assumed that when people said to "visualize" something, they were being metaphorical. i.e. if they said "imagine yourself on a beach" for some relaxing technique, I assumed they were talking about imagining the concept of being on a beach, the feeling of being on a beach... I didn't realize people literally saw the beach in their head. And then there are things like my "inner monologue" where my thoughts are quite literally a silent version of my voice inside my head. It rarely shuts up... and I was surprised to find out that there are people who don't have one. I can't imagine thinking without an inner monologue, but obviously their process of "thinking" is an entirely different (but equally valid) process than mine.
Hey, Me and my friend are working on a research project trying to answer "How do board games and video games influence emotional and cognitive experiences for individuals with aphantasia?" We have prepared a questionnaire for our research purpose, it would be nice to get some feedback from you if you wish to. We are currently studying Masters in Game Design and Technology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. It would be great to get a reply from you.
Oh boy. Everyone seems to have some negative characteristic about themselves. Can’t we just enjoy a game for a game, and not attribute a poor moment in the game to some subjectively diagnosed intangible disability? These ideas seem to imply theater of the mind is not ideal. Or if I don’t have detailed descriptions for everything, or having ambient scenes or videos playing that I’m now choosing to exclude specific types of players. I’m so happy there are many systems and play styles to choose from. So I can now enjoy the game my way and this can be done by others who like that kinda expectation. Unsub.
Interesting take. I had never heard of this until a good friend told me in game they could not see in their "mind eyes" what was happening on a roof the DM was describing. Perhaps you should do some research before making unfounded statements about others. Unsub accepted. I personally wouldn't want you at my table.
Dude, it's about being accommodating to your friends you play with. If you don't have any friends that have issues with theater of the kind, then great. But if you do, visual aids can be great to help your friends possibly enjoy the game a bit more.
![Stop ignoring Inspiration points in D&D [DM Tips]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SMzsbhq2GCM/mqdefault.jpg)
![Stop ignoring Inspiration points in D&D [DM Tips]](/img/tr.png)
As a GM with aphantasia, I really appreciate this video. Sometimes when I'm describing, I fear I gloss over details that would help my players who don't have aphantasia -- I just don't consider them sometimes because they don't come to mind. An old piece of writing advice that I think is relevant is to never just describe visuals. Scents, sounds, textures, tastes. Invoke as many senses as possible! This helps people like me with aphantasia but it also brings the scene alive for everyone else too
I love it! Thanks for sharing your experience! Describing all the senses, not just visual, is a great idea!
Hey,
Me and my friend are working on a research project trying to answer "How do board games and video games influence emotional and cognitive experiences for individuals with aphantasia?" We have prepared a questionnaire for our research purpose, it would be nice to get some feedback from you if you wish to. We are currently studying Masters in Game Design and Technology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
It would be great to get a reply from you.
@@TabassumAlam-wl1tj Would love to help!
I have aphantasia and I want to say, detailed description is actually the OPPOSITE of what I want, because I can't visualize adding more detail is more overwhelming than anything, since I can't paint a coherent picture in my mind I have to remember every detail on an intelectual level and so the more detail you give the less likely I get to remember important things. In fact I have this same issue with books that focused on long vivid description, since I can't picture them they're just either boring or information overload.
Visual aids on the other hand are extremely helpful yes! especially when trying to figure out the general shape of a space or what things are in relation to each other or even just a general vibe. But even then it's not necessary, sometimes just answering question and giving reminder of important informations can be enough.
Also If you know someone has aphantasia in the group and they might zone out during description, grabbing back their attention and concluding a scene description with like a summary of important info can also help and it can be helpful for other players too.
I think it's kinda case by case but a good practice is if you're going to spend a long time in an area having a map of that area, even a crude one, can only be good. And same with recurrent location, having like a picture to represent them just for the general vibe can be great.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. That makes a lot of sense on a detailed summary being just another way to cause confusion. I love the idea of doing a conclusion/summary of important details.
"In fact I have this same issue with books that focused on long vivid description, since I can't picture them they're just either boring or information overload."
Yes I'm exactly the same. For descriptions of people in books or games, all I need is something like "the big guy", or the "the disheveled one", or "she appears more bold and confident than the rest"... I don't want to know the color of their clothes, or eyes or hair. I don't want to know the shape of their face... I don't want any details. Just a brief description for how this person stands out from others.
Same thing as with a scene. I'm fine with "a sketchy alley that makes you want to look over your shoulder all the time", or "The decorations in the room were clearly put in place by someone with wealth and style"... so just enough to set the mood.
But that's just me. I wouldn't claim that I speak for others with apahantasia, and I wouldn't expect a GM to put my needs ahead of the other players.
I think a good distinction in description is between something superfluous and something critical. If a description adds nothing to the scene, it isn't worth including. And by "nothing" I mean something that doesn't reveals information: characterisation, or an implied history, or an important weakness, an identifying trait that can be used in the session's investigation. Something like that. Just with writing prose, its best form to include relevant details only. This keeps things focused and lets players hone in on details that actually matter, that will actually come up again if they pay attention.
@@Just_a_squirrel_64
Speaking of prose and D&D... I don't know how many people will get this reference:
"The pungent stench of mildew emanates from the wet dungeon walls"
Rather flowery, and typical for the timeframe, but it gets the point across.
I actually came here to say the same thing. If the DM starts getting all detailed, I just check out until their done talking.
Heh, I just binged the "crap guide to D&D" and TH-cam sends me your way, first video I watched of your channel :)
While personally not affected by aphantasia, it's good to see that this niche topic is covered so well! Thank you for that.
I want to make a suggestion, though: as an ADHD-affected person, the chosen background music was rather distracting to me; maybe a different choice of music might be easier to listen to while listening to your explanations. (English is also my second language, which does make it more difficult to me personally when it comes to listening comprehension)
Thank you for watching and thank you for your comments! We always welcome things that can improve our videos! Making this video has definitely opened my eyes to things like this. Perhaps a video on aids for people with ADHD would be worth doing. Your input is welcome! Thanks again!
Heck yeah, Crap Guide! Sadly, JoCat who made them got chased off the internet by bigots. The Crap Guide to Monster Hunter is also amazing, if you ever intend to play that game. It's where his wiggler-hat-wearing sword and shield wielding persona came from. But if you're new to D&D, or even just D&D content on TH-cam, it's a great way to get started, and welcome! XP to Level 3, DnD Shorts, Dungeon Dudes, Ginny Di, Matt Coleville, Pointy Hat, MrRhexx, Treantmonk's Temple, Pack Tactics, Zee Bashew, Blaine Simple, Viva La Dirt League D&D, CinderBlocksally. Critical Roll, Dimension 20, Legends of Avantris, World of IOverse. There's a ton of amazing channels and creators.
i love this video! i have aphantasia and dm too. i use these tools not just for my players but also for me too! thanks for bringing light to this for those of us that struggle with the visuals and including us. keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
Aphantasiac (?) value 1 here. I don't see any apple. There is no apple. The apple is a lie.
But I still know what things look like. Ask me to draw an apple and I can draw an apple, I just don't see the damn thing. So I really have no problem following a scene or even a complex mind's eye battle even though I don't "see" the scene in my mind. But I also work with maps and spatial frameworks everyday at work; I'm sure that helps.
But it's cool to see this addressed, because not being able to "see" things in theater of the mind can definitely be an issue - and a lot of people don't know aphantasia exists (often because we don't stop to consider that not everyone thinks like we do)!
Guilty as charge...I had no idea this existed until a good friend I play with told our DM he could not visualize a roof scene. Then he explained what he meant and it opened up the world to me. Thank you for sharing your experience, I am learning a lot for your and others comments!
I'm that guy who has a hard time visualizing. Love me a good map.
Great vid, keep it up!
After playing for years with hundreds of people, I never knew it was a thing. I am glad I can help spread the word a little bit.
Think in scenes ... With the latest tool "AI artist", a scene can be given life super easy.
Adding in Smell, Sound or Feel are even easier as they see the dark cave entrance. Smelling of smoke and hearing light echoes of words they can't make out.
Great suggestions!
i really dont want to spend ages generating shitty ai images and then having to settle with an image that isnt what the area actually should look like so no thanks
I'm a GM with aphantasia, and I often run short, simple scenes as theater of the mind. I just keep track of relative locations on a piece of paper. I don't use a GM screen, so my players often look at my sketch if they lose track of where everyone is. I wish I could visualize the scene, but that doesn't make it less enjoyable for me. However, I've tried to play with people who only use theater of the mind, and I really struggled. At the time I didn't know that my brain works differently in that regard, and I thought it was a deficiency or lack of attention on my part, despite my love for the game. Both me and some of my players get a lot more out of the game when there's a map.
Thank for sharing your experience. I have got a lot of feedback that people played for years without knowing they had aphantasia. And I am sure I have probably played with many people without knowing it.
As a DM with aphantasia, do you have any tips for coming up with detailed descriptions?
Wow, that is a fascinating question. I think that is where, even for a DM, sound, pictures, and even as mentioned in another comment, smell might becoming beneficial. My mind immediately goes to focusing more on a movie type experience and less book, if that makes sense. Is there anything specific you do?
I'm in the same boat. I almost always forget about descriptions, even when I do put time into prepping them, but on the rare occasions I do focus on them these are my tricks:
In general, offload as much as you can onto play aids like maps and pictures and background audio. AI is a godsend for this in regards to (human) NPCs, and there's some pretty cool sound apps out there too.
Find a picture that's close enough and bring it to the session so you can use that as a basis for you visuals.
Pretend you're a player and ask yourself questions about the space. Write down the answers and turn them into descriptions.
Great info. Thanks!
I've been playing D&D for 40 years with apahantasia, and never even realized it was an issue.
The thing is, I don't care about visualization. It isn't relevant to my enjoyment of the game (probably because I have never visualized anything in the first place)
Same things goes for literature. If I'm reading a fantasy novel, and the author is giving a detailed visual description of a scene, I get bored and skip ahead. I can't see it, I don't care. Get back to the plot.
In literature, and in RPGs, I care about the plot, the characters, the conflict, the mystery, the challenges, and the creative solutions to challenges... etc. and none of that requires a visual (at least not for me).
Exactly. The only time I care about it is when I'm in combat because then it's important for figuring out that challenge. This is why I like maps
Thanks for sharing! Like so many things, we adapt..
Talking about something like this is always difficult and I hope I was clear I don't think it's a negative issue for those who have it. When I was made aware a friend has it I thought it was valuable enough to share. Thank you for sharing your experience. It really is important to hear all sides and like many things, many of us aren't going to let it steal our joy. Thanks again!
@@progressiveDND
Oh no worries. You were clear about that. Many people call it a "disability", and you specifically didn't.
I think it is fascinating to share. We all assume that our individual minds are "normal", and everyone else has a mind that generally works the same. It was only a few years ago that I realized that Aphantasia was a thing at all... I assumed that I was normal. I assumed that when people said to "visualize" something, they were being metaphorical. i.e. if they said "imagine yourself on a beach" for some relaxing technique, I assumed they were talking about imagining the concept of being on a beach, the feeling of being on a beach... I didn't realize people literally saw the beach in their head.
And then there are things like my "inner monologue" where my thoughts are quite literally a silent version of my voice inside my head. It rarely shuts up... and I was surprised to find out that there are people who don't have one. I can't imagine thinking without an inner monologue, but obviously their process of "thinking" is an entirely different (but equally valid) process than mine.
Hey,
Me and my friend are working on a research project trying to answer "How do board games and video games influence emotional and cognitive experiences for individuals with aphantasia?" We have prepared a questionnaire for our research purpose, it would be nice to get some feedback from you if you wish to. We are currently studying Masters in Game Design and Technology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
It would be great to get a reply from you.
Oh boy. Everyone seems to have some negative characteristic about themselves. Can’t we just enjoy a game for a game, and not attribute a poor moment in the game to some subjectively diagnosed intangible disability?
These ideas seem to imply theater of the mind is not ideal. Or if I don’t have detailed descriptions for everything, or having ambient scenes or videos playing that I’m now choosing to exclude specific types of players.
I’m so happy there are many systems and play styles to choose from. So I can now enjoy the game my way and this can be done by others who like that kinda expectation.
Unsub.
Interesting take. I had never heard of this until a good friend told me in game they could not see in their "mind eyes" what was happening on a roof the DM was describing. Perhaps you should do some research before making unfounded statements about others. Unsub accepted. I personally wouldn't want you at my table.
Dude, it's about being accommodating to your friends you play with.
If you don't have any friends that have issues with theater of the kind, then great.
But if you do, visual aids can be great to help your friends possibly enjoy the game a bit more.
Jeez, this is exactly the kind of DM /player that has ruined so many games I've played in. No empathy or willingness to consider others at all.