1001 Nights: A Most Pleasant Assault of the Senses

We had a real sultanic–if that’s a word–session recently at the high school gaming club.  We played Meguey Baker’s 1001 Nights: A Game of Enticing Stories and bathed our imaginations in its default, Arabian setting.  It’s a storytelling game with simple rules and enough interesting dice fiddling to keep everybody engaged even if a long-winded, monochromatic character has invaded this enchanted, colorburst of a RPG.  In fact, it is the dice that helps other characters both have a part in directing the story and in attempting to avoid their own beheading, a noble task for little plastic cubes and such.

The game produces a story within a story, and both stories are just dripping with imagery if you take Ms. Baker’s advice to heart.  Her book is a celebration of the sensual wonders that this world can unleash upon those within it.  And to facilitate the players’ transportation to the setting and its mood, the author provides tips for an optimal experience, including clothing and music tips and awesome food ideas that make the mouth water.  A list of setting appropriate, mood evoking names and court positions are provided as well, allowing those unfamiliar with the culture to dig their feet immediately into the sand and to wrap their bodies instantly in the satin. 

Even creating characters requires a pondering of the five senses.  Just picture Serit the Falconer from our session, a character made by an eleventh grade girl and played by her tenth grade brother.

• The wind brings many secrets to my ears.
• My eyes are sharp and bright.
• The scent of leather and oranges flows around me.
• I have a weakness for honey.
• My hands trail over surfaces.

A colorful character for sure.  And aromatic.  And intriguing.  And…

As we made characters and played the game, I could not help but think of the experience as a great tool with which to teach and reinforce the full definition of imagery: language that appeals to the senses.  ALL OF THE SENSES.  Too many times, teachers teach and students remember imagery as simply painting a picture with words, essentially appealing only to the eyes.  But, Meg Baker knows that there is more than desert in these fictional parts; there is also dessert, and this dessert can be feasted upon by eye, ear, tongue, hand, and nose.  It’s a delicious game.  And beautiful.  And pleasing to the touch.  And…

Advertisement