Not all stories need conflict

I'm new to DnD, i am a storyteller though. Poetry and Prose, and also read and watch a lot of fantasy/sci-fi/magical-realism. I operate under the assumption that not all stories require conflict. Well told stories can be driven by curiosity. You don't need to agree. We all have unique views. Curious if anyone can point me toward that type of gameplay/group storytelling. A post that already addresses this?  Or Particular games or worlds? DMs who are trying to collectively world-build like that? We live in dystopia, I want to think about what we could have if we swerved. 

Not really my area, but I'll give it a try. Charades. Pictionary.  Those kind of games can be played for free on Roll20 without adding any materials, just using the built-in tabletop features.  Within the usual context of RPG systems on Roll20... you could try looking into some titles like these I've heard about, for being able to have non-violent gameplay or low violence, but not necessarily touted as conflict-free : Kids on Bikes Tales From the Loop Star Trek  Monsterhearts Otherwise maybe just making up your own game

Not sure this fits, but there was a game a few years back, " Microscope ." "These are all examples of Microscope games. Want to explore an epic history of your own creation, hundreds or thousands of years long, all in an afternoon? That's Microscope. You won't play the game in chronological order. You can defy the limits of time and space, jumping backward or forward to explore the parts of the history that interest you. Want to leap a thousand years into the future and see how an institution shaped society? Want to jump back to the childhood of the king you just saw assassinated and find out what made him such a hated ruler? That’s normal in Microscope. You have vast power to create... and to destroy. Build beautiful, tranquil jewels of civilization and then consume them with nuclear fire. Zoom out to watch the majestic tide of history wash across empires, then zoom in and explore the lives of the people who endured it." Fundamentally, I disagree with the thesis of your post, and maybe we just disagree on definitions. All good stories need conflict. But, the nature of the conflict can be anything, not merely physical fights, nor even against other people. A man races to get somewhere. He's in conflict with time itself, and perhaps obstacles which delay him. A woman wants to bake a cake. She's in conflict with the ingredients, and perhaps her own skill as a baker. If you just mean fighting, ignore me. We agree on that.

That looks interesting! I'll take a look . It doesn't need to avoid conflict. but the way i have learned to see stories, is that conflict isn't necessary, just one possible plot tool in a journey of curiosity. Here is a little info on the 4 act story structure from China/Japan/Korea, depending on how/when it's being used. <a href="https://artofnarrative.com/2020/07/08/kishotenketsu-exploring-the-four-act-story-structure/" rel="nofollow">https://artofnarrative.com/2020/07/08/kishotenketsu-exploring-the-four-act-story-structure/</a>

Sa A. said: That looks interesting! I'll take a look . It doesn't need to avoid conflict. but the way i have learned to see stories, is that conflict isn't necessary, just one possible plot tool in a journey of curiosity. Here is a little info on the 4 act story structure from China/Japan/Korea, depending on how/when it's being used. <a href="https://artofnarrative.com/2020/07/08/kishotenketsu-exploring-the-four-act-story-structure/" rel="nofollow">https://artofnarrative.com/2020/07/08/kishotenketsu-exploring-the-four-act-story-structure/</a> Thanks for posting that link. Good luck finding your group. You might be interested in something like FATE that is less reliant on builds and stuff. However, it is extremely possible to find a group of D&amp;D or Pathfinder players that want to go against the grain and play a more talky than stabby sort of game.

you could go with a deep space exploration game, mapping a subsector, using something like Traveller.&nbsp; If you never ran into any others it would be pure exploration. A lot of players would find that undramatic and boring.&nbsp; You might also consider a solo game using a solo game engine, where your character is essentially an explorer in a fantasy or science fiction setting.&nbsp; Star Trek has such a solo set also, but there tends to be conflict...at times.

This is very much a word game.&nbsp; I would say all good stories revolve around conflict, but the type of conflict may be what you are saying here.&nbsp; Not all stories need physical conflicts, like shoot outs, sword fights, that sort of thing.&nbsp; I think you might be saying that, if so, I agree.&nbsp;&nbsp; Some game systems you can run with little or no physical conflict are like Vampire, this could be all politics and intrigue, Pendragon is another, same sort of thing.&nbsp; There is a Dune RPG, all focused on social and political conflict, the rules for combat are very weak IMHO. The system you may also try is GURPS, and there is a good Star Trek(if you can find it) from the 1990's that is more like TNG star trek.

Thanks so much for all the possible options to explore. I appreciate ya'all for giving it a good think.

Have a look at Bubblegumshoe from Evil Hat Productions.You can set it up so there's only social conflict, i.e., Throwdowns . <a href="https://evilhat.com/product/bubblegumshoe/" rel="nofollow">https://evilhat.com/product/bubblegumshoe/</a>

sounds like the genre you're looking for is Slice of Life. As was mentioned earlier, Ryuutama might have what you seek.

Stories, by definition of the type, require conflict. It might not be combat, but anything that is used to challenge your heroes is considered a conflict of sorts. Be it verbal debate with local shopkeeper as they haggle for better price, or explain to local lord why they will not kill the troll because they are "eco friendly" and live by nature(Even if said nature is frequently raiding farmlands and destroying populations chance to survive and thrive). It matters not how you look at it. Conflict is a must in some way, shape or form. Even in slice of life, your everyday problems are form of conflict and how you resolve them is determined by your abilities. But yes, some might prefer to use word challenge to describe this. But in the end. It is all the same.

I think you would like "Wanderhome" by&nbsp;Possum Creek Games. It's billed as a "a pastoral fantasy role-playing game about traveling animal-folk, the world they inhabit, and the way the seasons change , &nbsp;and used the No Dice, No Masters engine - which, as implied, doesn't have any dice rolls and is GMless (though you can have a Guide take up something of that position). I've wanted to try it for a while.