Building Theory-Craftable Worlds: Lessons from Deltarune and FNAF

Building Theory-Craftable Worlds: Lessons from Deltarune and FNAF

Author: Josh Varty and Kristoffer Hansen May 8, 2026 Duration: 14:46

How do you build a world that players can’t stop talking about between sessions?

In this video, we analyze the narrative techniques used by Toby Fox in Deltarune and Scott Cawthon in Five Nights at Freddy’s to create "theory-shaped holes." Using the lens of a Tabletop RPG Game Master, we break down five specific strategies for building mysteries that encourage deep engagement and player speculation.

Topics covered in this breakdown:

  • Character Gaps: Using selective backstories—and conspicuous absences—to create narrative anchors like Ralsei.
  • Lies and Misinformation: Why unreliable narrators and conflicting information are essential for player agency.
  • Bicameral Division: The power of dual worlds (Light World vs. Dark World) in creating doubt and curiosity.
  • Mechanical Echoes: How "useless" items, like the Egg, serve as fuel for community theories.
  • The Art of Silence: Why the most important thing a narrator or DM can do is stay quiet.

Whether you are a Game Master looking to improve your campaign's mystery or a fan of mascot horror lore, these principles of "shutting up" and "environmental storytelling" provide a roadmap for creating immersive, theory-heavy worlds.


In No Plot, Only Lore, hosts Josh Varty and Kristoffer Hansen settle in for a conversation that feels like pulling up a chair at a familiar table. Their focus is the intricate, often messy, and deeply rewarding world of collaborative storytelling games, examining them not as rulebooks to be won but as frameworks for shared imagination. Each episode digs into the craft behind these experiences-how a setting’s history shapes a character’s decision, why a particular game mechanic fosters better stories, or what it means to build a narrative together without a predetermined endpoint. You’ll hear two seasoned practitioners reflect on the subtle art of being a player and a guide, discussing the tools and philosophies that transform a simple game night into a memorable saga. This podcast is for anyone who has ever gotten lost in a character’s backstory or spent more time discussing a campaign’s lore than actually rolling dice. It’s a thoughtful, meandering, and personal look at the stories we tell when we play, offering insights that resonate long after the session ends. Join Josh and Kristoffer for a deep, comfortable dive into the heart of why we gather to imagine together.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 93

No Plot, Only Lore
Podcast Episodes
Rule of Cool: Is It a DM Crutch or a Creative Tool? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Eating monsters! How would you cook them? What would they taste like? Are they dangerous? Poisonous? Does a gorgon have metal blood?
Table Apocalypses and Chaos Goblins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In this episode of No Plot, Only Lore, DMs Josh and Kris explore what happens when the dice, the players, or the DM’s own ego send a campaign spiraling into a "table apocalypse." The guys kick things off with a detour in…
Mouthful of Blood: Hooks and Player Buy-In [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In this episode of No Plot, Only Lore, DMs Josh and Chris dive into the messy, often unpredictable world of player engagement. The conversation starts in a surprisingly morbid place as Josh shares stories about his famil…
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DescriptionIn this special "Too Much Lore" installment of No Plot, Only Lore, Josh and Chris take a thermal detonator to the concept of over-explanation. What starts as a debate over the "Star Wars Canon Reset" quickly t…
Too Much Lore: Dads, Robots and the Keywork Trap - Coheed and Cambria [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Concept vs. Reality: The Coheed Lore MapThe "Keywork" is a fascinating visual concept that suffers from what the guys call "amateur writing syndrome"—where a cool name (like a "Jackhammer" spaceship) is eventually reveal…
Dragon Claus 4: Last Minute Christmas Shopping [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In which we discuss some of our history with tabletop games retail, and also what sorts of things you can buy for your favorite D&D nerd!
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We talk about some characters from Christmas and what you might steal for your D&D games. Want to play Santa? Or Frosty? Or... Jesus? Let's talk about it!