As an interested reader of erotic stories, I regularly encounter attempts by authors to use gambling as a driving element of their plot. This is understandable – after all, games seemingly offer everything a good story needs: excitement, clear rules and the possibility of surprising twists. But that is precisely where the problem lies.
The crux of chance
A strong protagonist must drive the plot forward with their decisions and actions. As soon as chance takes the upper hand, the story loses emotional depth. The reader doesn’t want to see a lucky winner – they want to see a character who grows, fights and develops.
The Squid Game Lesson
The successful series “Squid Game” impressively demonstrates how games can still be used effectively as a plot device. The key is that the actual suspense does not lie in the outcome of the game, but in the moral decisions and interpersonal conflicts of the participants. The games are merely the catalyst for the actual story.
Erotic games – a special challenge
Let’s now take a closer look at erotic games and their dramaturgical suitability:
Strip poker combines strategic thinking with erotic tension. In reality, it works because the participants are already willing to go along with it and the path to the goal is exciting. In a story, however, the mechanical process often seems contrived – unless the focus is on the psychological level of the participants.
“Truth or Dare“ thrives on group dynamics and the gradual increase in intensity. As a plot element, it can work if the questions or tasks trigger character developments or reveal hidden conflicts.
“Spin the bottle” is particularly difficult from a dramaturgical point of view, as it depends entirely on chance. However, a story needs inner logic and development.
The art of adaptation
In principle, almost any game can be given an erotic charge – from chess to ludo. The key lies in adapting the rules and, above all, the atmosphere. The following applies: the more complex the original rules of the game, the more difficult the erotic adaptation.
However, for a story to be successful, it is crucial that the game is never an end in itself. It must serve as a catalyst for genuine emotional development. The erotic tension should develop from the character dynamics, not from the rules of the game.
Games as a plot device are a dramaturgical challenge. They can work if they are skillfully used as a framework for real character and emotional development. The focus must always be on the characters and their decisions, not on the rules of the game or chance.
