Um. I need to ask something.
What *is* "The Backrooms" ... ? I don't mean what is the fictional world concept about, but what do you call the way that people are ... playing? Making? this ... RPG? Game? Campfire Story?
If you aren't familiar people interact with "The Backrooms" mostly by making up new areas that can be explored. It's like a RPG where everyone is the DM.
Is there a word for this?
@futurebird As others already said, mythology/mythos seems like the best descriptor to me, but it's almost like we need a new term for this sort of thing.
The development of it reminds me of the Slenderman phenomena from years ago. Both originated from an image on a forum, spawned YouTube short film projects that further defined the mythos, and the overall lore is continuously developed and evolving from the additions of all the fans.
Hmm, this is a fun question to ponder..
I mean I think most people just like to think about "what if it was real?" and find out about the levels people make up (and decide which ones are "real" for myself) ... There aren't any characters, just a lot of world building.
Similar to memes, tropes and other shared worldbuilding like scp foundation.
Also "collaborative storytelling"?
In experiences role-playing, the players might be "part-time DMs" in such a way that they extend the story by themselves, only being nudged back into line when they make up stuff that goes against the overall concept.
As in: "I jump behind a nearby crate to hide."
We are in an abandoned warehouse, a crate being there sounds reasonable, alright.
But not: "I jump behind a nearby crate and discover that it is filled with magical gatling guns."
Unless we have been looking for explicitly that crate, absolutely not...
myrmepropagandist
SerMads the Mad
Not a Spring Onion