“Nothing moves forward in a story except through conflict,” Robert McKee, Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting

Great writers throughout time have expressed this idea better than I can, but without conflict, there is no story. Conflict is the engine that drives the action forward. And what was true for the first novel is still relevant for collaborative storytelling and RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons: conflict is what motivates characters, fuels drama, keeps players invested, and crafts memorable moments. Conflict is the story.

But conflict is more than just sword fights, battles, and explosions. In this guide, we’ll break down why conflict matters, explore different types of conflict you can layer together, and share practical techniques for weaving conflict in a positive way into your next gameday. Hopefully, this will help you create meaningful conflict in your next session or campaign that will drive the story forward and keep your players coming back for more.

WHY CONFLICT MATTERS

At its heart, conflict means opposition, anything that stands between a character and their goal. The most fundamental conflict in modern storytelling is between the protagonist and the antagonist. The protagonist wants something (friendship, treasure, home), and the antagonist, not always a person, stands in their way. It is the entire reason the story exists and is being told. This antagonist and protagonist relationship is usually the easiest form of conflict to recognize in your RPG campaign, ie: The Group vs the Big Bad.

But other, more subtle forms of conflict can and should be incorporated into your next session or campaign. When effectively woven into a story, these types of conflict can elevate simple encounters, dialogue, or side quests. It adds depth to the world, making it feel more alive. It can force meaningful choices, and when players know their decisions carry weight, they become invested in the outcomes. Conflict also offers an opportunity for character growth and development. It sets up impactful scenes that progress the narrative and creates moments that your table will never forget. Said differently, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

PUTTING CONFLICT INTO PLAY

While in-character conflict can be a goldmine for drama, out-of-character conflict can ruin a campaign. That’s why it is important, first and foremost, to talk with your players to gauge their appetite for types and amounts of conflict. Sometimes people already have enough conflict in their everyday life that they are looking for simplicity and clear good vs evil in their game night. So, just be conscious of what everyone in the group finds enjoyable. Here are some simple tips to make sure that you are incorporating conflict in the right way and for the right reasons.

• Use Session Zero to set expectations: Ask about comfort levels with PvP, betrayal, or moral ambiguity.
• Check in regularly: Use tools like the X-Card or simple check-ins to ensure everyone’s enjoying the tension.
• Make sure conflict serves the story and not ego: Encourage players to lean into story-driven disagreements, not player-driven spite.
• Read the room: Not every player will voice their discomfort with a situation, especially if the rest of the group really enjoys it, but be sure to keep an eye on everyone in tense situations and lessen the conflict accordingly.
• Keep the conflict in-world: Make sure everyone understands that the conflict should be character vs character, not player vs player. Don’t seek to humiliate a player based on how they did or didn’t handle a conflict.

Once you have established the ground rules with your group, now you can start finding potential sources of conflict. One of the easiest ways of doing this is simply asking your players some questions: 

• “What does your character want most?”
• “Why did your character join this group?”
• “Who is your oldest adversary?”
• “What are you most afraid of?”
• “When did you decide to pursue adventuring?”

This allows your players to define what is important to their characters and makes the conflict more meaningful for them. It also opens the door for more collaborative storytelling and will give the world more of a grassroots or organic feel. And once you know what the characters want, then you can introduce obstacles or adversaries with the opposite agenda.

Don’t forget to shine a light on internal struggles. Run flashbacks or visions that tug at past oaths or beliefs, then present choices that test those values. Foils and mirrors deepen the tension and surfaces more opportunities for conflict. Imagine a “dark mirror” NPC who shares the party’s goals but favors ruthless methods. That is a two-for-one conflict package, because it takes an external conflict to expose an inner one. That reflection can spark powerful growth as players weigh what they truly value.

Adding in an element of time pressure also helps to compound the conflict. For example, a ritual completing at dawn or a volcano getting ready to erupt, forces hard choices under fire… or lava. If you are looking for more ways to incorporate or improve urgency in your campaign or session, be sure to check out this helpful guide.

TYPES OF CONFLICT AND HOW TO USE THEM

Great campaigns layer multiple forms of conflict together for depth and variety. Think of these as storytelling tools you can mix and match. Varying your forms of conflict will help avoid party fatigue and helps to keep things fresh instead of constantly rolling for initiative. It also forces characters and players to be more collaborative, versatile, well-rounded, and pushes creative problem-solving.

• Character vs. Character: This is the easiest form of conflict to spot and incorporate. Good vs evil. Cops vs robbers. Elevate the conflict by making it not so one-dimensional or obvious. Introduce multiple competing world views or leave the “who’s right and who’s wrong” up to interpretation.
• Character vs. Society: Give your characters a vibrant and living world to occupy. They don’t exist in a vacuum, so be sure to give societies their own goals and values that are sometimes at odds with the group. Oppressive laws, cultural taboos, and bureaucratic red tape can sometimes prove harder for the group to overcome than just a gang of bandits.
• Character vs. Nature: Sometimes, staying alive can be a challenge even outside of battle. Hunger, fatigue, and extreme weather are great sources of conflict. Treat the environment as an active opponent. This creates a series of challenges and obstacles that can’t simply be solved by swinging a sword or blasting a fireball. It forces characters to be well-rounded and players to be creative problem solvers.
• Character vs. Self: This can be one of the most interesting forms of conflict. Inner flaws, past oaths, or old regrets shape characters and help frame up meaningful decisions. Sometimes internal conflict can spill over and impact the entire group. Not only is this an interesting and subtle form of conflict, but it also allows for character growth and development.
• Character vs. the Supernatural: The first modern stories, The Epic of Gilgamesh being an obvious example, all addressed big religious and spiritual questions about life. This was usually done in the story through characters interacting with or fighting against gods. Now, you don’t need to tackle heavy subjects like the meaning of life (obviously 42) or “what happens after you die” during your game night, but introducing supernatural elements or deities allows you to introduce some interesting conflict and/or moral ambiguity.
• Interparty Conflict: Life is complicated, messy, and usually has few obvious “right ways”. Use interparty conflict to challenge your group to work together and form a consensus. This offers a chance for collaboration and growth because sometimes, how a problem is dealt with is more important than the final outcome. This form of conflict does need to be treated carefully because it has the potential to spill over out of the game. So be careful when incorporating it to make sure that everyone is having a good time.

INSTANT CONFLICT HOOKS

Need a quick spark of tension? Drop one of these into your next session:

1. Rival Adventurers: Another party is pursuing the same goal, but their unscrupulous methods have given them a material advantage.
2. Impossible Choice: Rescue villagers under attack or stop the villain’s escape; you can’t do both.
3. Deceptive Patron: Your quest giver is withholding information from you, but you don’t know what.
4. Oath vs. Necessity: A paladin’s sacred vow clashes with the only way to save a friend.
5. Sacrifice for Love: Your one true love is put in danger due to your lifestyle. Do you push them away or change your ways?

WRAPPING UP

Conflict is the foundation for the whole story. It fosters tension, drives character growth, and ensures your campaign remains unforgettable. By mixing external threats with internal dilemmas, tying every choice to real consequences, and maintaining a supportive table culture, you’ll craft stories that are remembered long after the dice stop rolling.

What has worked well at your table? Share your stories and/or advice in the comments below, or join us on Discord!!