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<blockquote data-quote="Manbearcat" data-source="post: 9246652" data-attributes="member: 6696971"><p>Just want to clarify what I’m pointing at and what I’m not pointing at when I use the term “metaplot.” All three of the below bullet points in concert:</p><p></p><p>* A sequence of plot points to be mapped onto play, as forcibly as required, which serve as a (or the) governing throughline.</p><p></p><p>* Significantly or wholly insensitive to system and/or player input. In fact, system might be the primary vector to ensure “the metaplot stays online” or is revealed; like exposition dumps or "access the plot point" via Knowledge checks or Fail Forward action resolution that indexes “what the plot needs” rather than player intent.</p><p></p><p>* The initial conditions are not an outgrowth of play and/or are typically insensitive to PC build.</p><p></p><p>[HR][/HR]</p><p></p><p>So these do not apply:</p><p></p><p>* Conflict-charged sandboxes or settings with premise-and-character-centered obstacles/dangers/threats/problems (Blades in the Dark, Stonetop, Dogs in the Vineyard, 4e's Points of Light, Torchbearer's Middarmark, etc) which serve to provoke player action, which in turn generates bread crumbs for the GM to follow, which in turn generates momentum for play and ultimately generates throughline.</p><p></p><p>* Apocalypse World's (et al) prep which gives you situation-framing material and generates Fronts (like Blades generates Setting and Faction Clocks) which are sensitive to player and system inputs.</p><p></p><p>* The Between's Mastermind, Threat model, and the embedded Threats in most Playbooks as the shape these give play are both player-contingent and system & play sensitive.</p><p></p><p>* My Life With Master's tightly structured premise, setting, and loop as the Master is created by the table (which serves as the initial protagonist and the point of play is finding out if the Minions can wrest the protagonism away from The Master) and the course/shape of play is wholly player-centered and system-sensitive.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Manbearcat, post: 9246652, member: 6696971"] Just want to clarify what I’m pointing at and what I’m not pointing at when I use the term “metaplot.” All three of the below bullet points in concert: * A sequence of plot points to be mapped onto play, as forcibly as required, which serve as a (or the) governing throughline. * Significantly or wholly insensitive to system and/or player input. In fact, system might be the primary vector to ensure “the metaplot stays online” or is revealed; like exposition dumps or "access the plot point" via Knowledge checks or Fail Forward action resolution that indexes “what the plot needs” rather than player intent. * The initial conditions are not an outgrowth of play and/or are typically insensitive to PC build. [HR][/HR] So these do not apply: * Conflict-charged sandboxes or settings with premise-and-character-centered obstacles/dangers/threats/problems (Blades in the Dark, Stonetop, Dogs in the Vineyard, 4e's Points of Light, Torchbearer's Middarmark, etc) which serve to provoke player action, which in turn generates bread crumbs for the GM to follow, which in turn generates momentum for play and ultimately generates throughline. * Apocalypse World's (et al) prep which gives you situation-framing material and generates Fronts (like Blades generates Setting and Faction Clocks) which are sensitive to player and system inputs. * The Between's Mastermind, Threat model, and the embedded Threats in most Playbooks as the shape these give play are both player-contingent and system & play sensitive. * My Life With Master's tightly structured premise, setting, and loop as the Master is created by the table (which serves as the initial protagonist and the point of play is finding out if the Minions can wrest the protagonism away from The Master) and the course/shape of play is wholly player-centered and system-sensitive. [/QUOTE]
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