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ShortQuests -- individual adventure modules! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed to plug in to your game.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bayonet_Chris" data-source="post: 4281356" data-attributes="member: 34405">Plot vs. StoryFirst thing you have to realize is that a plot does not equal a story. I read a lot of books on how stories are structured (writing stories, etc.) I try to make sure each scene has a reason.Each scene should have some basic question that needs to be answered. The combat or challenge is the conflict that puts the resolution in jeopardy. It's why I've never been a fan of random encounters and why I'm always tinkering with published adventures when I actually run them.Using a non-combat example, the PCs go to the store:Why are the PCs going to the store? Is it just to buy equipment? If that's the case, then it doesn't need a scene. If they're investigating a murder, to use a previous poster's example, then there is the basic question:Scene Question: Do the PCs find out that the gang is responsible for the murder?Conflict: The shopkeeper is scared of the gang and won't rat them out unless he feels safe; a member of the gang shows up in the store to collect protection money half-way through the conversation.Scene Answers: There are four possibilities - Yes (boring) - they find the information and move on to the next step.Yes, but - they find the information, but there is a complication that makes things worse or more dangerous (the gang finds out who ratted them out and the PCs find that the shop has been torched and the shopkeeper kidnapped)No - The shopkeeper doesn't tell them a thing and tells them to go away (which may tell them something in and of itself)No, and furthermore - The shopkeeper tells them to bug off and closes shop. The gang finds out someone is looking into them and decides to pay the PCs a little visit when they're least expecting it.</blockquote>

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