Plot

[buzz]

Rich Redman's latest Bullet Points column for d20M had this little tidbit:

...the "plot" of an adventure is what happens if the heroes do nothing.

I swear, I've never seen so much good advice packed into a single phrase.

Full article: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20modern/fb/20050222a

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

So very true. Yet another reason for us DMs to band together and rid the world of those disruptive PCs.

 

[Crothian]

That is a very good and inforamtive idea. It says so much with so little. What would really be interesting is if adventures actually included what would happen if the Players did not do anything..

 

[BiggusGeekus]

What would really be interesting is if adventures actually included what would happen if the Players did not do anything..

[spam]

Yes.

[/spam]

 

[buzz]

That is a very good and inforamtive idea. It says so much with so little. What would really be interesting is if adventures actually included what would happen if the Players did not do anything..

City of the Spider Queen does this. I'm prepping it for an upcoming mini-campaign.

I just really like the idea. I always tend ot include the PCs when I'm figuring out "plot", and that's exactly the wrong thing to do. It leaves you unprepared or else makes you railroad.

The whole article is very good. Kudos to Mr. Redman.

 

[Rudar Dimble]

City of the Spider Queen does this. I'm prepping it for an upcoming mini-campaign.

I just really like the idea. I always tend ot include the PCs when I'm figuring out "plot", and that's exactly the wrong thing to do. It leaves you unprepared or else makes you railroad.

The whole article is very good. Kudos to Mr. Redman.

I think most DM's do that when they create their first quests. With some DM-ing experience you learn that, when you know what's going to happen when the PC's do nothing, it's easier to improvise and make the world feel real...

 

[MonsterMash]

Thanks for the link, as I very rarely visit the WotC boards I would have missed this.

 

[Hand of Evil]

This is all stuff that has been said for years by different people.

 

[shilsen]

... the "plot" of an adventure is what happens if the heroes do nothing...

I'll beg to differ. For me, the plot of the adventure is what the PCs choose to do. The BBEG's army besieging a town isn't the plot for me. It's the backdrop for the plot. PCs lead a valiant defense? Then that's the plot. PCs decide to sneak the target of the BBEG out through the enemy lines? Then that's the plot. PCs decide they're all going to die anyway and commit suicide? Then that's the plot, albeit a very short one

I think Rich uses his definition because of the following lines from his article:

When I worked on the Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game, my boss (Mike Selinker) established a guideline that stuck with me: Write everything from the opponent's point of view. Super heroes are primarily reactive -- in general, they take no actions unless someone commits a crime.

I personally like my PCs (whether I'm a player or DM) to be proactive rather than reactive and usually find ways to facilitate that. So I prefer having the PCs create the plot.

 

[cmanos]

I agree that characters should be proactive and there should be some plot revolvinga round them, but thats not the only plot out there. If the characters want to take out the BBEG, but the BBEG has no plans to conquer or despoil or destroy, what makes him a BBEG? The Evil needs an agenda and a timeline.

EVIL AGENDA

• Networking the arch devils, coffee and bagels provided.
• Prepare sacrifice
• send out guards to patrol for intruders
• begin ritual
• sacrifice virgin
• become all powerful and take over the world
• cue the DJ, dim the house lights and pass out the glow sticks