rpg story design tools and tricks?

[C.S.Brewer]

I'm doing another pass of fleshing out the story for UnEarthed Gods and was wondering if you have any tools you like to use for this?

The game has multiple possible endings with the ability to switch between plotlines at different parts of the game. This can get overwhelming!

I've been using index cards with key plot points laid out on a bed.. graphs in a notebook, etc.

I've thought about prototyping the full story in NWN to see what it feels like.

I've thought about setting the story up as a choose your own adventure style text and testing it that way.

Do you have any tricks you like to use to do story prototypes?

[Screwball]

I would use a flowchart, and each point on the flow chart becomes a turning point / fork in your plot. That way you can see where your plot forks out and comes back in etc.

[Jack Norton]

I think the only solution is to make a specific tool for that. I'll face such problems soon (I hope) in future games so I'll let you know what I'll use :)

[C.S.Brewer]

I would use a flowchart, and each point on the flow chart becomes a turning point / fork in your plot. That way you can see where your plot forks out and comes back in etc.

yeah that's what the graphs in my notebook are. Is there a tool you like to use to make flowcharts? My plotlines flowcharts quickly grow larger than a couple pages of notebook paper. I was thinking about abusing a uml design tool to do this, but opted for just eating it and working on pen and paper for now.


I think the only solution is to make a specific tool for that. I'll face such problems soon (I hope) in future games so I'll let you know what I'll use good luck! I'm having success so far with following a single plotline all the way through assuming I pick all the decisions that will just get there, doing that for each of the plots, then weaving together at similar points. we'll see.

[digriz]

Have you tried some storyline plotting software that's used by screen writers and novelists?

This webpage has some software links on it http://www.screenplay.com/home.html

I'm not sure if this is what you need. I personally use Dramatica-Pro but it's quite expensive to buy. There are many cheaper freeware or shareware versions about though.

[C.S.Brewer]

dramatica pro looks cool digriz, though still not quite what I need. It'd be very helpful in working a single plotline out or making a choice change here and there and seeing how it effects the rest of the plot, but still not quite good enough for having multiple plots weaving together.

I looked at a couple of the interactive fiction/ text adventure tools, they look like they might be good for doing a quick test of an interactive story to see if it has the right feel. even better than NWN because you don't have to deal with all the graphics stuff if you just want to focus on the story.

thanks for the pointer though.
-clint

[Ska Software]

Get a bunch of whiteboards, as big as possible. You won't regret it!

[C.S.Brewer]

heh good advice indeed! I've been meaning to replace my old one for a while. I had a small sized one that quickly turned to unusable stains of scribbled marker text.

so far nothing beats good old pencil and paper. I think I'll go the choose your own adventure writing test style, to try the story out.