Story Phase Introduction Introduce the setting and characters.

Call to Adventure Incomplete explanation of why the protagonists should accept the call.

First Act Twist Suddenly raise the stakes so that the protagonists feel the call strongly.

Rising Action The antagonists raise the stakes. Occurs along with Gather Resources, below.

Gather Resources The protagonists collect resources, evidence, allies, etc. This happens along with Rising Action, above.

Second Act Twist Offer higher and higher stakes opportunity scenes for the PCs to gather their resources.

Darkest Hour A few scenes where things seem hopeless.

Revelation A single scene to give hope.

Climax Protagonists confront the antagonists and triumph.

Wrap-Up Return to the familiar and see evidence of the heroes’ triumph.

Transition Remind the audience of the lingering conflicts of the larger story.

Pace and Tension

Scene Types

Slow pace with very little tension.

Slow pace. The tension is about the dubious call to adventure.

Several exposition scenes. Maybe some other scene types included just for color. Exposition and opportunity. Usually only one or two scenes.

The tension ramps up quickly with an abrupt rise in stakes. The pace accelerates.

A major revelation in the form of a threat or opportunity scene. This tends to be brief.

The pace increases. Every few scenes, introduce some new unresolved tension.

Several scenes with threats growing in frequency and exposition declining.

The rising tension is offset by increasingly impressive victories as the protagonists assemble resources.

Offer higher and higher stakes opportunity scenes for the protagonists to gather their resources.

The tension is suddenly raised so high the protagonists are shocked. This is the peak of the stakes in the story.

Extremely high stakes threats and exposition that introduces new tension make up the twist. Sometimes the twist is a defeat. Threat after threat, putting the protagonists on the defensive.

These scenes are fast paced, but disempowering and overwhelming. Still fast pace, but a slight relief in tension. The antagonists don’t go down without a fight. High stakes, fast pace.

Relieve tension by tying up loose ends and lowering the stakes. Use the unresolved tension of the larger campaign.

Your Scenes

One big, empowering opportunity. Follow the revelation with a big threat, opening the enemy up for an opportunity scene and defeat. Opportunity scenes with some exposition.

Exposition, or maybe a threat. Should not be an opportunity. http://runagame.blogspot.com/