d20 of Plot Patterns

20240213

OK, so after yesterday’s breakdown of plot beat patterns, I couldn’t help but try to “essentialize” all this information further… and turn it into a d20 table. The third column are possible middles or plots. They’re the most sensible ones. But nothing is stopping you from taking a DSR and going off in a totally different BWO if you can make it work.

	Plot Pattern	Possible Middles
1	HURT (Cursed, Poisoned, Injured)	If cure known, go get it (M) If cure unknown, figure it out (I)
2	LOST (Abducted, abused, caught, imprisoned, missing, or abandoned)	If ally, rescue op (M) If hero, escape op (M)
3	WRONGED (Murdered, betrayed, raped, conned, lied to)	If perp known, chase & revenge (E). May be kill, steal, lawsuit, etc. If perp unknown, figure out who (I)
4	WHITE ELEPHANT (Gift or Quest bad or a trap, must get rid of or get out of it)	If gift, ring to Mordor (M) If job, walk into trap (M) Quest: deliver, fetch, visit, take over, etc.
5	MONKEY’S PAW (Gift or Quest has hidden costs, side effects, consequences)	Enjoy in 2a, learn in 2b (E) Quest: deliver, fetch, visit, take over, etc. If hero, win hearts and sacrifice (E)
6	MYSTERY BOX (Gift or Quest is of unknown qualities, must figure out what it does)	Go figure it out (I), fuck around and find out
7	COMING of AGE (losing virginity, first love/house/job, coming out, pregnancy)	Go on misadventures (M) to discover self and mature (C)
8	LETTING GO (midlife, empty nest, retirement, addiction)	Go on misadventures (M) to reject change before acceptance (C)
9	SEPARATION (breakup, divorce, empty nest, death, fired)	Go on misadventures (M) to deal with loss before acceptance (C)
10	WARNING (threat or rumor of villain, disaster, or bad news coming)	If Alamo, prep defense and fight (M) If Overrun, prep and run (M)
11	GLIMPSE (Witness crime due to wrong place, wrong time)	If caught, flee and expose (M) Or get sucked into underworld (M) If uncaught, work incognito and plot exposé (E)
12	SECRET (Accidentally see affair, real identity, secret life, real age, scandal)	If caught, abuse & exploit (E) If uncaught, blackmail & expose (E) If reverse, beg or “deal with it” (E)
13	DOUBT (Routine, ritual, or rite called into question, blind loyalty shaken)	If first time, crisis of faith (C) If last straw, start rebellion (E)
14	TASTE (Routine activity gets an extra boost, wants more of that)	If first time, chase high (E) If addict, deal with excess (C)
15	FISH>WATER (Goes to new environment)	If Bumpkin, get burnt and survive (M) If Savant, climb ladder and rule (M)
16	REUNION (Meet old friend, colleague, lover, estranged relations)	Explore what could’ve been (C) Or deal with unfinished business (E)
17	RIVAL (New guy challenges Prot)	Compete in a contest for top dog (E)
18	ROOKIE (New guy needs to be brought into the circle)	If abusive, exploit/haze (E) If tight-knit, win over one at a time (E)
19	STRANGER (Why is this guy acting weird, assholey, or not conforming?)	If lover, figure out and fall in love (I) If traitor, figure out before too late (I) If weird, learn their culture (C)
20	CRIME (Case assigned to detective, P.I. or Scooby Gang nosing in)	Solve it (I)