Table of Contents
Plot Generator: the Card Game
Plot Generator: the Card Game by Peter Cobcroft is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.5 Australia License.
Thanks
With thanks to Marcus L. Rowland for the inspiration. Like his game, the mechanics will be similar to Bartok. Although primarily a solo game to be used by GMs
Key concepts
Plots are divided into four suits - each suit representing a genre, these suits vary according to the setting of the game being run. For example, a Doctor Who game would might have Comedy, Mystery, Horror/Tragedy and Action. Each genre is broken up into 9 levels of intensity and 3 specials (for the court cards) and a wild card (the Ace). Finally the Jokers are used as reversals.
Playing Cards
For a card to be played on another card it must either-
- Be of the same suit and numerically higher or lower in value than the current face-up card (Varying intensity)
- Be of a different suit and numerically the same as the current card (Varying genre)
- Be a Joker (Reverse)
How to play
Either start with a random card, or go through the deck and choose a card to start with. Whenever you need a plot decision - draw cards. You can do this in a number of ways-
- Draw a random card and use it.
- Draw cards until you get one you like and use it. Shuffle the other cards back in.
- Draw cards until one of them matches the Playing Cards“ rule above and play it. Shuffle the other cards back in.”
- Draw a hand of cards (say 5 or 7) and play one that matches the Playing Cards“ rule above. Replace it from the deck and keep your hand of cards until the next time you need a plot decision.”
Cards
Card | Type | Suggested Use |
---|---|---|
Ace | Wild | Choose any intensity for the current genre/suit |
2 | Intensity | Minor - external |
3 | Intensity | Minor - internal |
4 | Intensity | Minor - all |
5 | Intensity | Medium - external |
6 | Intensity | Medium - internal |
7 | Intensity | Medium - all |
8 | Intensity | Major - external |
9 | Intensity | Major - internal |
10 | Intensity | Major - all |
Jack | Special | New character/item/setting |
Queen | Special | Develop an existing character/item/setting |
King | Special | Get rid of a character/item/setting |
Joker | Reversal | Flip the plot or the intensity, threats become friends, enemies - allies, comedy becomes horror etc. |
Files
CategoryGames