Glossary

Campaign

• Definition: The overarching story or narrative journey that unfolds over multiple sessions. A campaign serves as the "book" of your RPG experience, ranging from a short, self-contained story to an epic saga that spans months or years. It encapsulates the themes, conflicts, and goals of the story, providing a framework for the players’ adventures and character development.

Story Arc

• Definition: A major storyline within the campaign, often revolving around a central conflict, goal, or theme. Story arcs form the foundation of the campaign’s narrative, highlighting key turning points, challenges, and resolutions. They are the "acts" in the larger "book" of the campaign, guiding the progression of the story and the evolution of the characters.

Act

• Definition: A distinct chapter or phase within the story arc. Acts divide the campaign into smaller, more manageable narrative beats, each with its own focus, stakes, and objectives. Acts help GMs structure gameplay, ensuring pacing and player engagement as the story unfolds.

Organization

• An organization in an RPG fantasy world is a structured group with shared goals, values, and roles that influence the world’s dynamics. Organizations can range from political factions and religious sects to mercenary guilds and criminal networks, driving tension, conflict, and storytelling through their actions and relationships with others.

Encounter

• Definition: A scenario or challenge presented to the players, requiring them to make decisions, take actions, and react to the world around them. Encounters are the building blocks of gameplay and can include combat, exploration, roleplay, puzzles, or social interactions.

  • Key Encounter Types:

    • Combat Encounters: Battles with enemies or monsters.

    • Exploration Encounters: Discovering new locations or solving environmental challenges.

    • Roleplay Encounters: Interacting with NPCs to uncover information or build alliances.

    • Puzzle/Trap Encounters: Solving riddles or disarming traps to progress.

    • Dynamic Encounters: Scenarios that adapt based on player choices or actions.

Campaign Outline

• Definition: A high-level summary of the campaign, used to map out the narrative, key conflicts, and major characters. This outline serves as the blueprint for the GM and can be used to train AI or assist in collaborative campaign development.

Modified Story Spine

• Definition: A narrative framework adapted from Pixar’s Story Spine, guiding GMs in structuring their story with clear beginnings, middles, and ends. It helps ensure that the story remains cohesive while allowing flexibility for player-driven choices.

Problems

• Definition: The challenges, obstacles, and conflicts the players must overcome during the campaign. These can be broken into:

  • Global Problem: The overarching issue that drives the campaign’s primary narrative, impacting the entire world or setting.

  • Local Problems: Smaller, more immediate challenges tied to specific characters, regions, or acts, often stemming from the global problem.

Backstory

• Definition: The personal history of a player character, providing depth and motivation. Backstories often tie into the story arc, creating a personal stake for the character and enhancing roleplay opportunities.