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HAVING TROUBLE KICKSTARTING MY PLOT...
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Aegix_Drakan
6037
Aegix_Drakan
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CloseOk, since my main supermegaproject (not RPGMAKER) has stalled a bit, I decided to make a small side project to get more used to writing believable dialogue.
I have a nice simple plot in mind and a bunch of interesting characters thought up to bring it to life....But I can't seem to think of a good way to kick the plot into motion...
The basic idea of the game is it involves a young guy somehow getting dragged into a gang of thieves who are hunting down a legendary treasure (the hero's dad abandoned him when he was young to go find it, joining that gang, and dying a while before the hero joins up). Stuff gets stolen, friends get made, and friends die along the way as the hero grows into his new role as a bandit. There is also a powerful kingdom that rules the two main continents of the game. They're a bit harsh, but they're not evil.
The thing is, I can't think of a neat and clean way to have the naive and not so willing hero to get dragged into the team.
I first thought he'd be straight up abducted and then eventually become a willing member of the team...But that's too stockholm syndrome creepy...
Then I thought he'd try to sneak onboard to escape being drafted into the army...But that doesn't sound quite right...
Then I thought of him being semi abducted, escaping or being let go, then getting arrested by the Kingdom of *insert name here*, and being rescued by the thieves....But that makes the kingdom sound WAY too evil (they're supposed to be harsh, but not your typical evil empire), and it's too convoluted anyway...
If anyone has any ideas, please throw them at me. It can be anything really. I just need some inspiration.
I have a nice simple plot in mind and a bunch of interesting characters thought up to bring it to life....But I can't seem to think of a good way to kick the plot into motion...
The basic idea of the game is it involves a young guy somehow getting dragged into a gang of thieves who are hunting down a legendary treasure (the hero's dad abandoned him when he was young to go find it, joining that gang, and dying a while before the hero joins up). Stuff gets stolen, friends get made, and friends die along the way as the hero grows into his new role as a bandit. There is also a powerful kingdom that rules the two main continents of the game. They're a bit harsh, but they're not evil.
The thing is, I can't think of a neat and clean way to have the naive and not so willing hero to get dragged into the team.
I first thought he'd be straight up abducted and then eventually become a willing member of the team...But that's too stockholm syndrome creepy...
Then I thought he'd try to sneak onboard to escape being drafted into the army...But that doesn't sound quite right...
Then I thought of him being semi abducted, escaping or being let go, then getting arrested by the Kingdom of *insert name here*, and being rescued by the thieves....But that makes the kingdom sound WAY too evil (they're supposed to be harsh, but not your typical evil empire), and it's too convoluted anyway...
If anyone has any ideas, please throw them at me. It can be anything really. I just need some inspiration.
Maybe you need to think of the reasons for why people steal things to begin with: greed, infamy and reputation/to show off, being forced to by another person, mind control, or even just because they can. Ever seen that movie 'Jumper'? It was terrible, but the guy had a magical power that let him jump to any place in the world that he could picture in his mind. Pretty much first thing he did was teleport to a bank and rob it. He didn't need the money, but he did it just because he could. I wouldn't say that this movie was good or worth copying ideas from, but it's just a good example of testing a new power out by doing something a little bit evil or mischievous. Like if you could turn invisible, you probably wouldn't test it by volunteering to help the police or something, you'd more than likely sneak into the bathroom of the opposite sex for a laugh.
Or perhaps this kid is arrogant about his prowess in the theft department and wants to show off in front of a big gang. Maybe he wants a feeling of community and those people are the only ones who would offer him a place to feel as if amongst friends. People fall in with the wrong people all the time, especially thieves/shoplifters.
Just think of a realistic reason for why you'd want to hang out with a person, regardless of whether they were a thief or otherwise. It's only then that you've befriended them that you realise the trouble you're in, and how you're going to continue to fit in amongst them.
Or perhaps this kid is arrogant about his prowess in the theft department and wants to show off in front of a big gang. Maybe he wants a feeling of community and those people are the only ones who would offer him a place to feel as if amongst friends. People fall in with the wrong people all the time, especially thieves/shoplifters.
Just think of a realistic reason for why you'd want to hang out with a person, regardless of whether they were a thief or otherwise. It's only then that you've befriended them that you realise the trouble you're in, and how you're going to continue to fit in amongst them.
Killer Wolf
1235
Sent to infiltrate the gang of thieves.
Follows a pretty lady who turns out to be working with the gang.
Gets drunk and passes out in a vehicle/location belonging to the gang.
Inadvertently assists the gang by arguing or getting in a fight with someone to distract them while the gang robs the place. Is believed to be an accomplice and gets incarcerated with a couple members who he follows when they break out.
Is not aware that they are thieves to start with, innocently thinks he's tagging along with some adventurous archaeologists.
Has a common foe with the gang. Not necessarily the kingdom. Perhaps he has a personal quarrel with someone the gang ripped off and they are both being chased in equal measure. Maybe he had a trist with a noble's wife.
Has a friend who happens to be in the gang, gets drawn into their business out of loyalty to the friend.
Follows a pretty lady who turns out to be working with the gang.
Gets drunk and passes out in a vehicle/location belonging to the gang.
Inadvertently assists the gang by arguing or getting in a fight with someone to distract them while the gang robs the place. Is believed to be an accomplice and gets incarcerated with a couple members who he follows when they break out.
Is not aware that they are thieves to start with, innocently thinks he's tagging along with some adventurous archaeologists.
Has a common foe with the gang. Not necessarily the kingdom. Perhaps he has a personal quarrel with someone the gang ripped off and they are both being chased in equal measure. Maybe he had a trist with a noble's wife.
Has a friend who happens to be in the gang, gets drawn into their business out of loyalty to the friend.
Demicrusaius
877
Those are all great ideas, Killer Wolf. I was thinking that maybe he joins because he is trying to figure out how his dad died. Like, maybe he doesn't even know about the treasure until he's really deep undercover.
Maybe when he finds out the truth about his father he also learns that these archeologists are treasure hunting thieves.
Maybe when he finds out the truth about his father he also learns that these archeologists are treasure hunting thieves.
Billwilliams
1159
Common enemies make for common interests... and a certain betrayal once those enemies have been defeated.
Aegix_Drakan
6037
*takes notes*
Thanks for the ideas so far.
"Inadvertently assists the gang by arguing or getting in a fight with someone to distract them while the gang robs the place. Is believed to be an accomplice and gets incarcerated with a couple members who he follows when they break out."
XD This makes me laugh. I think I might try thinking along those lines and see what I come up with, it's a pretty good idea.
@Caz: I already gave the matter of motivation a lot of thought. There are 12 members of the band of thieves (not counting the hero), and I've given each one their own motivation. Their motivations run the whole course from "seeking adventure" to "proving their skills" to "They have nowhere else to go" to "wanting to belong to something" to "pure, simple greed" and a couple of things in between.
Thanks for the ideas so far.
"Inadvertently assists the gang by arguing or getting in a fight with someone to distract them while the gang robs the place. Is believed to be an accomplice and gets incarcerated with a couple members who he follows when they break out."
XD This makes me laugh. I think I might try thinking along those lines and see what I come up with, it's a pretty good idea.
@Caz: I already gave the matter of motivation a lot of thought. There are 12 members of the band of thieves (not counting the hero), and I've given each one their own motivation. Their motivations run the whole course from "seeking adventure" to "proving their skills" to "They have nowhere else to go" to "wanting to belong to something" to "pure, simple greed" and a couple of things in between.
Maybe how it works is what KillerWolf said earlier, and incorporate more of the story that you made into it. See how you can re-create, change it just a little, and see what you get.
Watch the film City of God and I think you will get some ideas of how people get sucked up into gangs. In fact, most gangster films have something to teach about that.
Presentation and execution > premise
If your characters are likable enough, just about any variant of your misadventure can take off.
That being said. Inadvertently assisting the gang and being marked an accomplice is a major winner in propelling the story and for comedic effect.
I'd couple that with - the protagonist has some important or unusual or ridiculous talent that the gang can't ignore - thereby giving the gang a reason not to ditch him as soon as they escape.
Reasons could be:
A) He's an amazing thief in his own right.
B) He's an absolute beast of a fighter.
C) He possesses the knowledge necessary to obtain the treasure they're looking for (like his father passed it on to him before he died - can't be an object since the gang could then kill the hero and take it from him)
I think you should pick your scenario based on what kind of person you want your protagonist to be.
Whether that means he's the driven man who wants to finish his father's work, or he's the naive young man who gets swept up in misadventures.
That's a big difference for the tone and direction of your plot.
If your characters are likable enough, just about any variant of your misadventure can take off.
That being said. Inadvertently assisting the gang and being marked an accomplice is a major winner in propelling the story and for comedic effect.
I'd couple that with - the protagonist has some important or unusual or ridiculous talent that the gang can't ignore - thereby giving the gang a reason not to ditch him as soon as they escape.
Reasons could be:
A) He's an amazing thief in his own right.
B) He's an absolute beast of a fighter.
C) He possesses the knowledge necessary to obtain the treasure they're looking for (like his father passed it on to him before he died - can't be an object since the gang could then kill the hero and take it from him)
I think you should pick your scenario based on what kind of person you want your protagonist to be.
Whether that means he's the driven man who wants to finish his father's work, or he's the naive young man who gets swept up in misadventures.
That's a big difference for the tone and direction of your plot.
Aegix_Drakan
6037
author=Sauce
That being said. Inadvertently assisting the gang and being marked an accomplice is a major winner in propelling the story and for comedic effect.
I'd couple that with - the protagonist has some important or unusual or ridiculous talent that the gang can't ignore - thereby giving the gang a reason not to ditch him as soon as they escape.
Reasons could be:
C) He possesses the knowledge necessary to obtain the treasure they're looking for (like his father passed it on to him before he died - can't be an object since the gang could then kill the hero and take it from him)
I think you should pick your scenario based on what kind of person you want your protagonist to be.
Whether that means he's the driven man who wants to finish his father's work, or he's the naive young man who gets swept up in misadventures.
That's a big difference for the tone and direction of your plot.
This is a very good point that I hadn't given too much thought too. Thanks for that. *puts on thinking cap*
The trick now is finding a skill that he has that makes him useful to the crew, but not one that makes him so essential that they'd just leave him on the airship and never let him leave...I think it's best that it's related to the treasure they're hunting down, so I'm thinking along that angle for now. ...I first thought he could translate ancient glyphs, but.....Yeah, they'd just park him on the airship to not risk losing him to a rogue harpy attack or what not.
Also there is the fact that his dad was a respected crew member, and that one member in particular looked up to him as a sort of surrogate father.
I'm still working on who I want the hero to "be"...I was originally wanting him to be the naive kid forced to grow up into a harsh new life...but that's sounding kinda meh to me now. I'll probably go with him being driven to find the treasure his dad abandoned him for.
PS, I'm trying to make my game a bit dark, but not overbearingly so. Yes, party members will die (one of them in a way that will haunt the hero for quite a while), but on the other hand it's not supposed to be depressing either. I'm looking for something in between "lighthearted treasure hunt" and "grim reality of thievery".
Thanks a whole bunch for that, it got me thinking in the right ways. I'm gonna give this more thought.
author=Darken
here let me donate some money
*facepalm*
Not THAT kickstarter! XD
Should have known someone would get confused....
His dad being a respected crew member could help with a few things.
First, that gives the gang a bit more of a family feel, that they'd look after him out of respect for his father.
Second, it gives some leeway for dissent and group conflict. Maybe a few members think the kid's a waste of time, don't care much for his father, etc.
To tell you the truth, most RPGs give grossly underdeveloped or outright ignore motivations for party members. If you're gonna write a proper story, you'll have to be careful that certain personality or background elements you establish don't conflict with the direction you want.
First, that gives the gang a bit more of a family feel, that they'd look after him out of respect for his father.
Second, it gives some leeway for dissent and group conflict. Maybe a few members think the kid's a waste of time, don't care much for his father, etc.
To tell you the truth, most RPGs give grossly underdeveloped or outright ignore motivations for party members. If you're gonna write a proper story, you'll have to be careful that certain personality or background elements you establish don't conflict with the direction you want.
Aegix_Drakan
6037
author=Sauce
First, that gives the gang a bit more of a family feel, that they'd look after him out of respect for his father.
Second, it gives some leeway for dissent and group conflict. Maybe a few members think the kid's a waste of time, don't care much for his father, etc.
Both things that I'm aiming for.
The crew is supposed to feel like a loosely tied together family of miscreants. That's one of the motivating factors for a few members to stay.
And the group conflict is something else I want to use. "Knives" (pretty much the resident cutthroat) for example absolutely hates the kid (unless you make the hero take ALL the greedy options when they get presented. At which point he'll warm right up to the kid).
author=Sauce
To tell you the truth, most RPGs give grossly underdeveloped or outright ignore motivations for party members. If you're gonna write a proper story, you'll have to be careful that certain personality or background elements you establish don't conflict with the direction you want.
As someone who LOVES RPGs, I've noticed this problem.
The huge group project I'm working on (that has stalled) has had that point up as a major focal point ever since we decided to start from scratch with Unity rather than RMXP, and thus revise the WHOLE story. Making believable characters is hard. Giving them proper motivations and interactions between members and using that to help propel the story is HARD.
Hence one of the main reasons I'm making this side project. I want to get more experience writing interactions between a large team of different people, and using the characters to make the story memorable rather than just replying on a good premise/plot.
It seems like your hero needs a motive all his own. Often in fiction the bad guys are the ones who move the plot along, while the good guys are the ones who react to the villains' activities. It is however a mistake to think of the heroes as passive; often heroes become passionate and dedicated to stopping evil because they answer the call to stop an injustice, and it's never too early in the story to imube your character with said passion.
Instead of having the hero be a naive boy who gets roped into a life of crime, why not have him be motivated by a desire to find out what happened to his father, or to get back at the gang members he suspects were responsible for the death of his dad. He could initially be motivated by revenge, but that motive could create a conflict in his character when he starts to make friends with the members of the gang, and even more so when his activities start to get him in serious trouble with the law. Right there you have a complex and interesting character who you can build relationships with and who can move the plot along in a number of interesting ways. You will always be able to avoid tired clichés if your characters have passions and agendas of their own. Remember, everyone is the hero of their own story!
Instead of having the hero be a naive boy who gets roped into a life of crime, why not have him be motivated by a desire to find out what happened to his father, or to get back at the gang members he suspects were responsible for the death of his dad. He could initially be motivated by revenge, but that motive could create a conflict in his character when he starts to make friends with the members of the gang, and even more so when his activities start to get him in serious trouble with the law. Right there you have a complex and interesting character who you can build relationships with and who can move the plot along in a number of interesting ways. You will always be able to avoid tired clichés if your characters have passions and agendas of their own. Remember, everyone is the hero of their own story!
Aegix_Drakan
6037
:) Thanks for the help guys. I got started on it today, got one early scene done so far.
Gonna keep making smaller scenes form near the start until I figure out exactly how I want the hero to accidentally help the gang out.
Gonna keep making smaller scenes form near the start until I figure out exactly how I want the hero to accidentally help the gang out.
You could flip the situation on its head if you wanted, assuming the kid is kind of from the wrong side of the tracks anyway, and have him starting out trying to reluctantly steal some food from one of the members because he's starving (not realising the guy's a thief himself).
He's caught, obviously, but said member decides to have some fun and see if he can turn this hopeless little kid into a proper thief.
He's caught, obviously, but said member decides to have some fun and see if he can turn this hopeless little kid into a proper thief.
thatbennyguy
1612
Why not just have him say, "I want to be a thief", and then in the next scene he's become a thief.
Aegix_Drakan
6037
After giving it some thought over sleep, I'm actually thinking of having him attempt to rob the same place as the gang (for something connected to the lost city), but he gets there a smidgen too late...and is assumed to be a member of the gang.
WAY better than my original idea of him getting caught up in a fight with some soldiers who mistake him for one of the thieves. Although that did lead to the funny moment of "Seriously? Look at my face *has face graphic in window*...and then look at the poster *shows other thief*. Do I look ANYTHING like this guy?". (hint, they don't. They just both have brown hair)
*shudders* Deus ex machina.....Unless it's done properly and the rest of the narrative is amazing and can work around your DEM moment...It can wreck a story.
I saw one DEM-ish moment pop up in Xenoblade (which I love) and it nearly turned me off the story completely. Without spoilers, I'll just say that they broke one of the "rules" that the story had established for something, and it made me go "wait, WHAT?! That makes no sense!". It took another 2 hours before any kind of explanation was given and even then....Meh.
Because that would be boring? And Jarring? No offense.
WAY better than my original idea of him getting caught up in a fight with some soldiers who mistake him for one of the thieves. Although that did lead to the funny moment of "Seriously? Look at my face *has face graphic in window*...and then look at the poster *shows other thief*. Do I look ANYTHING like this guy?". (hint, they don't. They just both have brown hair)
author=Trihan
Yeah! Who needs motivation or narrative consistency when you have deus ex machina!
*shudders* Deus ex machina.....Unless it's done properly and the rest of the narrative is amazing and can work around your DEM moment...It can wreck a story.
I saw one DEM-ish moment pop up in Xenoblade (which I love) and it nearly turned me off the story completely. Without spoilers, I'll just say that they broke one of the "rules" that the story had established for something, and it made me go "wait, WHAT?! That makes no sense!". It took another 2 hours before any kind of explanation was given and even then....Meh.
author=thatbennyguy
Why not just have him say, "I want to be a thief", and then in the next scene he's become a thief.
Because that would be boring? And Jarring? No offense.
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