Using Solo RPG Tools for Creative Writing - Outlining With the Oracle

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon on the Lizard Man Diaries's Discord. Michael Raston is a dear friend of mine, we've collaborated on Nauti Mofos! and I'm truly impressed that his The Galactic Realm of The Hyperspace Sea was born as a hack of my silly little 'Tunnel Goons but make it d20" game GD20 (ie Generic/General d20, I am ever so clever with names.) We were discussing writing and as things often do between us, one idea lead to another and Michael started a cool project that I'll let him talk him about when he's ready. Point being, this project of his had me running my mouth about using Solo RPG tools to aid in the creative writing process, and I was asked for an example of how it worked. Rather than show off the horror show that are an aspiring writer's notes/outlines, I offered to do it live. For the sake of prosperity and in the hope it will aid others, I turned that discussion into this blog post.

Tools Used:

The Oracle by Ray Otus
Names & Titles Generator by Nate Treme
Modern Dispatch (#42): Pulp Adventure Generator from Adamant Entertainment

To start we need a concept for a story, you could do this with various things but to save time let's go with the following;

Concept: Gordimi Bamelral, a deceitful yet courageous fighter from Eguzia, has been hired by the Chronic Crust Guild to acquire The Heart of The Dreadnaught but its in the possession of the evil sorcerer Xanchez Dezdal, the Red Master of Zimzep.

To make the rest of this make sense, this is one way I outline, I picked up this method from Write a Salable Story Today, Even If You’re a Terrible Writer: Kick writer’s block to the curb and write story after solid story with this proven system by David Eyk.

Seven Sentence Structure

Each sentence describes briefly what happens in that part of the story. This is not the story itself but a road map to the story.

1. Hook

2. First Twist

3. First Pinch Point

4. Midpoint Twist

5. Second Pinch Point.

6. Big Setback twist

7. Resolution.

You develop your sentences out of order, starting with the resolution

1. Resolution - How does the protagonist obtain the object of his desire or something better?

2. Hook - Describe how your principal characters encounter the conflict for the first time and react to it

3. Midpoint Twist - when protagonist moves form reaction to action. What unexpected thing sets the protagonist from getting what he wants but also gives him a glimmer of hope? Should have a physical element to it: a fight, a chase, a heated argument, or some other way in which the conflict takes a physical form.

4. First Twist - Should be physical, this aspect should be different from the midpoint and smaller in scope.

5. Big Setback twist - This twist is a big whopper of a setback that goes between the midpoint and the resolution, when your protagonist has switched to proactive mode, and you need to slap them down before the big finish.

Next you need the two pinch points, where the main conflict and the complications form the twists are generating trouble for your protagonist, trouble that challenges his desires and puts new roadblocks in front of him.

6. First Pinch Point - here the protagonists reacting to things, still trying to figure things out. Write a sentence describing the trouble he encounters because of the first twist and how he reacts to it.

7. Second Pinch Point - Here the protagonist is actively pursuing a solution to the conflict based on what he learned at the midpoint but the conflict is still throwing roadblocks at him left and right, leading up to the Big Setback. So write one sentence describing how the protagonist is taking the fight to the enemy and the troubles he encounters along the way.

By following this order of development, you can better ensure a balanced and entertaining structure. With a good structure, you’ll be better able to write a story that leaves your reader feeling satisfied.

Ok so we have our concept, now we need a resolution. Again we could use the Oracle for this but if you are familiar with the Dent Master Plot Formula you will see how the above Seven Sentence Structure reflects the Dent. In Pulps, the Hero always wins. You could write a more tragic ending but you might leave the reader feeling unsatisfied.

Resolution: Gordimi recovers The Heart of The Dreadnaught as the evil sorcerer is pulled in the Chaos Dimension by the entity he sought to summon.

Now we need the hook and this is were the Oracle can come in handy. Is Gordimi recovering this artifact willingly? I think given his character that its less likely, perhaps Unlikely. Our Stability is 5, so Unlikely lives us a TN of 13. now we roll 3d6 (2 of the same color, with a third contrasting die)

553, which equal 13, so Yes. However we got doubles on the 2d6 so the result is exceptional (add a “but” or “and” clause). All of the dice are odd so now we roll on the Events table.5 A good thing happens to viewpoint character (I rolled this here, for all other events I just consulted the 2d6 already rolled to save time)

So we'll say Yes, Gordimi is doing this willing And.. well we know something good is happening to him. We could presume he has been solicited for the job (a classic hook), or we can bounce over to Pulp Adventure Generator and get... The Hook: Bizarre Occurance and Disaster .

Which sounds kinda fun and could make for a good opening scene... Maybe the sky goes dark at noon with eerie green clouds spiraling around our evil sorcerer's tower?

Knowing we have a Bizarre Occurance to account for, let's lower the Stability to 4 for this check, and say its Likely so TN is 10. 242 = 10 so Yes, the 2d6 is not double and all 3 aren't odd so we make a note for the BO and move on.

With this I'm not seeing a need for the Guild to hire Gordimi, they could be after the artifact on their own, maybe Gordimi is after it on his own. However from our character tags we know Gordimi is deceitful, so our initial concept can still work. To decide we roll of course.

Is Gordimi after the artifact on his own? Stability is Lo(4), we'll say "Somewhat" for possibility so that gives us a TN of 11. 251 so Yes, no doubles or all odd to account for. (I goofed on interpreting the roll, the total needs to be equal or greater than the TN. Alas, it doesn't hurt the process, the point is to help inspire you, not shackle you to some abstract set of rules)

So he's after it on his own, we don't know how he knows about it or why he is. We do know that disaster is part of the hook, maybe he overhears a Guild member talking about the Bizarre Occurance, mourning the death of the last person they sent to steal it? To the Oracle... Stability is still Lo, possibility is still somewhat same TN, roll 515, so Yes with an Event of 6 - Reveal something about, or advance a thread. But wait... we don't have those... yet. or do we? A Thread is any major unfulfilled plot line that arises. For our purposes we can interpret this as an excellent sign that Gordimi is hooked into by eavesdropping on the Guild members.

To sum what we have so far:

Concept: In the city of Zimzep, Gordimi Bamelral, a deceitful yet courageous fighter from Eguzia, is in a race against the Chronic Crust Guild to acquire The Heart of The Dreadnaught but its in the possession of the evil sorcerer Xanchez Dezdal, the Red Master of Zimzep.

Hook The sky goes dark at noon with eerie green clouds spiraling around the evil sorcerer's tower. Gordimi overhears a Guild member talking about the bizarre occurance, mourning the death of the last person they sent to steal the artifact. (Bizarre Occurance and Disaster via Pulp Adventure Generator)
First Twist
First Pinch Point
Midpoint Twist
Second Pinch Point.
Big Setback twist
Resolution. Gordimi recovers The Heart of The Dreadnaught as the evil sorcerer is pulled in the Chaos Dimension by the entity he sought to summon.

Next we develop the 3 Twists

3. Midpoint Twist when protagonist moves form reaction to action. What unexpected thing sets the protagonist from getting what he wants but also gives him a glimmer of hope? Should have a physical element to it: a fight, a chase, a heated argument, or some other way in which the conflict takes a physical form.

4. First Twist Should be physical, this aspect should be different from the midpoint and smaller in scope.

5. Big Setback twist This twist is a big whopper of a setback that goes between the midpoint and the resolution, when your protagonist has switched to proactive mode, and you need to slap them down before the big finish.

For simplicity's sake let's just roll back over to the Pulp Adventure generator....

Plot Twist: New Location
Plot Twist: Hidden Plot
Plot Twist: Betrayal!

Pretty easy to hang these up as

3.Midpoint Twist - Hidden Plot

4. First Twist - New Location

5. Big Setback - Betrayal

But that gives us nothing really but vague ideas... back to the oracle. What is this this hidden plot and what does it involve?

Is the Villain up to no good? Lo Stability, Very likey so TN = 7 253 - 8 so yes. Does the Villain's plot involve the Guild? Somewhat, TN = 11, roll 113, 4 No but... Resolve a thread (2d6= double add But, all odd add Event)

So it's not involving the Guild but it does resolve a thread. We'll just make note of this and keep asking questions.

Does the hidden plot involve the entity from the resolution? Lo Stability, Likely so TN = 10, roll 121 4 so No.

I'm officially stuck so back to a generator.

Fiendish plot: Obliterate Innocent Victims

Is the Villain attempting to use the artifact in this fiendish plot? TN = 9, 222 so No but…

Is the Villain trying to conjure the Chaos Entity for the fiendish plot? Likely TN = 10, roll 426, so Yes.

this resolves a thread, perhaps the competition with the Guild for the artifact? Again, Likely TN = 10 roll 212, so No. Hmmm... Knowing the other plot twists my gut says ignore this. So we'll say yes, Gordimi learns of this from his Guild competition who offers for them to team up, thus setting us up for the Big Setback of Betrayal.

Concept: In the city of Zimzep, Gordimi Bamelral, a deceitful yet courageous fighter from Eguzia, is in a race against the Chronic Crust Guild to acquire The Heart of The Dreadnaught but its in the possession of the evil sorcerer Xanchez Dezdal, the Red Master of Zimzep.

Hook

The sky goes dark at noon with eerie green clouds spiraling around the evil sorcerer's tower. Gordimi overhears a Guild member talking about the bizarre occurance, mourning the death of the last person they sent to steal the artifact. (Bizarre Occurance and Disaster via Pulp Adventure Generator)

First Twist Gordimi climbs to the top of Xanchez's tower, only to discover the Heart isn't there, it has been brought below for the Grand Ritual. (New Location)

First Pinch Point

Midpoint Twist Gordimi encounters an Agent of the Guild. After a battle of (words?/swords?), Gordimi learns that Xanchez is attempting to the the Heart to summon a Great Chaos Demon, and they agree to join forces. (Hidden Plot - Obliterate Innocent Victims)

Second Pinch Point.

Big Setback twist The Guild member was actually in Xanchez's employ and was luring Gordimi, as his strength makes him a fitting sacrifice. (Betrayal)

Resolution.

Gordimi recovers The Heart of The Dreadnaught as the evil sorcerer is pulled in the Chaos Dimension by the entity he sought to summon.

Now we just need 2 pinch points and we're done with our structure and are basically ready to start writing. What are the Pinch Points? Back to David Eyk:

Perhaps the first pinch point is Gordimi trying to sneak down to the ritual chamber, but being a kinda big guy he's not too stealthy and gets spotted and in a fight (or three). I think that's perfect but hey let's keep at using the oracle and see what happens. very likely so TN = 9 , roll 326 so yes. 1st pinch point done.

I'm seeing a big hack'n'slash montage, the Guild member behind Gordimi letting him do most of the work only interfering as to not blow his cover. to the oracle.. Likely so TN = 10, 226 so Yes, 2d6 is double so we have an And or But, lets go with But the Guild member saves Gordimi from doom at some point along the way. (gotta get that sacrifice to the pit!)

We now have a 7 Sentence Story Structure.

Hook

First Twist Gordimi climbs to the top of Xanchez's tower, only to discover the Heart isn't there, it has been brought below for the Grand Ritual. (New Location)

First Pinch Point Gordimi attempts to sneak down to the ritual chamber, but being a kinda big guy he's not too stealthy and gets spotted and in a fight (or three).

Second Pinch Point. Big hack'n'slash montage, the Guild member behind Gordimi letting him do most of the work only interfering as to not blow his cover, But... the Guild member saves Gordimi from doom at some point along the way. (gotta get that sacrifice to the pit!)

Big Setback twist The Guild member was actually in Xanchez's employ and was luring Gordimi, as his strength makes him a fitting sacrifice. (Betrayal)

Resolution.

Gordimi recovers The Heart of The Dreadnaught as the evil sorcerer is pulled in the Chaos Dimension by the entity he sought to summon.

NOW WRITE YOUR STORY:

First Quarter: Hook & Twist: 1500
Second Quarter: 1st Pinch and midpoint, 1500 words
Third Quarter: 2nd Pinch and Setback: 1500 words
Fourth Quarter: Aftermath of Setback and Resolution: 1500 words

As David Eyk says in Write A Salable Story Today:

IF THE STORY WORKS IN ROAD MAP FORM THEN YOU CAN MAKE IT WORK ONCE YOU'VE WRITTEN IT. SO WRITE IT AND SEE WHAT COMES!

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Using Solo RPG Tools for Creative Writing - Outlining With the Oracle

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