BEHOLD! THE MAGIC OF "BECAUSE"!We start with the key event and from that we branch out with "because" statements
(for this example we'll limit it to two branches).
There was a fight.
|
Because Bob and Dave used to be friends but Bob stole Dave's coin collection.
| |
Because Bob needed the money, Because for Dave this was the last
his finances are costing him straw.
his home.
| |
Because Bob has a gambling Because Bob has stolen from Dave many
addiction. times before.
| |
Because for Bob gambling is Because Dave wanted to believe Bob
the only time he feels alive could change and gave him many chances.
anymore. |
| Because in the past Bob had always been
Because Bob has suffered there for Dave, and helped him through
extreme depression since his some of his darkest times.
wife passed two years ago. |
| ...
...
As you can see, the benefit to this approach is that we start working our way
down to not only figure out who Bob and Dave are, but who they are in the
context of each other and their situation. We dig into their personal stakes
and how those stakes affect one another.
In game development this is pretty powerful because it can keep you from
getting too carried away with information and details that don't matter
while making sure that your characters, events, settings, etc. all fit together
cohesively.
It doesn't just have to apply to characters, either:
There's a dilapidated ruin in the swamps.
|
Because it was built there by an ancient culture back before the area was flooded.
| |
Because they needed a place Because a terrible earthquake sent
to host their sun rituals. the waters of a great lake spilling
| down the mountains into the land
Because they believe the sun below.
is their god and the rituals |
keep it from getting angry. Because the land is surrounded by
| a ring of high mountains.
Because of the frequent |
earthquakes which they ...
believe to be their god's
wrath.
|
...
The above example is cheesy but the basic idea is that you are brainstorming in a
very connected way and building complexity out of a single, simple statement.
Maybe it is not the best way to do it, but for me it was the easiest way I've come
up with to keep the idea train rolling without it going right off the tracks.