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Plot & Players ​

Plot & Players is where you translate the Objective Story’s structural intent into the external pressure of the narrative. The Plot workpad collects the Storypoints that define what everyone is doing and why it matters. The Players workpad ties those Storypoints to characters, institutions, or forces so the Objective Story has a clear cast of roles.

Plot: the Objective Story spine ​

Subtxt assembles the Objective Story’s most visible Storypoints so you can confirm the narrative engine before you start illustrating scenes:

  • Goal, Requirements, Prerequisites, Preconditions — what the story is trying to achieve and what must be true along the way.
  • Costs, Dividends, Forewarnings, Consequences — the price of pursuit and the stakes of failure.
  • Story Driver, Story Limit, Outcome, Judgment — the engine that moves the story, how it ends, and the emotional verdict.

Each Plot Storypoint links back to the Storyform choices you made in Forming and stays synchronized by Storyform Alignment. If you want deeper definitions or examples, connect these Storypoints to the Narrative Aspects section.

Players: assigning narrative functions ​

Players let you assign who or what carries each Objective Story function. Subtxt keeps this flexible so you can explore different casting configurations without breaking the underlying Storyform.

Use Players to:

  • Map functions to characters (Protagonist, Antagonist, Guardian, Reason, Emotion, Sidekick, Skeptic).
  • Track institutions or forces that act like characters (a corporation, a government, a movement).
  • Verify balance — if every Plot Storypoint depends on the same Player, it might signal a missing counterforce.

Tips for strong Plot & Players work ​

  1. Start with the Plot Storypoints that are already locked. They reveal the structural intent and keep your casting choices honest.
  2. If you are uncertain about a Player, describe the function first, then attach a character or group once the purpose is clear.
  3. When a Player changes, review any linked Plot Storypoints to ensure the Objective Story still feels coherent.

TIP

Need a fast first pass? Run the Narrova Skill Generate Four Throughlines, then use the resulting Objective Story Throughline to ground your Plot & Players decisions.