Plotting Guide

General Overview

What is a Plot?

In play-by-post roleplaying, a plot is the collaborative story you build with your partner(s). It can range from a simple scene ("meet-cute at a coffee shop") to an epic multi-thread saga with twists, character development, and consequences.

How Plots Happen

1. The Spark: An idea emerges from character concepts, a setting, or a "what if" scenario.
2. Collaborative Building: You and your partner brainstorm together, shaping conflicts, goals, and possible directions.
3. Organic Growth: As you write, the plot evolves naturally based on character choices and chemistry.
4. Adaptation: Successful plotting requires flexibility -- sometimes the best moments are unplanned!

Healthy Plotting Practices

• Start with a loose framework of beats you want to hit, not necessarily a rigid script
• Check in periodically: "Are we still enjoying this direction?"
• Leave room for surprises and character autonomy
• Remember: it's a dialogue, not a novel you're dictating

“The Plot Isn’t Working — Now What?”

Recognizing the Signs

Emotional Signals:

• You dread opening the thread
• Replying feels like a chore on your to-do list
• You feel obligated rather than excited
• You catch yourself avoiding plotting conversations

Creative Signals:

• You're forcing replies without inspiration
• The direction conflicts with your character's voice or development
• The vibe has shifted from what you originally agreed upon in a way that makes you uncomfortable or uneasy
• You're more interested in other plots/characters

What to Do About It

1. Step 1: Self-Reflect. Before bringing anything to your partner, take time to check in with yourself. This prevents projecting temporary feelings as permanent plot problems and helps you communicate from a clearer place. Some questions you can ask yourself include:
   • Am I dysregulated right now? Am I stressed, tired, triggered, or overwhelmed by something outside of RP?
     • If yes, consider taking a pause for a day or two before making any decisions. A strong reaction may not always be a reflection of the plot’s quality.
   • Is this a temporary stall or a fundamental mismatch? Did I just have a busy week, or have I been dreading this thread for a month?
     • Temporary slumps happen. A fundamental mismatch persists even when you have time and energy.
   • Is something here triggering me in an unexpected way? Is a character’s behavior, a plot point, or even the tone hitting a personal nerve?
     • If so, take some time to process this and ask some further questions. Is this something you could feel comfortable exploring at another time (for example, exploring heavy family dysfunction while dealing with the holidays/your own dysfunctional family might be tough, but during the summer or another time of year would be doable), or does the scenario need to completely close/shift?
   • What exactly feels off? (Pacing? Direction? Character agency? Your own inspiration?)
     • Try to pinpoint: “I feel bored when…” or “I get frustrated because…” The more specific you are, the easier it is to see if it’s adjustable.
   • Have I given it a fair chance? Did I jump into plotting too fast? Did I skip establishing the dynamic?
     • Sometimes the issue is rushing, not the content. You might just need to backtrack a little.
2. Step 2: Communicate (Early and Kindly). The earlier you address it, the easier it is to pivot. Try these approaches:
   • For minor adjustments: "Hey, I'm enjoying writing with you, but I feel like the plot might have stalled a bit. Would you be open to introducing a new complication or changing the setting to reignite it?"
   • For fundamental issues: "I need to be honest—I'm not vibing with this plot direction anymore. It's not your writing at all, but I think my character isn't fitting into this arc like I hoped. Can we talk about possibly shifting focus or wrapping this thread?"
   • For needing a clean break: "I've really appreciated writing with you, but I think I need to step back from this particular plot. My inspiration for it has faded, and I don't want to give you half-hearted replies. Would you be okay if we paused or archived this thread?"

What NOT to Do

• Ghost (unless you're experiencing genuine burnout or overwhelm -- in which case a brief "I need to step back from RP for health reasons" is still kinder than disappearance)
• Force yourself through months of unhappy writing out of guilt
• Blaming language ("You made the plot boring" vs. "I'm losing steam")
• Let it fester until resentment builds

If You're on the Receiving End

1. Don't take it personally. Creative mismatches happen to everyone!
2. Thank them for communicating. It's a gift compared to ghosting.
3. Ask if they'd like to:
   • Pause and revisit later
   • Wrap up quickly
   • Start something new together
4. Give yourself space to feel disappointed, then redirect that energy into plots that excite you.
5. Don't be afraid to try again! This includes not only posting/plotting with the same partner, but trying the same plot with another player if it resonated with you.

Prevention for Future Plots

• Start small: Try a one-shot thread before committing to epic arcs
• Check-in questions:
  • "How do you feel about plot adjustments if something isn't working?"
  • "What's your preferred way to handle it if one of us loses inspiration?"
• Schedule periodic vibe checks: Every 10-15 posts, ask "Are we still enjoying this direction?"

An Important Reminder: Your enjoyment matters. Play-by-post is a hobby, not an obligation. The best stories emerge from mutual inspiration. By handling plot challenges with honesty and kindness, you protect both your creative energy and your writing relationships. Sometimes ending one plot gracefully opens the door to an even better collaboration!

Adding Spice to A Thread

When your thread feels steady but stale, or you've reached a natural pause and want to reignite it, here are sparks for every dynamic.

Remember: Spice isn't always about conflict -- it's about intensity. Curiosity, concern, excitement, and nostalgia can be just as compelling as arguments or drama. The goal is to create moments that make you lean forward, eager to write the next reply.

For Romantic Threads

• Introduce a Third Element: A shared project, a pet, a mysterious letter from the past, a mutual enemy.
• Flip the Power Dynamic: The confident one gets vulnerable; the caretaker needs care.
• Create Artificial Constraints: "We're stuck in an elevator"/"One bed trope"/"Must pretend to be together for X reason."
• Externalize Internal Conflict: Instead of just talking about trust issues, create a scenario where trust is physically tested (escape room, survival situation).
• Reverse a Trope: Some fun tropes, and their reversals, can be found at the bottom of this page!

For Platonic / Friendship Threads

• Give Them a Mission: Something low-stakes but compelling—plan a surprise party for a mutual friend, solve a local mystery, build something together.
• Introduce a Contrast: The orderly friend must help the chaotic friend organize; the cynical friend must help the idealist plan a grand romantic gesture (for someone else).
• Shared Secret: They accidentally witness something together or uncover information that binds them.
• Competition with Stakes: A bet with consequences—loser must do something genuinely impactful (but not cruel).
• Past Intrusion: An old friend, sibling, or rival from one character's past shows up and disrupts their current dynamic.

For Frenemies / Rival Dynamics

• Forced Cooperation: They must work together to defeat a bigger threat or achieve a common goal.
• Role Reversal: Circumstances force them to walk in each other's shoes for a day.
• Unexpected Vulnerability: One sees the other in a moment of genuine weakness or kindness—and reacts.
• Alliance Shift: A third party enters who threatens them both, forcing a temporary truce with lasting complications.
• Shared Humiliation: They both fail spectacularly in public and are the only ones who understand the sting.

For Found Family / Group Dynamics

• Crisis Management: Something breaks (the house, the ship, the wagon). How do they fix it with their combined skills?
• Tradition Creation: They invent a holiday, ritual, or inside joke—show the process.
• External Threat: Someone or something challenges the family's stability from outside.
• Internal Schism: A disagreement splits the group temporarily—explore loyalty and reconciliation.
• Legacy Building: They decide to create something lasting together (a business, a memorial, a community space).

For Character-Driven Spice (Any Dynamic)

Inject one of these into any thread:

1. The Unasked Question: Have a character visibly hold back something they're burning to ask/say.
2. The Unexpected Gift: Not necessarily physical—could be a piece of information, an introduction, or taking the blame.
3. The Flashback Echo: A current situation mirrors a past trauma or joy for one character.
4. The Public Test: How they interact in front of others vs. in private.
5. The Skill Swap: One teaches the other something trivial but revealing (how to swear in another language, how to fix a leaky faucet).

Plot Accelerators

• Time Jump: "Three months later, the consequences of that decision are..."
• News Report: Start a post with a newspaper headline, gossip, or official notice that changes everything.
• Letter/Message from Beyond: A discovered diary, a dead-drop message, an email from a blocked address.
• Natural Disaster: A storm, blackout, or minor quake strips away modern conveniences and forces raw interaction.
• Sudden Opportunity: "I have two tickets to..." / "What if we just... left?"

Thread Feels Like / Try This

If your thread feels like this:	Try this spice:
Too cozy/comfortable	Introduce an outside opinion (someone judges their dynamic)
Stuck in one location	Take it on the road—even moving to a different room changes energy
All talk, no action	Give them a physical task to do while talking (cooking, repairing, traveling)
Predictable	Have a character do something mildly out of character with a plausible reason
Emotionally flat	Introduce a low-stakes gamble or dare with personal consequences
When in doubt, change the environment. Move characters from a quiet room to a bustling street, from day to night, from dry to rain. New settings demand new interactions.

Partner Questions

• "What's something my character could discover about yours that would surprise but not betray them?"
• "What's a small problem we could solve together in this thread?"
• "Is there a past event my character could reference that would deepen this moment?"
• "What if we introduced a tangible object that becomes important to this dynamic?"
• "How would our characters handle a minor crisis together right now?"

Fun Tropes

Need some inspiration? Here are some fun tropes, and their reversals, that you could try!

For Romantic Threads

• Slow Burn Partners-in-Danger: Constantly thrown together on missions or crises, feelings brewing beneath the surface. Every brush of hands matters.
• Enemies to Lovers: They can’t stand each other… until they suddenly can’t stay away. Conflict becomes chemistry.
• Fake Dating (That Stops Being Fake): The ruse is for convenience or survival, but hearts don’t get the memo.
• Second Chance After Disaster: Once close, now forced back together in a new world, trying to mend what broke them.
• “There Was Only One Bed”: Forced proximity makes previously unspoken attraction impossible to ignore.
• Guardian + The One They Must Protect: Duty gets complicated when affection deepens into longing.
• Grumpy / Sunshine Duo: One is stoic and closed-off; the other warm and persistent. Over time, both change because of each other.
• Opposites Attract: Their strengths and values clash — until they realize they fill each other’s gaps perfectly.
• The Confession at the Worst Time: A romantic admission lands right before a fight, a mission, or a disappearance — unresolved tension galore.
• Jealous Without Admitting It: One refuses to acknowledge their feelings while reacting wildly to any new rival.
• Unrequited (For Now): One character carries the torch while the other is oblivious — or trying hard not to notice.
• Marriage of Necessity: Political, magical, or survival reasons bind them… and feelings follow.
• Love as a Liability: Romance is dangerous in their world — but they keep choosing each other anyway.
• The One Who Forgot: One partner has forgotten their shared bond (amnesia, long slumber, magical wipe), leading to a heartfelt rebuild.
• Enemies by Fate, Lovers by Choice: Their peoples or factions demand they fight — their hearts demand they try.

For Platonic / Friendship Threads

• Reluctant Allies: They don’t trust each other, but the job can’t be done alone — respect forms one battle at a time.
• The Chaos + The Anchor: One gets into trouble; the other is constantly dragging them back from the edge.
• We Became Friends by Accident: A misunderstanding or forced situation leads to unexpected, unshakable camaraderie.
• Friendship Through Shared Tasks: Building a shelter, crafting gear, mapping the wild — small wins turn strangers into comrades.
• The Morally Opposed Duo: Their philosophies clash, but each challenges the other to grow.
• The Protector and the Problem Child: One keeps the other from self-destructing while pretending not to care too much.
• “I Hate Everyone But You”: The grump dislikes the world except for this one person who earned their trust.
• Found Friend in a Lonely World: Both are outsiders who fill the gap neither will admit they had.
• Rival Skills, Same Goal: They’re competitive but thrilled to have someone who actually keeps up.
• Assigned Partners Forever: Random pairing becomes tradition — now they refuse to be matched with anyone else.
• The Caretaker Burnout: One friend is always the helper; the other decides it’s time to return the favor.
• Adventure Buddies: Any excuse for a quest, scavenger hunt, or recon mission — they’re in it together.
• Old Friends, New World: They knew each other before coming to the island — rediscovering who they are now is the real journey.
• Unexpected Mentor: A friendship forms around teaching skills neither expected to matter so much.
• The Bad Influence (In a Fun Way): One encourages trouble, daring the other to break out of their comfort zone — for better or worse.

For Frenemies / Rival Dynamics

• Friendly Competition Gone Too Far: They enjoy outdoing each other… until real stakes push the rivalry into something deeper.
• Forced to Work Together (Again): Every mission assignment is either torture or the best day of their week — they can’t decide which.
• “I Can Fix Them” vs. “I Can Destroy You”: One sees potential, the other sees an opportunity — tension ensues.
• You Saved Me and I Hate That: Gratitude tastes like poison when it comes from your rival.
• Rivals with Shared History: Once friends or lovers, now on opposite sides — every clash carries old wounds.
• Petty One-Upmanship: Sniping, bragging rights, sabotage… but always within a strangely affectionate line.
• Moral Foe, Emotional Ally: Their causes conflict, but they’re the first person they call when everything goes wrong.
• Competition → Respect: They finally recognize the opponent as the only one who truly understands the fight.
• Mind Games and Banter: Sharp teasing hides sharper admiration neither wants to admit.
• Temporary Truce: Forced cooperation reveals how easily they could have been a dynamic duo.
• Jealous Frenemy: They refuse closeness, yet hate seeing the other get close to anyone else.
• Bet You Can’t: Dares escalate into genuine acts of bravery or vulnerability.
• Sabotaging to Help: They’ll “accidentally” do something that actually benefits the other person — deny everything.
• The Rival Who Knows You Best: They can predict every move because they’ve been studying you for years.
• The Heel-Face Turn: One switches sides — trust is fragile but irresistible to explore.

For Found Family / Group Dynamics

• The Misfit Caravan: A bunch of weirdos thrown together becomes a tight-knit unit nobody saw coming.
• Shared Mission, Shared Home: Building a new base, making meals, fixing equipment — the mundane becomes bonding.
• The Heart of the Group: One empathetic soul keeps everyone from fracturing; crisis reveals how vital they truly are.
• Sibling-Style Bickering: They tease and argue nonstop, but instinctively protect each other under fire.
• The Veteran + The Young Blood: One passing on hard-earned wisdom while learning to hope again through the other.
• Protecting the Newcomer: Someone joins reluctantly and gets swarmed with unwanted affection and loyalty.
• Divided Loyalties: Conflicts push the group to the brink — characters choose each other anyway.
• Disaster Makes Us Closer: A shared catastrophe cements the sense of “us.”
• Holiday / Celebration Episode: Found traditions form — messy, chaotic, deeply meaningful.
• Group Road Trip / Expedition: Being stuck together brings out clashing personalities and hidden vulnerabilities.
• The Team Parent Swap: Serious roles get reversed — the stern one learns to loosen up, the goofy one steps up.
• Secrets Revealed: The truth comes out and instead of pushing them away, the group rallies harder.
• Ride-or-Die Pact: When the world turns on one member, everyone else forms a shield without hesitation.
• We Don’t Have to Match to Belong: Vast differences become the reason they feel safe — unity without uniformity.
• Care in Small Ways: Watch rotations, fixed clothes, surprise comfort — affection shown through quiet acts.

For Character-Driven Spice (Any Dynamic)

• High-Stakes Secret: One character hides a truth that could change everything — the reveal becomes its own plotline.
• Close Call Confession: Harsh words or raw emotions tumble out during a moment of danger, then must be dealt with afterward.
• The Unwanted Bond: Bound by magic, oath, nanites, or circumstance — they share pain, thoughts, or fate whether they like it or not.
• Protective Instinct Override: A normally calm character snaps when someone threatens “their person.”
• Unlikely Trust Exercise: One must blindfold themselves, jump, or face a fear — only the other can help.
• Soft Moment in a Harsh World: A tiny act of gentleness becomes unforgettable when everything else is brutal.
• Scars and Stories: Characters examine each other’s injuries — physical or emotional — revealing truths they never voice.
• Role Reversal Emergency: The usually capable character breaks; the weaker one must rise to the occasion.
• Secrets Shared in the Dark: A private conversation at night changes the entire dynamic by morning.
• The Big Argument: Feelings explode — followed by awkward silence, stubborn pride, and slow reconciliation.
• A Mistake With Consequences: One character messes up publicly or dangerously; someone else chooses whether to stand by them.
• “Don’t You Dare Die on Me”: A near-loss exposes how deep the attachment truly runs.
• Temptation of Power: One gains an ability or influence that scares the other — relationship hangs in the balance.
• Memory or Identity Crisis: Someone forgets who they are or is not who they thought — another becomes their anchor.
• Sacrifice No One Asked For: A character gives up something significant for another, sparking gratitude… or fury.

Other Resources

• TV Tropes: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Tropes
  • Plots: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Plots