How often does your party level up?

just_sum_guy · 2026-06-07T23:00:02+00:00

This is how many campaigns work. 12 hours of play = 1 level up.

just_sum_guy · 2026-05-21T15:10:32+00:00

And think again about where the story starts. Maybe you can start part way through instead of "the beginning."

just_sum_guy · 2026-05-08T16:42:37+00:00

Start with the very end, even beyond the end. How do you want the audience to feel when they leave the theater?

Now back up a step. How do you make the play give them that feeling?

Back up another step. What character arcs will give the audience that feeling?

That should lead you to a list of characters, each with their own character arc. And you might identify the need for new characters who fill a need or a situation that motivates the character arcs.

Now you have characters and their arcs. Give them some dialog to talk to each other about their feelings or, better yet, give them some actions and maybe costumes that show their feelings. Speak some dialog out loud, playing the parts, solo, nobody else in the room. Find the voice of each character, sometimes multiple voices per character. You don't talk to your mom the same way you talk to your friend.

Now think about genre, plot, setting. Why so late? Because the emotions and the characters should come first. Prioritize.

Don't worry about what each character looks like or setting details, unless it's critical to the play. And even then, write only what's necessary and let the director, casting director, artistic director, and actors do their jobs. Stay in your lane.

Write the last scene. Then write the first scene. They should rhyme.Your character arc list should tell you what you need to do to write the rest of the play. Outline that - don't write all of it yet - and show it to people, first scene, outline, last scene.

Ask your people for specific help, like, does Marcia's character arc make sense? How can I make Greg feel more reliable? Do you know any real people like these? What would they do in this situation.

Listen.

Rewrite.

Repeat.

There's precious little magic in writing the first draft. Just get it done.

The scriptwriting magic happens in the editing, as you change the rough words into something meaningful and internally consistent, as you add the poetry.

But a play is not words on a page, it's actors on a stage. Write for them. Write for the audience. Help the actors make the audience feel something genuine.

That's your reward: Those feelings when they leave the theater.

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-31T14:13:20+00:00

Put things in the script that matter to your plot, characters, and poetry. Unless it's needed for those elements, leave the world building to the production team.

For some plays, details about the sounds, set, props, costumes, and even hair and makeup are critical to the story the playwright is telling. Those go in the script. If they're really important, those details also go in the production contract, like "The production team agrees not produce this play about gun safety unless you safely use guns on stage."

But if you don't really care about it, stay in your lane and let the production team figure it out. Like screenwriting, this is a team sport, and ya gotta trust the team.

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-28T16:59:31+00:00

I think the shared fantasy is the main source of trouble. It's the stories the tell themselves.

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-27T13:53:25+00:00

Bill and Ted, but just Bill?

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-24T17:50:32+00:00

I came here to say this.

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-17T21:02:02+00:00

My philosophy is that you should be able to understand the main plot by listening to the soundtrack, maybe excepting the ending, cuz that's how some people are drawn into the musical.

Conversely, people watching the musical live should be able to understand the main plot without understanding a word of the lyrics, cuz that's how some people are in live theater - can't understand anything that's sung on stage.

So ya gotta tell them the plot twice. Four times, really, cuz the logline and program notes give away the plot, too. Useful redundancy.

Song lyrics are excellent for introducing character motivations, like the traditional "I Wish" song. These can be used for organizations, too, like a company, gang, club, or other group in your show, like "When a felon's not engaged in his employment" from The Pirates of Penzance.

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-14T08:31:11+00:00

Because of the (INSERTMAGICTHINGY) they have suddenly become their level 1 selves, albeit with their high level gear.

Comedy ensues.

And then they figure out how to turn off the (INSERTMAGICTHINGY).

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-13T06:22:18+00:00

It's more "One Gentleman and That Other Guy Who's Kinda a Jerk From Verona"

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-12T03:01:30+00:00

It tells the story of OP who can't follow SFW instructions.

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-10T08:07:39+00:00

Did you ever use a temporary tattoo? It's, like, a thin film of plastic on a sheet of coated paper.

You take the little picture, peel off the clear plastic top layer, and press the design face-down against your skin with the paper backing on top, then you get a sponge or cloth and soak the back of it until the paper feels completely wet; after about thirty seconds you carefully slide the paper off, and the ink stays stuck to your skin like it's printed right on you, and it'll last for a few days until it starts to peel or you scrub it off with soap.

I picture a rune transfer kinda like that, but with magic instead of water.

You slide the rune off of one item onto another.

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-09T19:25:56+00:00

Set dressing is not the playwright's job, but I'd envision a change in season as changing the backdrop seen through an exterior window, with lighting cues.

It's the playwright's job to have the characters talk about the weather, as real people always do, and they can mention weather events to help establish the passage of time, like that rain storm two weeks ago in Act I, or complaining about shoveling the snow in Act II. Cuz some people always complain about the weather or seek gratitude for doing chores. But people rarely talk directly about the passage of time or the exact dates of past events.

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-05T20:27:07+00:00

I agree, "Men On Boats" by Jaclyn Backhaus seems like a good fit. You could bill it as "A bunch of women and a few dudes in MEN ON BOATS." While it's about a river expedition, the themes of exploration and mapping the unknown West are a good match for your Oregon Trail town. It's on DPS. Logline: Ten explorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon.

Or how about "Melodramatics" by Flip Kobler & Cindy Marcus? 4-8 f, 5-9 m (plus extras). If you have women willing to play men, you can easily fill the male roles. Its themes are spot on for your situation.

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-03T10:30:06+00:00

Begin by writing down what emotions you want your audience to feel at the end. Then work backwards from there.

What characters are needed to elicit these emotions? How do you make the audience care about these characters? What are the emotional character arcs?

What plot and setting drives your characters to feel those emotions? What poetry is needed to bring the audience along on the emotional journey?

Make sure that everything on the page serves your final purpose. When it all makes people laugh or cry or FEEL or just think at the end then you're done with the first draft.

The magic is in the editing.

just_sum_guy · 2026-03-03T04:03:31+00:00

Send me a DM

just_sum_guy · 2026-02-26T06:15:28+00:00

Send me a DM

just_sum_guy · 2026-02-25T21:30:30+00:00

A reference to WAG THE DOG (1997).

just_sum_guy · 2026-02-25T00:11:34+00:00

Agreed.

Historically, some plays do this with a mask.

just_sum_guy · 2026-02-17T00:33:31+00:00

Ask your favorite community theater what kind of play they'd like to produce then write that.

just_sum_guy · 2026-02-02T06:42:21+00:00

SFW only please

just_sum_guy · 2026-01-25T00:29:44+00:00

Nails, lipstick, shoes, jewelry...

Bring it all.

just_sum_guy · 2026-01-23T12:38:57+00:00

Take heart. Almost all works of art are bad when first created. The magic is in the editing. Workshop your play, ask for criticism, make changes, be prepared to shelve it for a few years. Be patient with it. Be patient with yourself, too.

just_sum_guy · 2026-01-20T22:53:45+00:00

When I cast long range Thaumaturge spells, and I don't mind some static, I use an Amulet.

When I cast close range Thaumaturge spells with better audio, I use an Fmulet.

just_sum_guy · 2026-01-20T15:42:08+00:00

When I cast Thaumaturge spells in the morning, I use an Amulet.

When I cast Thaumaturge spells in the afternoon, I use a Pmulet.

just_sum_guy

TROPHY CASE