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Creative Uses of the Future

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Il Vecchio Geloso

L' Argomento. Today's game designs, as agents of storytelling, owe much to broader literary and dramatic traditions. The tables that follow offer an analysis of Traveller's 76 Patrons that goes back to the italian Commedia dell'Arte and its improvised theatre.

“An old man approaches our heroes in a tavern...”

In 1611, the Italian actor Flamino Scala published fifty Commedia dell'Arte scenari in Il Teatro delle Farole Rappresentative. Of these fifty scenari, roughly 30 were distinct plots where the remaining twenty were variations on these. Commedia dell'Arte had become popular in Italy since at least 1575 but likely existed even longer. At the centre of its practice, the Commedia dell'Arte relied on scenari (also called soggetti or canovacci) that were improvised upon by the actors playing well known stock characters and set plotlines instead of written scripts. Scala's scenari began with an argument or a summary of the situation, a list of characters organised into family groups, who were well known to audiences, identified by special masks, and drew on stock folkloric types for comedic effect. Then a list of props used by each character, setting locations, and finally a list of actions taken in the plot. All in a simplified form as the improvisation provided any further detail. The Commedia dell'Arte became influential throughout Europe in the years that followed and even today in the farces of Dario Fo, for example.

Il Capitano

By the 1770s, one of the most significant Venetian writers of his day, Carlo Gozzi, had taken characters and concepts from the Commedia dell'Arte tradition and wove them into his own dramatic works called Fiabe, the italian word for fairy tales. Perhaps based on the scenari collections such as Scala's, Gozzi apparently suggested that no more than 36 dramatic situations were possible. That all fictional storytelling was some how derived from variations of these 36 basic concepts. Considering the range of Scala's work the number is actually fairly reasonable. Unfortunately Gozzi's explanation has been lost, but its existence is cited several times by Goethe in his Conversations with Eckermann. He also says that the German poet Schiller, who corresponded at length with Gozzi, as it turns out, tried his best to disprove this theory but was unable to even come up with Gozzi's number. By the 19th century, some leading thinkers of the emerging fields of psychology and anthropology (Fraser and Jung for example) were suggesting some recurring motifs in human thought, supported by data from folklore that was being collected by the likes of Perrault, the Brothers Grimm and Afanasev.

Il Dottore

In 1895, inspired by Gozzi, Goethe and Schiller, a French literary critic, Georges Polti, published Les trente-six situations dramatiques, asserting on his own the 36 possible situations and what they were. He offered the necessary elements as Scala had done, some possible variations under each one, and a wealth of literary examples, from the Greek and Roman classics as well as other literary works of his day. Polti's book was quite influential, and has provided the basis for works on this idea ever since. So for example, Wycliffe A. Hill, writing for Hollywood in its early years, discovered at Cecil B. Demille's prodding an English translation of Polti, and recompiled Polti's building blocks in his own book, Ten Million Photoplay Plots: The Master Key to All Dramatic Plots in 1919. There have been various attempts since that time to whittle the number down to an even smaller grouping but Polti's version remains one of the most popular.

Gli Innamorati

This is only the history, but it is a useful tool to understand how it still inspires us today.

Since the 1970s, there has also been some precedent for applying Polti's work, in particular, to tabletop gaming genres. Merle Rasmussen did a version of this for Top Secret, in TSR's Dragon magazine. Other attempts have been made to do so for fantasy genre games, like D&D. Andy Slack applied it to Traveller in a third party supplement he created for that game. The term scenario used in Traveller and its basic gaming devices, seem to hearken back to the format of Flamino Scala's scenari. It is almost certainly pure coincidence yet it seems completely appropriate, since the process of improvisation Flamino Scala described, and the game play of an RPG have a great deal in common.

Traveller Supplement 6, 76 Patrons, provides some data now considered here, to illustrate the process and uses of this booklet. The table below, complex as it is, may lead to an analysis that continues this long tradition and points to more interactive, creative uses for the present.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
indexing heading Players' Information analysis referee's Information
number chapter entry page group size patron type req. skills req. equip. contact name number relation. reason for hire target supplied intel safe
passage		 limits prelude advers. motive reward mission destin. Georges Polti index legality 1 2 3 4 5 6 options other Summary
location in book how many protagonist characters identity: professional description of patron/ client these things that heroes must have before patron will make contact. (explicit category) typically the patron or their representative will make first contact, (but may be found in reaction to a search on part of the heroes.) the patron's name if there is more than one patron description of patron explaining stake in mission. why us? patron's need for heroes is identified. person or thing that the heroes will be aiming for patron tells something (intelligence/ wisdom) now known about the journey. safe passage: answers why not? something is gifted that removes obstacle to moving forward. something the heroes cannot do. incitement. something that happens that starts things. a (possibly insignificant) incident before the story timeline that has consequences. who are the antagonists that will reveal themselves or are identified by patron what is the adversary's reason for working against the heroes. what or how much will patron pay the heroes what is the type of mission to be performed by heroes at request of patron. where will the heroes be going? what category in Georges Polti's book fits the mission? are the heroes upholding the law or breaking it by fulfilling mission. (or helping/ hurting other people) 6 degrees of unknown variables kept from heroes by patron (or unknown destiny) on a scale of fairly benign to the worst possible) how many possible plot twists other unknown information to factor in. summary of six variables
37 3 1 28 9+ Avenger, Naval Officer none none NPC Jon Agar 1 a naval security officer unable to carry out mission himself Giles Starrett, retired from service and an executive for Ling Standard. Agar provides info on Starrett's location and and bodyguard cash incentive If Starrett is killed then Ling Standard will respond to PC group in kind. accidental death of Agar's father caused by Starrett Giles Starrett self-defense Cr1,000,000 murder of target identified by patron Starret's location given by Agar, at Ling Standard. 3. Vengeance of a Crime illegal 1.Starlett has taken the suite of a large hotel. but will be leaving in 3 days. intel about security can be obtained by players. 2-4. Starlett is leaving in 24 hours. security and destination can be learned. passage on the ship is booked solid. 5-6. Starrett has already left. His destination and security is not certain. 3 size of starrett's security detail relative to pc group. pursuit if he leaves.
  1. time limit
  2. size of security and destination
38 3 2 28-29 9+ Terrorist, Army Officer none none NPC a woman 1 a member of the local rebel underground needs manpower to pull off the heist sucessfully weapons cache of Planetary Security Police whatever info necessary to pull off heist key to amory, patron will accompany group must not be thwarted by police security patron obtains key, terrorist cadre hatches plot local police security keeping armory secure Cr1200 each or 1 ACR with 100 rounds of ammo if preferred. breakin in to police armory and steal a quantity of automatic weapons (and presumably ammunition) local Planetary Police Station 12. Obtaining illegal 1. no problems encountered 2-4. a security guard encountered, who the patron will try to bribe. chances of success in bk1, p14. 5.police discovered plot and will be waiting. 6. group attacked by competing terrorist cell with same goal.   events to work out, especially if competition is involved.
  1. amount of police security encountered
  2. competing terrorist factions
39 3 3 29 9+ Shipowner pilot and navigation none NPC gentleman of indeterminate age 1 owner of R class merchant ship needs temporary pilot and navigator and crew to complete his business transaction. ship and cargo itenerary of delivery and other procedures required. starship and its cargo on board, patron will accompany group. must not allow competitor to undermine business. make sure cargo is delivered successfully. two businesses in conflict. patron's competitor steals away crew, leaving him stranded. competitor and possibly planetary officials, depending on cargo. eliminate competition, control movement of said goods double standard crew salaries to serve as temporary crew aboard ship to transport goods. planets requiring delivery of goods for up to six jumps. 1. Supplication legal (but read on) 1-2. all as it seems. crew will be replaced within 6 jumps though pc group can be hired on permanantly if desired. 3-4. smuggler. anagathic drugs where restricted. 5-6. smuggling weapons to rebel forces against empire.   further events, esp if engaged in illegal shipments, are to be determined.
  1. nature of cargo
  2. legality of business
  3. replacement of crew
40 3 4 29 9+ Avenger, Terrorist none none NPC a young man 1 seeks vengeance for his wife's death needs willing people who will kill for money. man accused of causing wife's death local location of man, identity, and his lightly armed security detail. cash incentive and persuasiveness of patron. time limit, must not allow police to get involved. presumed suicide of wife (or plot requiring pretext) man targeted by patron, bodyguard and local police if they should get wind of the plot. self-defense/law enforcement Cr1500 to murder man accused of wife's death local 3. Vengeance of a Crime illegal 1-2. bodyguard one less than PC group and armed equally. 3-4.outnumbers PC group 1-6, and armed equally. 5-6. patron vanishes. pc group unpaid, the plot is a ruse to serve as a diversion while the patron plants bombs in starport.   whether the police arrive or details about patron's plot should be determined, as necessary.
  1. amount of security
  2. reliability of patron
  3. police interference
41 3 5 29-30 9+ Terrorist, Assassin none none NPC a woman 1 hired to assassinate politician require a diversion to complete task. police required to attract large numbers of police. cash incentive time limit, must not be arrested plot to kill politician and reason for doing so. local security counterterrorism, protection of politician Cr 1500 each in secure location in baggage locker. to create spectacular diversion to draw in police while crime takes place elsewhere. starport 9. Daring Enterprise: illegal 1. no special problems 2-4. assassination cancelled. group not paid but Cr 2000 paid for a second try. 5-6.assassins not found but Ling Standard (politician's backers) found linkls of PC group and will pursue them instead.   success of diversion/ elluding police
  1. consequences of connection to assassination
  2. success of assassination
  3. getting paid
42 3 6 30 9+ Spy, Terrorit none none NPC male who declines to give name 1 interest in canister is unclear needs people to break into SuSAG and steal canister metal canister contents of container damaged by oxygen means of identifying container, map of plant must not open container SuSAG developing material and information leaked. SuSAG and its security to protect its merchandise against theft Cr 1250 each burglary of sensitive materials local SuSAG factory 12. Obtaining illegal 1-2. antidote to military nerve agent, harmless but damaged by exposure to light. 3-4. military nerve agent itself. exposure is fatal within 6 hours. agent vaporises immediately in air and is invisible. agent penetrates the skin. only protection is a vacc suit. 5-6. canister contains a virus. The disease is 40% fatal within 6 days. will lose 2D+4 strength points. 9+ chance of getting disease... +6 if present when opened, +8 if personally opened, +4 if exposed to person who opened. +1 if examined without opening. roll once per 24 hours. possibility of epidemic to be determined.   4kg weight, can be carried by one person. SuSAG heavily guarded. Security to be detailed as well as map.
  1. nature of material
  2. toxicity of material if opened
43 3 7 31 9+ Smuggler, Speculator none none NPC disreputable looking person 1 responsible for delivery of merchandise needs guards for questionable delivery merchandise assures group that does not expect trouble cash reward, cargo ship must not allow other groupsto intervene. local govt tightens restrictions on contraband interceptors enforcement of business Cr 1500 each to protect transport of possible contraband being delivered cargo ship and landing point 9. Daring Enterprise/ 2.Deliverance illegal 1. cargo is art objects films, magazines, books, which are censored by local authorities. no further problems. 2-4. illegal drugs of value over Cr20,000,000. will be attacked (6+) within 20 minutes by band equal to pc group. crew is armed with auto pistols only. 5-6. small case of 12 bottles of rare vintage of terran wine. patron was to deliver to exec at Sternmetal horizons for Cr12,000,000 and position in company. The excutive will doublecross patron and ambush party with mercenaries outnumbering 2:1 armed at tech level.   local regulation of contraband.
  1. nature of cargo and its value
  2. possibility of interception
44 3 8 31 9+ Administrator none none NPC Trevor Faungeld 1 represents a manufacturing firm needs security for company saboteurs rough idea of size of saboteur group. small cash stipend must not allow sabotage to take place sabotage plot uncovered saboteurs intent on causing damage to company Cr500 each per week to protect company against sabotage local company 13. Enmity of Kinsmen (rival company?) legal 1.factory is not attacked, after 6 weeks patron will determine danger is past and release team from contract. 2. as 1 but 4 weeks. 3-4.attacked after 4 weeks by amateurs armed with hunting rifles. 5. after 2 weeks attacked by experienced mercenaries. equal in number and equipment to PC group. 6. after two weeks penetrated by 4 expert saboteurs disguised as workers to plant three explosive devices.   further events to be determined.
  1. wait before attack
  2. duration of contract
  3. size/armament/experience of saboteurs
45 3 9 31-32 9+ Playboy none none NPC young man of great nobility 1 nephew of disappeared victim needs people to find his uncle patrons uncle, executive of SuS,AG details of disappearance unknown but hes an important man so he must have left a trail. cash incentive, justice of cause must not allow uncle to be harmed uncle disappeared mysteriously presumed captors of uncle/ or family members to restrain executive from testifying/to keep patron in dark Cr3000 per member/ per month to track down missing uncle unknown location of uncle 35. recovery of a lost one. legal 1-2. uncle is conducting secret business. when found the business will be concluded and group paid in full. 3-4. kidnapped by mercenaries to restrain him from testifying. 5.patron is disinherited and hopes to get money from uncle. may not be able to pay group in full. 6.as 5 but uncle has died and family kept death a secret.   tracking down uncle is up to PC group.
  1. reason for disappearance
  2. health of uncle
  3. ability of patron to pay
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