L.W. Flouisa's picture
L.W. Flouisa from Tennessee is reading More Murakami September 1, 2014 - 10:54pm

Or less metaphorically put, can a novel sustain itself on a thin plot like "I want to be an adventurer", and keep an audience as well as in a video game? I look back to the old JRPGs I used to play, this one didn't worry about plot so much as develop characters. For most of the story, it survived mainly on "I want to go on an adventure."

Yet you cared, because the characters were decent.

madsmaddox's picture
madsmaddox from Berkshire is reading Fated September 2, 2014 - 9:07am

I think you just answered your own question with thin plot with good characterisation?

L.W. Flouisa's picture
L.W. Flouisa from Tennessee is reading More Murakami September 2, 2014 - 1:33pm

Well as I thinking more if others had similar experiences silly goose.

madsmaddox's picture
madsmaddox from Berkshire is reading Fated September 2, 2014 - 2:35pm

Lol, yup had plenty of similar experiences, tons of hardboiled have thin plots masked by great characters, one springs to mind which I cannot remember the name of but it's written by Hammet that involves a PI looking after expensive gifts. As for old Rpg Sword of Vermillion, which even came with a guide which could be considered as a walk - through lol.

Delete Me's picture
Delete Me September 3, 2014 - 10:01am

Thin plot and good characters reminds me of a lot of 80's movies. One common plot in particular is "guys want to get laid so they start a [X]." [X] being a variable. All the memorable movies with thin plots had great actors and that's why you remember them. Meatballs, Bachelor Party, and The Breakfast Club, to name a few.

The same goes with any sort of pulp novel I have ever read. My favorite pulp writer is Christa Faust and her stories generally have the same plot which is double-crossed heroine looking to get revenge. But she writes her characters so well.

Christa Faust Amazon Page 

Aud Fontaine's picture
Aud Fontaine from the mountains is reading Catch-22. Since like, always. September 3, 2014 - 10:17am

With the right delivery, you don't even need real actors to make up for an absence of plot. Case in point:

L.W. Flouisa's picture
L.W. Flouisa from Tennessee is reading More Murakami September 3, 2014 - 11:39am

I'm not sure if that's reassuring or depressing. Both I guess.

Finished a flash fiction where the plot is written as a gag. I think I might make it into a one shot comic or something.

Jake Leroy's picture
Jake Leroy from Kansas City is reading Jesus' Son, by Denis Johnson, and Hot Water Music, by Charles Bukowski September 3, 2014 - 8:57pm

Great storytelling can overcome a weak plot, but a great plot cannot over come bad storytelling. An rpg is greatly dependent on the here and now experience and there is not much further expectation. It isn't really the destination, it's mostly the journey.

I liken this problem to tennis. I'm currently watching the U.S. Open and I play a couple times a week. Frequently the best players in the world, through sheer ability, can make a great shot with bad form. But if you watch carefully, they don't do it very often. The vast majority of the time their mechanics are superb, because great mechanics increase the odds of winning. My mechanics aren't as consistent so my play is not nearly as good. I make a great shot but sometimes follow it up with ugliness. Storytelling is like that. Sometimes you can get away with it, but it's a bad practice habit. If you don't have to, why would you even try? Increase the odds of winning by improving craft to execute every aspect competently at the very minimum. This will allow your talent to shine.  

Constructing a plot is like a carpenter crafting joints. To a great degree it can be learned.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated September 4, 2014 - 4:49am

The question might be too simple.

L.W. Flouisa's picture
L.W. Flouisa from Tennessee is reading More Murakami September 4, 2014 - 11:49am

Yea I'm finding myself using something like a backstory resolution, just before the 7 point structure to give a frame of reference for stories I've written. Because I didn't establish enough at the beginning.