One of the five elements of a role-playing game in my book. The plot is built on two other elements RPG's - the game world (which includes non-player characters) and the player characters. A plot can be simple, like "the queen wants to hire your party to go retrieve a family heirloom that was stolen by a rival nation," or they can be hideously complex, and nothing is as it seems; each new piece of information leads to yet another plot line (see Tom Clancy and Robert Jordan). Each player has his or her own preferences for plot complexity, which may vary with time. As a general rule, the more complicated the plot, the better - most players like it when the plot thickens. The plot is the responsibility of the game master, in who's hands, plot devices are putty to be sculpted.

PLOT

Other Literary Concepts:
Characterization | Alliteration | Repetition | Point of View | Irony | Connotation | Personification

The plot is the sequence of related events in a story. It consists of four parts that can be remembered by the mnemonic ECCR. In order, they are:

1. Exposition: The exposition is the introduction. It introduces you to the characters and setting. It tells you about the conflict in the story.
2. Complication: The complication appears quickly after the exposition. It makes up a significant part of any story, telling about the difficulties the characters face with resolving the conflict.
3. Climax: The climax, which appears near the end, is usually the most interesting and exciting part of the story. In the climax, everything that the reader did not previously know is revealed. All the complications are fixed, and the conflict is resolved.
4. Resolution: The resolution is what happens later, sort of as an afternote. In the resolution, most of the loose ends are tied up. If the author plans to write a sequel, many loose ends are left untied. Some stories, known as cliffhangers, all but lack a resolution.

Plot (?), n. [AS. plot; cf. Goth. plats a patch. Cf. Plat a piece of ground.]

1.

A small extent of ground; a plat; as, a garden plot.

Shak.

2.

A plantation laid out.

[Obs.]

Sir P. Sidney.

3. Surv.

A plan or draught of a field, farm, estate, etc., drawn to a scale.

 

© Webster 1913.

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Plot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plotted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Plotting.]

To make a plot, map, pr plan, of; to mark the position of on a plan; to delineate.

This treatise plotteth down Cornwall as it now standeth. Carew.

 

© Webster 1913.

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Plot, n. [Abbrev. from complot.]

1.

Any scheme, stratagem, secret design, or plan, of a complicated nature, adapted to the accomplishment of some purpose, usually a treacherous and mischievous one; a conspiracy; an intrigue; as, the Rye-house Plot.

I have overheard a plot of death. Shak.

O, think what anxious moments pass between The birth of plots and their last fatal periods! Addison.

2.

A share in such a plot or scheme; a participation in any stratagem or conspiracy.

[Obs.]

And when Christ saith. Who marries the divorced commits adultery, it is to be understood, if he had any plot in the divorce. Milton.

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3.

Contrivance; deep reach thought; ability to plot or intrigue.

[Obs.] "A man of much plot."

Denham.

4.

A plan; a purpose.

"No other plot in their religion but serve Got and save their souls."

Jer. Taylor.

5.

In fiction, the story of a play, novel, romance, or poem, comprising a complication of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.

If the plot or intrigue must be natural, and such as springs from the subject, then the winding up of the plot must be a probable consequence of all that went before. Pope.

Syn. -- Intrigue; stratagem; conspiracy; cabal; combination; contrivance.

 

© Webster 1913.

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Plot (?), v. i.

1.

To form a scheme of mischief against another, especially against a government or those who administer it; to conspire.

Shak.

The wicked plotteth against the just. Ps. xxxvii. 12.

2.

To contrive a plan or stratagem; to scheme.

The prince did plot to be secretly gone. Sir H. Wotton.

 

© Webster 1913.

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Plot, v. t.

To plan; to scheme; to devise; to contrive secretly.

"Plotting an unprofitable crime." Dryden. "Plotting now the fall of others."

Milton

 

© Webster 1913.