Creative Uses of the Future
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. | 1st 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 | |||||||||
| 19 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 5-12 | clerk | none | starship | NPC | representative of Zoological Socity | 1 | employee of society tasked with hiring for mission | need heroes starship | zoo/delivery point for transfer of animals | transit must be speedy and safe for animals | Zoologist will accompany animals on trip. has tranquilizer gun if needed. | animals cant be harmed, must take zoologist, must not delay. | animals may have been stolen, or reason for transport. | zoologist and/or patron (or animals) | selling animals on black market (instinct/negligence of zoologist) | Cr 20,000 | transit of live cargo | planet one jump away | 17. Fatal Imprudence (heroes are taken in/advantage of... with consequences) | legal in best case/illegal in worst case | All is as represented | animals are dangerous and up to 5 will escape from confinement. | zoologist is armed and attempts to hijack ship | patron and zoologist working together to dupe players in black market scheme. | heroes may pick up extra passengers |
|
|||
| 20 | 2 | 2 | 18-19 | 5-12 | Peasant, clerk | none | starship | NPC | shabbily dressed man with an allergy | 1 | grandson seeking to obtain lost cargo that his grandfather died before delivering. | need a group with a starship that will assist in expedition. | lost cargo | background info and location as detailed in diary | self. and diary. to assist | exact nature of cargo is unknown must not be intercepted. |
border skirmishes in grant system. imperium's annexation of area. navy tests. patron's acquisition of diary. | imperial naval forces | keeping spies clear of area where classified weapons research is taking place. | 50/50 split of proceeds | transport expedition to find lost goods and sell them. | Grant System, former site of conflict, now testing site of navy. | 9. Daring Enterprise | legal (but possible illegal reults) | 1. cargo found undamaged. mobile field surgery equipment (1.5 tons)which cant be sold legally and drugs (2 tons)which can. | 2-3. 4 tons of drugs | 4. cargo damaged and only surgery is intact. | 5.4 tons of medical drugs, 1 ton of illegal anagathic and 10 kg psi booster. | 6. meteor shower in area | if captured by govt forces they will be charged with espionage. imperial ships patrol area. |
|
||
| 21 | 2 | 3 | 19-20 | 5-12 | terrorist | none | weapons | NPC | member of anti-govt organization | 1 | faction seeking to oveerthow council and drive HeC off Himon | need a military capable group without political allegiance to pull of mission | HeC's mass driver catapult on Iyago | Reveals HeC as power behind Himoni govt, and their role in mining Iyago, construction on Himon, and taxation of Himoni public. | rebels will provide transport and will sabotage most ships HeC has in system beyond perimeter of Iyago. | must not fail to obtain the mass driver, as it all hinges on that. | HeC takeover of Himon and corrupt scheme that keeps them in place. development of mass driver. emergence of rebel faction. | Hortelez et Cie, megacorporation behind Himoni council. | prevent interruptions of profits. Maintaing corruption. | Cr 1,000,000 | hijacking weapon, and obtaining ransom from council govt. | Iyago, sattelite of Himon | 8. revolt | illegal | 1. once catapult is in rebel hands, HeC concedes. sets up free govt. group is paid and escorted out of the system. | 2-3. as 1 but miners attempt to destroy catapult with laser... plan depends on their not succeding. | 4. A warship appears friendly to HeC | 5-6. Catapult has been sabotaged by another faction before group arrives. must figure out how to repair it to proceed. | last minute surprises may force other events into play. |
|
|||
| 22 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 5-12 | Playboy, cut-throat | none | none | NPC | two nervous young men | 2. | emerge from bar seeking safe escort to police station. | urgently need honest looking people that are immediate presentl to protect them from assailants. | selves | story of their predicament. reveal they have wealthy families. |
promise of cash reward and appeal to legal authority. | must not allow them to be killed. | men enter bar in kasbah and proceed to insult gang and leave in haste. | barroom gang | intent on killing patrons in revenge over insult. | Cr 1000 | escort to safety | nearest police station at Rennersdon, starport of Pecknel. | 1. Supplication | legal | 1-3. all is as it seems. may use any weapons they have or near at hand. gang with ounumber heroes by 1-6. in case of fight, the patrons will flee immediately. | 4-6. situation is a ruse with intention of surrounding heroes by surprise. | exact nature of gang to be taken from 1000 Characters book. |
|
|||||
| 23 | 2 | 5 | 20-21 | 5-12 | Administrator | none | none | NPC | Anton Tivas, | 1 | govt official on Mu'ong. | need a neutral party willing to perform deed. | President Mikal Kulhas | intrigue. intention is to pin blame on opposition party. | will provide weapons, location, alibi... and exit offworld. | group unable to determine if things are as they seem or the opposition's part in this. | internal political squabbles on Mu'ong lead ruling party to stage a coup. | unreliable patron | govt forces trying to protect president. | Cr 40,000 each, and passage offworld. | assassination | Mu'ong | 30. ambition | illegal | 1-2. All is as represented. how assination plays out to be determined. | 3. last minute change requires improvisation. | 4. As Kulhas dies they learn escape has been compromised... must leave by own devices. | 5. as 4, but not paid, wanted for murder, and patron is a fake. | presidents party doublecross group and intercept assasination attempt. opposition is behind plot after all. | details of assassination, complication and consequences. does revolt actually take place? |
|
||
| 24 | 2 | 6 | 21 | 5-12 | Speculator | none | none | NPC | a middle-aged buisnesswoman | 1 | represents cadre of stock holders | need group that can intercept shipment quietly and be persuaded to do so for the money. | mineral shipment from Lingula | presumably given necessary info to intercept team | group given salted ore to switch | must not allow tampering to be known before report is made. | cadre sent out false info about mineral deposits and govt sends survey team to verify. | government and their sponsored survey team | maintain reliable results of investigation | Cr 300,000 | tampering with investigation | Lingula, uninhabited planetoid on edge of system | 30. ambition | illegal | 1-2. All is as stated. success depends on conditions. | 3-4. govt predicts tampering and sent two shipments. group has already missed the first shipment. | 5-6. cadre have no intention of paying group. neither they nor the patron can be found. | presumably group will need ship and means to overcome survey team. |
|
||||
| 25 | 2 | 7 | 22 | 5-12 | Merchant | army experience | none | NPC | agent | 1 | represents a group of business executives | needs group with army experience to assess military capabilities. | pro-govt military forces in Anasinta | necesary info on political climate of Anisintha to proceed in gathering intel. | cash incentive and opportunity for bonus. further needs may lead to additional contracts. | must not allow local military interests to interfere with report or discover teams activities. | economic dispute between two opposed factions leads to politically sensitive situation on Porozlo. | heads of pro-govt forces in Anisintha and counter-intelligence. | protect secrets from being leaked on military capabilities | Cr 15,000 for report with Cr 10, 000 bonus for additional report on rebel forces. | intelligence gathering | Anisinta a neutral country on the balkanised world porozlo (a-867a74-A) | 12. obtaining | illegal-ish | 1-2. All is as stated. | 3-4. there is no rebel force. group will be contracted to create one. | 5-6. group contracted to takeover rebel faction and operate acc to desires of company. | success of report will depend on capabilities of group. reaction of military/rebels if group is discovered is another factor. |
|
||||
| 26 | 2 | 8 | 22-23 | 5-12 | Army Officer | none | starship | NPC | young woman in uniform of imperial army | 1 | She wants to desert from the army | need group's starship to escape | herself | penalty for getting caught is high but wants to leave the army. | cash reward justifies the risk. | must get a jump on authorities for success | enlisted in the army, apparently involved in secret weapons project. | military police | preventing desertions | Cr50,000 | transportation and escape of fugitive | nearby star system two jumps away | 2. Deliverance | illegal | 1-2. soldier has not been missed. some hours before search begins. | 3-4. search has already begun. they must leave immediately to avoid search of ship. | 5. once en route she discovers she inadvertently left with secret weapon plans which she may or may not reveal but pursuers raise stakes. | 6. as 5 but soldier was seen boarding ship | penalty for assisting desertion is 15 years imprisonment. other events to be determined. |
|
|||
| 27 | 2 | 9 | 23 | 5-12 | Administrator, Police | computer | none | NPC | govt official | 1 | minor member of local govt | need outsiders without political allegiances... and demonstrated computer experience | local candidate of majority party | identifies interest of opposition party, presumably gives information to be altered and details about location. | will make sure door is open | success is dependant on computer experience. | political intrigue between two political parties over the course of upcoming election. | majority party/security | preventing corruption, protecting political interests. | Cr5000 each | computer hack/ altering govt records | offices of target candidate | 13. Enmity of Kinsmen | illegal | 1. no unforseen problems. difficulty of task is :13+ on 2d6 with +5 for each level of computer experience... (so this is a must for success 41.7%, 97.2%, etc.) | 2. as 1, but with exp level 2 roll 9 to find information of value.(27.8%) | 3-4. as 2 but 8+ (41.7%) chance of discovery by security guards. number and armament to be determined. | 5.with computer-3 experience roll 7+ to find information of obvious interest to imperial authorities. | 6. A terrorist group attacks building seeking to destroy it. authorities will also arrive on scene and heroes may/will become entangled. | group targeted/contacted in starport |
|
||
| 28 | 2 | 10 | 23-24 | 5-12 | terrorist, hijacker | none | none | NPC | member of terrorist organisation | 1 | terrorist group with a grudge against owners of passenger liner | need willing party to perform task | passenger liner (ship only) | instruct group to board as passengers. all necessary details for hijack (and passage aboard liner) is presumably provided. make allowances for passenger to escape safely. | cash incentive will provide scout ship for escape | no cash reward for turning in terrorists to authorities (or try to sell or steal the liner) they will be pursued by terrorists if that occurs. must not allow liner to make hyperspace jump. | pretext is not elaborated on... but presumably the owners of the passenger liner are in conflict with the interests of the terrorist group. | airline security | counterterrorism, protection of company interests. | Cr 10,000 each | destroy passenger liner | outsystem planetoid where ship will be crashed and group will meet rescue vessel. | 9. Daring Enterprise: | illegal | 1.All is as presented. armament and abilities of crew to be determined. | 2-3. terrorist plan is thwarted and group is arrested when trying to board. | 4-5. not enough lifeboats for passengers to escape. | 6. armed mercenary unit on board, one level higher than principal party | unclear what purpose there is of hijacking the liner but letting the passengers go free? |
|
|||
| 29 | 2 | 11 | 24 | 5-12 | Shopkeeper, Speculator | none | none | NPC | a shady character with a proposition | 1 | needs to unload counterfeit cash. | needs group desperate enough to get involved. | counterfeit cash | advises group how to unload cash. | insentive of large reward | must get rid of it quickly by laundering. | conterfeit money put into circulation by patron or other party. | justice authorities | containing circulation of counterfeit money and apprehending people involved. | -Cr1500 (sale) +Cr150,000 (counterfeit) |
fencing/entanglement in plot | leave planet for another location | 12. obtaining | illegal | 1-2. no special problems | 3-4. police have been alerted | 5-6. doublecross. the patron has sold identities of heroes to police. |
|
|
||||
| 30 | 2 | 12 | 24-25 | 5-12 | Scholar | computer | none | NPC | a gentlewoman | 1 | needs copies of sensitive documents. | needs group with computer skills to access info. | computer at LSP | details security in building, where computer is stored, how to identify info. | cash incentive | must not get caught. precise nature of information is vague. | patron made aware of sensitive files at LSP. LSP has secrets that imperium would be interested in.. | Ling Standard Products megacorp. | protecting sensitive files | Cr 2500 each | breakin, computer hacking. | Ling Standard Products offices | 12. Obtaining | illegal | 1. all is as represented. success to be dermined. | 2-3. discover additional information of LSP crimes discovered. players may blackmail lsp or sell infomation to authorities but with consequences. | 4-5. patrons documents are not to be found... however as nr. 2. | 6.patron is employee of lsp and its a trap. players caught and phony evidence on them to indicate ulterior motive. | imperium may be investigating lsp so lsp already looking into countermeasures with players caught in the middle. |
|
|||
| 31 | 2 | 13 | 25 | 5-12 | merchant | military experience | none | NPC | agent | 1 | patron who previously hired team to make military survey | needs group with military experience to create a resistance group. | govt of Anisinta | intel from previous mission but team must re-enter country on their own. | will supply guns, ammo, and other necessities for mission. | must not be stopped by govt forces. | previous mission determined that rebel plot was a myth so patron recruited players to create one for real. | local govt of Anisita | self protection/ preventing a coup | Cr 1,000,000 | infiltrate country and recruit and train a rebel army to create a coup. | Anisita | 8. revolt | illegal | 1-2. all is as represented | 3-4.report was wrong. there is a rebel group and they are opposed to the fake rebels recruited by players. | 5-6. Patron is actually govt agent. Players group will be infiltrated with informers and revolt will fail. pretext for govt crackdown. | must determine success in entering country. |
|
||||
| 32 | 2 | 14 | 25-26 | 5-12 | merchant | military experience | none | NPC | agent | 1 | patron who previously hired team to make military survey | needs group with military experience to take over existing rebel group. | rebel faction in Anisinta | intel from previous mission and contracted for new mission. | rebels presumed to have weapons and team must reenter country. | must succeed in dominating rebels and revolution must go forward. | previous mission determined that rebels existed so group rehired to exert control over revolt. | local govt of Anisita/ antagonistic rebels | preventing coup/ preventing outside agenda | Cr 10,000 each to take over rebel army. | infiltrate and takeover rebel group for outside interests. | Anisita | 8. revolt | illegal | 1-2. all is as represented. | 3-4. report was wrong. there is no rebel group. patron will not pay if there is no revolution he can control. | 5-6. report was wrong. there are three separate rebel factions. | success of entering country, finding rebels and asserting control. |
|
||||
| 33 | 2 | 15 | 26 | 5-12 | naval officer | none | starship | NPC | Officer of local navy | 1 | needs a message delivered | need group with starship to make trip. | local rep of Sternmental, LIC | introduction may lead to job offer | offers letters of introduction | must not allow letter to be intercepted | communication established between patron and target possibly for nefarious purpose. | naval authorities may intervene | content of letter may be suspicious | Cr1000 | deliver a message/ make contact | next planet on group's itenerary | 27. discovery of dishonour | legal (but see particulars for exceptions) | 1. all is as represented. sternmetal offers small job in return. | 2-4. message contains classified information. sternmetal makes team permanant couriers. navy dept is unhappy with situation. | 5-6. patron discovered and followed. naval intelligence will determine contacts. | events to be determined to logical conclusion. |
|
||||
| 34 | 2 | 16 | 26-27 | 5-12 | noble | none | proper tools | NPC | Clarissa D'Avignon | 1 | local noblewoman, | She will be ousted from office if she cannot stop the adversary. | video or other materials in Starviks office about her. | identity of adversary . rudimentary info on Starviks security. | cash insentive and personal assurance about security and intel. | security may be more difficult than patron is aware. | patron recently promoted to high office in local govt. breakup with Starvik. | blackmailer, presumed to be patron's former lover, Anton Starvik. (or more likely guards on premesis) | grudge against patron | Cr25000 | breakin and burglury | Starvik's office in local territory. | 12. obtaining | illegal | 1.security is lax. no problems. 7 reels of desired material recovered. | 2-3.no problem breaking in but entering office has an alarm that may be tripped. | as 2 but video is in a safe that also may be tripped. | 6.rigorous security, with guards of undetermined number, frequency, and armament and other measures. | events to be determined as well as security as indicated. |
|
|||
| 35 | 2 | 17 | 27 | 5-12 | Playboy, Shipowner | none | none | NPC | distraught young man | 1 | husband of victim | need muscle to back him up to join him on mission. | the patron's wife | location of where cult is holding victim on moon of current planet, defenses and safe landing. | offers himself, to lead mission. he has a scout ship armed with a single beam laser. | things may or may not be as they appear. | wife captured or enticed in by cult | Religious Cult | intend to make slave/ brainwash victim. | Cr2000 each | help liberate captive | moon of planet | 2. deliverance | legal | 1.all is as represented. patron provides necessary info and lands safely. | 2-3. cultits are armed at will resist. weapons below law level 3. cannot damage starship. | 3-4. as 2 but they have their own scotship with single pulse laser to pursue rescuers. | 6. patron lied. cultists are not dangerous or armed. he is kidnapping woman and will desert heroes without pay. | events to be determined and depend on complications. |
|
|||
| 36 | 2 | 18 | 27 | 5-12 | Emigre, Peasant | none | starship | NPC | a desperate woman | 1 | fugitive from the law | need for immediate transport on starship | herself | woman says she is fleeing a murder charge | cash advance | must avoid security forces | a murder that the suspect may or may not have committed | police | apprehension of murder suspect | Cr50,000 1/4 in advance |
help fugitive escape | Any nearby planet | 5. Pursuit | illegal | 1-2, woman is suspect but will be cleared of charges as long as no further laws are broken. | 3-4, woman actively soght by police but will be cleared. | 5-6. woman is guilty and pursued by police | events to be determined. |
|
||||