Story vs. World Almanac

[Esenjay]

I understand the hierarchy of these two almanacs. I get world level input compared to storyline level detail.

If I am writing a new story arc within a realm, and I want to write multiple different sub-arcs to provide opportunities to players as they explore the realm, can I create multiple story almanacs to differentiate people/places/things?

If not, why even separate the two almanacs? I guess my thought line is, why write in a bunch of world level detail, maybe far from the current story, if I cannot develop multiple story almanacs as the campaign stretches to touch the rest of the realm?

I know that I can create multiple plot storyboards. But are they not all limited to the same story almanac? It seems like an unneeded layer of data storage.

Am I looking at campaign organization from the wrong angle?

Esenjay

 

[Dark Lord Galen]

You may not need or want ALL of your world data for that one story session. IT eases the amount of data you have to comb through... for just one session.

By having it in the Story almanac it populates just the Subsets of the structure that pertain to your current story to be told.

 

[AEIOU]

You could use story almanacs for current storyline, next storyline and work-in-progress. Or major cities/regions/continents. Or parties/groups. Or to segregate kingdoms/cultures/beliefs. Or chapters in an adventure path. Or, or, or.... Or don't use them at all.

 

[rob]

Think of the Story Almanac as a convenient, pre-defined, wholly customizable filter. You can add stuff to it in any manner you wish - or remove them. If you have thousands of topics in your realm, you likely will only be needing a portion of them during a given game session. During the game, you have a convenient subset of information already pared down for efficient access.

If you don't find this useful, you can freely delete the pre-defined Story Almanac. It's just a custom view that we provide as a convenience.

 

[Dark Lord Galen]

I understand the hierarchy of these two almanacs. I get world level input compared to storyline level detail.

If I am writing a new story arc within a realm, and I want to write multiple different sub-arcs to provide opportunities to players as they explore the realm, can I create multiple story almanacs to differentiate people/places/things?

Sure, there are several approaches that being one. Although I don't personally use that "approach"
I drive multiple story arcs through the Story board, but that is just "my approach"

If not, why even separate the two almanacs? I guess my thought line is, why write in a bunch of world level detail, maybe far from the current story, if I cannot develop multiple story almanacs as the campaign stretches to touch the rest of the realm?

Again as I responded above. From my own use (and by no means the only nor best approach) the two (and now sorta more with the filters coming into play) almanacs are separated as you describe.
1> with all the detail that exists in your world.
2> the other with just the detail you have for your game session.

I approach if from a perspective of old school pen/paper mentality so may not work for you.... before even utilizing RW, I decide these:

• For this weekends game session result,
• what are the 3 probable outcome courses (highest to lowest),
• 2 improbable courses
• and 2 WTF possibilities are for the outcome of my approaching gaming session?

Not the world, just the gaming session. With those in mind, I set story plots to them. From the story plots, I set up any supporting elements within the World into the Story in support of the game session. At the result of that session, I tweek the changes (if any) to the world based on the session.
Rinse & Repeat.

I know that I can create multiple plot storyboards. But are they not all limited to the same story almanac? It seems like an unneeded layer of data storage.

Am I looking at campaign organization from the wrong angle?
Esenjay

Well, the story boards are not exactly the story almanac, at least the way I apply them, so really don't know what to suggest to you.
Cant speak for others, but there is really no "wrong angle" to approach it from, only different ones.
I'm certain there are others with your approach that can shed light as to how to help.

Again, my approach (if read via here or other posts) doesn't utilize RW as some do. I use it as a game / world management tool, not as a VTT. So application and approach would be different.

Hope that helps if only alittle
DLG

 

[MNBlockHead]

When I started using RW at the beginning of the year I pretty much only used the World Almanac. The World Almanac, however, quickly becomes unweildly if you are building a large and detailed campaign world. Also, with the recent addition of custom filters, the story almanac is just another filter. I, like DLG, primarily use the custom filters as a quick access view to the content I will most likely need during a particular session.

I'm also starting to consider using custom filters for quick views to larger story lines. I've tried to use the story board for this, but for more complicated story lines, I'm finding that a custom view is more flexible and convenient way to see all elements of a story.

 

[Farling]

I understand the hierarchy of these two almanacs. I get world level input compared to storyline level detail.

If I am writing a new story arc within a realm, and I want to write multiple different sub-arcs to provide opportunities to players as they explore the realm, can I create multiple story almanacs to differentiate people/places/things?

Yes, you can create multiple almanacs. Each can have its own subset of topics from the World Almanac.

The default "Story Almanac" is just one pre-defined almanac.

 

[Esenjay]

Hey, thanks everyone!

Rob, using the story almanac for session prep makes sense to me. This approach is a good tool.

I am trying to "mess around" within the software to help eliminate superfluous questions, and you guys are really helpful.

I found the "assign to views > story almanac" link in the different entries in my world almanac. I think I am correctly creating sub almanacs now by creating a new topic. I can then use these for gaming sessions. This is really awesome - kudos to you guys. I think my initial problem was not understanding how to create more almanacs.

Is this what you guys are referring to as "filters"? Are there other ways to filter content within a realm?

Esenjay

 

[Dark Lord Galen]

Hey, thanks everyone!
....................

Is this what you guys are referring to as "filters"?

Yes, "filters"

Understand like you we're "works in progress" as well,

Even some of the descriptors and vernaculars have been changed and modified since the release of RW and as it matures.

As best as Rob and Company have tried to Document changes and Modifiers of descriptions, not all are and Some of us "old dogs" still use the vernaculars we became accustomed to, not that it would make them correct!

Are there other ways to filter content within a realm?

Esenjay

Yes, the magnifier is just one of several other means to do so (it allows you to filter down to key words, etc) Tags also come to mind.
So its a community voyage of discovery. Welcome aboard

DLG

 

[AEIOU]

Tags are what I think many of us think of when we talk about filters. You can search on tags and home in on specific items this way. This is a dynamic way of filtering.

The multiple story almanacs have created another type of filter. It's a static way. You create a list and then you control it.

I use both in conjunction with one another. It's very powerful to filter on tags within story almanacs.

 

[Esenjay]

OK, this sounds good.

Can you guys give me an idea of a few tags you use?

Like: werewolf, vampire, cursed, magic, component, etc.

Just building knowledge...

Esenjay