here are several factors that must be taken into consideration before you can begin scripting a story. The scale, number of players, and general character types are all-important elements that must be kept in mind. Rampaging Renegades and vicious Risen don’t fit well into Stygian political chronicles; pacifist Heretics don’t last long in shoot-‘em-ups. Tailor your plots to what you have to work with in terms of group, character, and setting.

Scale

Scale is the number of people you have playing. Games can range in size from handfuls to hundreds, and you need to ensure that no matter how many wraiths are out there, there’s something for everyone potentially to do. Oftentimes, players will set their own plots in motion based on roleplaying and character interaction, but there needs to be a metaplot, a grand scheme that gives everyone a starting point.

Scope

The scope of your story is a very important consideration. Whether the story involves a massive plot to bring back Charon or kidnap an abusive Legionnaire is a matter of scope. Scope boils down to what’s won or lost. Scope can be limited by the number of players in the game. You shouldn’t always have stories with huge scope; players grow bored with always “saving the world.” On the other hand, you should not keep the cast from getting involved in potentially earth-shattering stories. Balance is the key.

Metaplots should have bigger scopes than local plots. Obviously the more characters involved in a plot, the higher the stakes should be. Don’t forget your mortals when creating plots, either. The actions of the living have a huge effect on the dead, in terms of Fetters, Passions, and the like. On a more pragmatic note, it’s no fun to sit around as a Pathos battery. Make sure your humans have something worthwhile to do, too.