36 Plots
Penguin November 9th, 2008
This page lists 36 plots for RPGs, but they’re just as applicable to film.
- Supplication – Persecutor, Suppliant, a Power in Authority
- Deliverance – Unfortunates, Threatener, Rescuer
- Revenge – Avenger, Criminal
- Vengeance by Family upon Family – Avenging Kinsman, Guilty Kinsman, Relative
- Pursuit – Fugitive from Punishment, Pursuer
- Victim of Cruelty or Misfortune – Unfortunates, Master or Unlucky Person
- Disaster – Vanquished Power, Victorious Power or Messenger
- Revolt – Tyrant, Conspirator(s)
- Daring Enterprise – Bold Leader, Goal, Adversary
- Abduction – Abductor, Abducted, Guardian
- Enigma – Interrogator, Seeker, Problem
- Obtaining – Two or more Opposing Parties, Object, maybe an Arbitrator
- Familial Hatred – Two Family Members who hate each other
- Familial Rivalry – Preferred Kinsman, Rejected Kinsman, Object
- Murderous Adultery – Two Adulterers, the Betrayed
- Madness – Madman, Victim
- Fatal Imprudence – Imprudent person, Victim or lost object
- Involuntary Crimes of Love – Lover, Beloved, Revealer
- Kinsman Kills Unrecognised Kinsman – Killer, Unrecognised Victim, Revealer
- Self Sacrifice for an Ideal – Hero, Ideal, Person or Thing Sacrificed
- Self Sacrifice for Kindred – Hero, Kinsman, Person or Thing Sacrificed
- All Sacrificed for Passion – Lover, Object of Passion, Person or Thing Sacrificed
- Sacrifice of Loved Ones – Hero, Beloved Victim, Need for Sacrifice
- Rivalry Between Superior and Inferior – Superior, Inferior, Object
- Adultery – Deceived Spouse, Two Adulterers
- Crimes of Love – Lover, Beloved, theme of Dissolution
- Discovery of Dishonor of a Loved One – Discoverer, Guilty One
- Obstacles to Love – Two Lovers, Obstacle
- An Enemy Loved – Beloved Enemy, Lover, Hater
- Ambition – An Ambitious Person, Coveted Thing, Adversary
- Conflict with a God – Mortal, Immortal
- Mistaken Jealousy – Jealous One, Object of Jealousy, Supposed Accomplice, Author of Mistake
- Faulty Judgment – Mistaken One, Victim of Mistake, Author of Mistake, Guilty Person
- Remorse – Culprit, Victim, Interrogator
- Recovery of a Lost One – Seeker, One Found
- Loss of Loved Ones – Kinsman Slain, Kinsman Witness, Executioner
