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Post by slimprize on Aug 23, 2009 12:20:03 GMT
Hi all, How does one begin writing a lone wolf kind of game book? I have downloaded the word files and they are almost like movie scripts with numbered scenes. My problem is that I do not quite understand how to keep track of the different plots and subplots if I were to write a game book of my own.
Pranav
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Post by pi4t on Aug 23, 2009 15:03:35 GMT
I did a mini one not long ago and I decided how to start, and went from there. Probably not the best way, though... By the way, are you using QML? I found it was VERY buggy, and lost all my work Try using this website instead: www.fightingfantasy.org/
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Post by beowuuf on Aug 23, 2009 15:31:06 GMT
There are a few trackers out there. There is nothing to stop you writing out charts of the decision trees. If you find your decision trees are getting out of hand to co-ordinate, that's probably a good sign that your book is getting too ambitious and branching to wide. Also, keep notes of what sections you have referred to (that you need to do), and where you get certain 'special' items or important information from. Edit: Infact here's a few points for exactly you by a fan-fic gamebook writer - not me) www.dmjump.net/So%20you%20want%20to%20write%20a%20fan%20fiction%20gamebook.doc
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Post by pi4t on Aug 23, 2009 19:32:37 GMT
If you're using a word document it's probably possible to link to sections directly. I'm not sure how you'd do it in Microsoft Word but try using bookmarks and hyperlinks.
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Post by outspaced on Aug 23, 2009 21:12:32 GMT
Links in Word documents will work with Insert Hyperlink (ctrl-K) and 'link to place in this document' as long as you are linking to a piece of text in a Heading style (Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, etc.). So if you were to make the Section numbers Headings, and the section text in 'normal' or formatted text, the hyperlinks should work correctly. That's how I got the hyperlinks to work in the Combat Heroes books...
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Post by slimprize on Aug 27, 2009 14:08:40 GMT
Hi all,
Many thanks for your responses. Linking to the different sections is not a problem and I do plan on writing in word. The problem is managing my decision trees. I think I should just start writing and see what happens.
I have not heard of qml. I doubt I will use it though.
Pranav
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Post by beowuuf on Aug 27, 2009 18:19:24 GMT
I think there is nothing wrong in planning ahead with your decision trees. There should be many connection points where the decisions collapse - your major plot points. Between each one, you can backtrack slightly to ensure that you only allow for a couple of ways to come to that focal point, and so on.
It's easy to have alot of ideas and decisions when you are writing and planning. Remember even a simple tree will be interesting to read and complicated to write. Also, remember each major decision and item should have a consequence. So try to keep pruning your ideas and only keeping the best for a major decision. Or alternatively, ensure that multiple decisions give the same bonus / penalty later to trim down your section count and work.
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Post by gamebookreader on Sept 22, 2009 21:25:47 GMT
Hello, It might help to visualize the existing paths or decision-trees of the Lone Wolf series while you write your own book. You can then use the patterns as templates in which to elaborate your story. I had this thought in mind when I extracted out the paths and converted them into a .pdf flowchart, available from sites.google.com/site/gamebookproject/Cheers.
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