Hi, and welcome back to Narrative Control, episode 11. Justin and I are back to talk about framing scenes. Why and how to do it.
Hosts: Sean Nittner and Justin Evans
Length: 20:08
Liner Notes
[00:29] Show Intro – Scene Framing [00:40] Special thanks to listeners William, Mikael, and Robin for correcting us (er Justin). We did in indeed steal previews from Prime Time Adventures. [00:56] This Modern Death Promo [01:33] Your in a 10’ corridor! [02:13] That is what a game without scene framing feels like. [02:52] Definition of scene framing: Location, who is present, and what is going on. [04:08] Why do we frame scenes? To avoid the tedium and get right to the action. [06:01] Scene framing described well in Prime Time Adventures. Something else in PTA as well. [06:54] In a Wicked Age – Driven strongly by scene framing. Nothing happens outside of a scene. [07:07] Scene Framing in Panty Explosion in 5 parts: Location, Mood, Action, Who’s There and Supernatural Activity [07:33] Strategies for framing a scene. Start a scene at the last possible moment. [08:34] To montage or not to montage? [08:54] Justin’s campaign. Nothing happens out of a scene. Much of the mundane is skipped. [09:22] Strategy for moving from one scene to the next. Ending with tension. [10:02] How to bring this to the table? Make the scenes personal to the characters. Each scene should matter. Take cues from the characters (aspects, keys, beliefs, virtues). Start them with a direction based on those cues. [11:43] Simmering scenes. Borrowed from Sons of Kryos and Ron Edwards. [13:10] Weaving. Bring up elements from one character’s personality or background in other character’s scenes. [14:00] Weaving us used constantly in My Life with Master. This prompted a lot of character interaction. [14:55] Situation Sheets from Full Light, Full Steam. Players writing a document of what kinds of scenes they would like to see. [15:56] Thematic Batteries. Require scenes that will charge these batteries. [16:49] Questions to ask your self in the scene: What happens if nobody intervenes? Who might profit or suffer from the conflict? Setting some stakes in advance. [18:26] Wrap up and recap of scene framing.
Nice show, guys. Just wanted to point you both to 3:16 as an elegant (albeit sparse) example of directions on how to frame.
From page 16: "... the GM describes the scene (what it looks like, who is there, and so on). This is the platform for the scene. Then the GM introduces the tilt, a change that sets the scene in motion and leads to first contact. You are now ready for your first encounter..."
Page 44 has more in-depth instructions and tips including an example but really keeps it simple. I love Hutton's approach.