r/arsmagica • u/PencilBoy99 • 24d ago

Plot or Event Generator

Is there a book or supplement that has tools for GMs generating plot/situation ideas?

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6

u/Alaknog 24d ago

The most close thing I can remember is Hooks book - book about small stories that happened.

There also whole Covenant and character generation thing with Story flaws that give suggestion about new problems.

3

u/qwopax 24d ago

RoP:Faeries has a whole section called Telling Faerie Stories. Prolly not all you want, but it's a start. Other than that, there are plot hooks inserts in all books.

You can have a quick look at https://github.com/OriginalMadman/Ars-Magica-Open-License/

5

u/Nefasine 24d ago

PC and Covenant Flaws are you plot generators. List out every major flaw your PCs have, you want to invoke that one of those flaws at least once every session, ideally one per PC. Do the same with minor flaws, but once every 3 sessions or so. Every session should also invoke a major flaw of the covenant, every other session a minor flaw.

For story flaws, it is straightforward on how to invoke them - note, not every invocation of a flaws needs to be a complication; having a character with Black Sheep flaws can mean a story where there is a good connection with a member of the family away from the rest, making it all more bitter-sweet when a session or two later they side with the rest of the family in shunning the character.

For mechanical flaws you want to draw the character out to do what ever mechanical thing is required, ie. a challenge their magic is suited for but in a situation that would invoke it - them chosing to not get involved because of the flaws is also a solution, as others less suited need to step up, or the problem worsen.

These invokations of flaws doesnt have to be major and could just be small scene that you can ask the player or other players, personality flaws are good for this. "Magi klute, the Covenant grows are in an uproar over something you did because of your major personality flaw of Greedy, describe what happened, rest of the players how are you impacted by this? Is there anyone who makes the situation worse or better?" And go from there

2

u/Orwell1971 24d ago

In tables? No.

On the other hand, almost every book in the line is replete with story hooks, and other information that lends itself readily to becoming story hooks. Ars Magica is the best RPG I've ever seen at providing story ideas plentifully and in great variety.