Dramatica Plot Progression Math

#1

The Math of Dramatica
I’m studying the Dramatica Theory Book and trying to nail down my understanding of the Plot Progression Points. Here is my understanding of it thus far:
Progressive Story Points
Story Points are Acts, Sequences, Scenes, and Events
In a 4 Act story, each Act is mapped to one of 4 Thematic Classes
A Sequence is the 6 possible combinations in a Thematic Variational Quad (Page 136)
Thematic Sequence (6) X Character Dimensions (4) = 24 Scenes (Element Level)
1 Scene X 4 Classes = 4 Events (At the Class Level) Page 140

That’s what I have deduced from the theory book. Now I look at:

Table of Story Points

The Table of Story Points has terms in it that are not in the manual. Is my math above wrong? Is this an apple-to-apple comparison? Where did the additional terminology come from?

Thanks for your help,
Joseph

#2

Are you talking about Setup/Revelation/Conflict/Aftermath? Those are not based on anything within the Dramatica Theory Book. There is a post somewhere in that thread that talks about it, I believe. It doesn’t use the 6 possible combinations in a thematic quad, but simply the variations described in the Plot Sequence Report as Sequences so to speak (Setup/Revelation/Conflict/Aftermath), and the Elements underneath. So 4 Acts x 4 Types x 4 Variations = 64 “Scenes/Sequences”

#3

Bob,
Thank you for your response. Is it possible to create a similar table based on the manual’s description? It would go a long way to consolidate all the loose pieces floating around in my head.

Joseph

#4

No, because there isn’t any specific order given to the variation combinations, character dimensions or classes.

#5

Hi Joseph,

Typically I would tell you it really doesn’t matter at that bottom level–and I still intuitively feel that–but you might want to take a look at my latest on The Four Modalities of Scene Construction