Character arc

A character arc (known by other names, see below) is a trait and type character advancement mechanic that rewards individual players for having their player characters experience certain events during play. Generally, players are rewarded by being given experience points or another similar form of character advancement. These events lead into each other, and may interweave with the arcs of other characters, so that the story that emerges from playing the game is character-driven and involves character development.

Arc traits are generally defined by the rules of the specific role-playing game, and include events and stories that are appropriate to the setting and genre of the game. They can be significant accomplishments or small moments (which may award different amounts of experience depending on length or complexity). The events may even be negative or unwanted for the characters, but the players are interested in playing through them and are rewarded for doing so. Because players can choose which arcs they want their character to follow, this gives them greater player agency over their own characters' development and story. They also provide flags for the GM about what the players are interested in experiencing.

Character arcs are known as such in Monte Cook's Cypher System games and his GM advice book Your Best Game Ever, but they have also been used in many other games by other names, including:

• quests (not to be confused with quests in the fiction) and arcs in Chuubo's Marvelous Wish-Granting Engine by Jenna Moran. In this game, the interaction of different characters' quests and arcs provides the mainly gameplay loop. (Arcs in this game are larger and represent multiple quests.)
• stories (not to be confused with story that emerges from play) in 7th Sea Second Edition by John Wick Presents. Each story has a number of steps to complete and, when they are finished, players are awarded a number of experience points based on that number of steps (generally but not always equal to the number of sessions it lasted).
• stories in Magic School Mystery by Tanner Wilson

External links

• Session Zero and Character Arcs at Angel's Citadel