I. Background

I am writing this out in a series of three's. Which is to say, three Missions to a Minor Arch. Three Minor Archs to an Arch. Three Archs to a Major Arch. Three Major Archs to a Grand Arch. And so on.

Example:

This is just a simple tree diagram to give a rough idea of how this is structured. The whole point of the structure is to make it easier to flesh it out. There is more to the structure than just breaking the whole down. In each section the first part is Introduction. It provides the PC's with any new information that is necessary and further, provides a rough intro to what the arch (not to be confused with a Capital A Arch) is about. The second part is the Action. The PC's act on what they have learned. The third part is the Reaction. This is where the PC's are confronted with the consequences of their actions.

Another example. In Major Arch 1, we introduce the PC's to the direction the Grand Arch will take, as well as introduce any new main NPC's with whom the PC's will have frequent altercations. In Major Arch 2, the PC's act on this information. Perhaps they chase the NPC to his lair, or maybe they leave him to his own devices. In Major Arch 3 the PC's experience the consequences of their decisions, and actions, from Major Archs 1 and 2. This format is carried down through the tree. Arch 2.1 introduces the PC's to the direction of Major Arch 2. In Arch 2.2 they act on this information. In Arch 2.3 they see what the consequences were.

The first consequence of this structure is that most of the tree is made up of missions that have a mixed structure. Mission 1.2.2.3 introduces characters to a part of the Grand Arch, while they act on what they have learned about the direction of Major Arch 1 and Arch 1, while at the same time dealing with consequences from Missions 1.2.2.1 and 1.2.2.2. And Mission 3.1.2.3 shows the consequences of the Grand Arch, introduces them to Major Arch 3, and so on.

The second consequence is visible in Missions 1.1.1.1 and 2.2.2.2 and 3.3.3.3. The first is all introduction, the second is all action, and the third is all consequence. These are all fairly one dimensional. This is a minor problem which good GMing (or a small amount of delving into the PCs) should be able to alleviate.