**************************************************
***   EXTRA  EXTRA  RANDOM  PLOT  GENERATION   ***
**************************************************

First there was random plot generation. Then there was extra-random plot generation.
So, what do I name the improved plot generator for GH2? Extra-extra-random plot
generation, of course.


The plot components are selected based on a context string provided by the governing
story. This string contains the xxran descriptors; a label telling the difficulcy level;
descriptions for the xxran palette; and the PC's job.

A label preceded by a ~ is optional. It will increase the chance of this component
being selected, but doesn't have to be present.

A label preceded by a - must not be present in the story context. If it is, this
component cannot be selected.

A group of labels surrounded by parenthesis and separated by |s is an or-block. One
of the individual labels must be present and it will increase the chance of this
component being selected.

If the label "COMMON" is included in the list, this component is more likely to
be selected.



**************************
***   STORY  CONTEXT   ***
**************************

The story context contains:
- The xxran descriptors
- Tags for the completed dramatic choices, preceded by ":"
- The current difficulty level
- The context for the elements
- Certain merit badges, preceded by C:

DIFFICULCY LEVEL: EXTREME, HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW, NEGLIGIBLE
  !Ex, !Hi, !Md, !Lo, !Ne


*************************
***   PLOT  REQUEST   ***
*************************

The plot label will be *CORE_[a], where [a] is the identifier for the
PC's dramatic choice. At the beginning of the game the choice will be INTRO.
This identifier should always be five characters long.


******************************
***   EPISODE  STRUCTURE   ***
******************************

An episode consists of a base plot, several attached subplots, and the stubs
for the dramatic choices.

The basic structure for the plots is:

    CORE        Exposition; sets up the next part.
      MEET      Complication; PC is offered a mission, or somesuch.
        MAIN    The main course, usually a mecha battle.
        GOAL    The episode is won, the dramatic choice pays off.
        FAIL    The episode is lost, the PC must try something else.

CORE is the base plot. It must request a MEET-type subplot. Likewise, the MEET
subplot must request a MAIN-type subplot and usually also a GOAL and a FAIL.


****************************
***   DRAMATIC  CHOICE   ***
****************************

At the end of an episode, the PC gets to make a dramatic choice. These choices
are built into the episode like subplots. They may request or grab elements
as needed.


*****************************
***   PERSONAL  HISTORY   ***
*****************************

Family type: Standard, Orphanage, Circle, etc
Community members: Parents, siblings, dependants (may be siblings or children),
 mentor, rival, twin/clone
- Each family member should get attitude set. Siblings are Jr/Sr, while
  parents can be affectionate, protective, or distant.
Family atmosphere: Warm, Cool, Despairing, etc
Affluence: Rich, Middle Class, Poor, Destitute
Personal Issues: Seek lost parent, Seek revenge/justice

A problematic family history is essentially a wager; a penalty to starting PCs,
but a benefit if it can be overcome. On the other hand a positive family may
cause problems later on; for instance, if your family starts out rich, at some
point in the future there will likely be a crisis.

Resolving the personal issues will result in a merit badge, and this may
open up new options in the core story.




*************************************
***   NON-XXRAN  PLOT  CONTEXTS   ***
*************************************

The core story will have the descriptors below. A non-core story can have its own
label defined in a context SAtt. This may be used to limit certain persona fragments
and random scene content to a particular story or plot.

This label must start with a "=", may be as long as you want (as long as it's unique),
and may have several sections divided by underscores. For instance, the label "=MIL_DEFAULT"
can be used by the MILitary story DEFAULT or any of its plots.


**************************
***   XXRAN  PALETTE   ***
**************************

Every story that uses the xxran commands should have a standard set of elements. This
is so components can share elements between them, and also so that components can be
selected quickly without doing full element searches. The standard palette entries are:

1. Enemy Character (E:)
2. Enemy Faction (F:)
3. Target Faction (P:)

7. Root location of current episode (L:)
8. Target Item (I:)

These labels are followed by "++" if the element exists, or "--" if the element doesn't.
In addition, the desig and context strings for each element are included. For instance,
the tag "P:cor" would indicate that the PC's faction (P:) is corporate. The tag F:AEGIS
would indicate that the enemy faction is Aegis Overlord.

In addition, the designation of the element's faction is included if appropriate.

If the element is an enemy of the PC, an "ENEMY" tag is included. If the element is
an ally of the PC, an "ALLY" tag is included.

If the element has the same faction as the PC, "PCFAC" is included.
If the element has no faction, "NOFAC" is included.

If the element is a NPC, the relationship is also included. This may be one of "FAMILY",
"LOVER", or "FRIEND". If the element is a lancemate and currently in the party, "LANCE" will
be included.

Also if the element is a NPC, the heroic/villainous trait will be included as "GOOD_" or
"EVIL_".

If the element is a scene, its terrain SAtt will also be included: "SPACE", "WATER", "GROUND"

The job group of the PC is included as C:<job>. The available job designations are:
%%   ACADE: Academic
%%   ADVEN: Adventurer
%%   CORPO: Merchant, Corporate, White Collar
%%   CRAFT: Craftsman
%%   FAITH: Monk, Priest, etc
%%   LABOR: Skilled or unskilled labor
%%   MEDIA: Media, Performance, etc
%%   MEDIC: Medical
%%   MILIT: Military
%%   POLIT: Politician
%%   POLIC: Police
%%   THIEF: Criminal
See series\CG_JOBS_* for a complete and up-to-date list.

A lancemate will have a :TRAIN tag if they are currently eligible for the
TrainNPC command.



****************************
***   PLOT  DESCRIPTORS  ***
****************************

The first two characters of a plot descriptor are its type. Only one label
of a given type may be used in a single description. If a second label of
the same type is added, the original label is deleted.

In plot description, optional traits ("the flavor elements") are preceded
by a ~. These are not nessecary but will increase the likelihood of this
component being selected if they're present.

The story is made up of episodes. Each episode takes place in a single city.
Each episode is made up of several components.

BACKGROUND DESCRIPTORS
	These describe the PC's background and motivation
	+B??	Background State
	+G??	PC's Goal

+B??	PC Background/Motivation
	Describes the situation of the PC's life so far.
	+B--	Nothing special.
	+Bor	PC was an orphan/raised communaly
	+Bpd	PC's parents died

	+Bad	PC responsible for ally/partner/friend's death
	+Bld	PC's love interest died
	+Bam	PC has amnesia

+G??	PC Goal
	The stated goal of the PC.
	+G--	Nothing special.
	+Gre	Revenge
	+Gmo	Money
	+Gfa	Fame
	+Gpe	Peace
	+Gpo	Power
	+Gkn	Knowledge
	+Glo	Love

Faction Arc Descriptors

[f]:P.???	Faction Plot Arc
	[f]:P.---	Default state
	[f]:P.sub	Subterfuge. Political maneuvering against enemies.
	[f]:P.cat	Covert attacks. Attack enemies secretly.
	[f]:P.pil	Public Image, Luh. Increase profile, improve reputation.
	[f]:P.pat	Public attacks. Attack enemies openly.
	[f]:P.art	Seek Artifact. Searching for Target Item.
	[f]:P.gat	Gathering. Foraging for resources.
	[f]:P.wep	Weapon Program. Developing new weapons and mecha.
	[f]:P.war	War. Like the other attack states, but embiggened.
	[f]:P.ina	Inactive. This faction has withdrawn from play.

[f]:R.???	Faction's Reaction to PC


Character Arc Descriptors

[c]:M.???	NPC Character Arc/Motivation
	[c]:M.---	Unknown quantity
	[c]:M.mer	Mercenary. NPC is in it for the money.
	[c]:M.pro	Professional. NPC seeks his personal best.
	[c]:M.com	Competitor. NPC seeks to be better than others.
	[c]:M.ggd	Greater Good. NPC believers self to be working for greater good.
	[c]:M.see	Seeker. The NPC still hasn't found what they're looking for.
	[c]:M.rev	Revenge.
	[c]:M.cha	Change. The NPC decided to change their current situation.
	[c]:M.nih	Nihilism. The NPC seeks destruction.

[c]:A.???	Attitude towards PC
	[c]:A.---	Unknown quantity
	[c]:A.nme	NPC hasn't met the PC yet
	[c]:A.jr_	NPC is PC's junior/subordinate/student
	[c]:A.sr_	NPC is PC's senior/superior/mentor
	[c]:A.ant	NPC feels antagonistic towards the PC
	[c]:A.tha	NPC feels thankful to the PC
	[c]:A.sec	NPC is keeping a secret from the PC
	[c]:A.equ	NPC respects the PC as an equal
	[c]:A.dis	NPC has lost respect for the PC
	[c]:A.env	NPC envies the PC
	[c]:A.adm	NPC admires the PC
	[c]:A.pch	PC has a reason to hate the NPC
	[c]:A.hat	NPC has a reason to hate the PC
	[c]:A.mut	The PC and NPC have reasons to hate one another mutually
	[c]:A.obs	NPC obsessed with the PC



************************************
***   DEPRECIATED  DESCRIPTORS   ***
************************************

+P??	Propp State
	Describes the overall course of the story. The Advancement descriptor describes which
	stage of this propp state the player is currently at.
	+P--	Peaceful life

	*** THE SETUP ***
	+Pme	PC meets an enemy pilot
	+Pun	Under Attack
	+Psh	PC is shanghaied into working for faction
	+P	A stalemate between the PC and the enemy
	+Pla	PC learns of the existence of an artifact

	+P	EF attempting to subvert PF
	+P	PC obtains the target item
	+P	Enemy obtains the target item
	+Pew	Enemy working on new weapon program		Can enter at !Lo

	*** THE REACTION ***
	+Ppw	Player faction working on new weapon program
	+P	PF begins defensive program
	+P	PF begins offensive program
	+P	PC switches sides
	+P	Attempting Diplomacy

	*** THE COUNTER-REACTION ***

	+P	Under open attack by EF
	+P	Bring the fight to EF
	+P	EF reveals E is renegade; will help PC oppose him
	+P	Peace negotiations with enemy
	+P	PC is branded as a traitor
	+P	There are traitors within PF
	+P	You've been a pawn, manipulated so far
	+P	EF unveils new superweapons

+C??	Character State
	Describes the current state of the PC's life
	+C--	Just going along with the flow

	+Cro	PC is a rookie member of faction

	+Clk	Love interest has been kidnapped
	+Cre	PC attempts to reform enemy
	+Cfa	The PC has to live down a failure
	+Csu	PC has achieved minor personal success

	+C	Searching for lost friend/lover/family
	+C	Investigating mystery of past (+B)
	+C	PC is falsely accused of something (+B)
	+C	Love interest works for the enemy
	+C	Love triangle with enemy
	+C	Collaborating with enemy to end conflict
	+C	Actively seeking revenge (+B)


+T??	Task
	Describes the PC's current short-term goal.
	+T--	No task.
	+T01	Introduction. The first task given.
	+Tgt	Goto target for conversation
	+Tgs	PC will go to a certain scene - often to gather information or something

	+Tga	PC will go to the Amore NPC for conversation/date/whatever

+F??	Task Flavor
	Describes the PC's task in greater detail.
	+F--	No flavor.
	+Fmi	To get mission.
	+Fin	To find information
	+Ffi	Fight! probably...
	+Frt	PC has Rescued Target
	+Fch	PC will challenge NPC to a duel
	+Fpa	It's going to be a party (+Tgs)
	+Fcc	It's a company conference (+Tgs)
	+Far	To arrest the target (+Tht)
	+Fpr	To protect the target

	+Fap	To apologize to the target (+Tgt,+Tga)

+H??	Hanging Thread
	Describes an event which the PC has hanging over his head
	+H--	How's it hanging? It isn't.
	+Hed	Enemy has defected (H:++)
	+Hrt	Have rescued someone (H:++)
	+Hmi	Someone will offer you a mission (H:++)
	+Hre	Someone will try to get revenge (H:++)
	+Hra	Have rescued Amore NPC

	+Has	Assassination attempt will be made against the PC.