Cards, puzzles and gates

A card is one beat, scene, puzzle or task. Click it to open it. A card has a title, a status (Draft, To do, In progress, Open, Decided, Done, Canon, Superseded), an owner, and a body you write in Markdown, with checklists, images and links.

Puzzles

A puzzle hangs off a card. Open the card and use Add a puzzle. Each puzzle has fields worth deciding up front:

• Where players find it, and what they need first.
• Comes after: the puzzle that has to be solved before it.
• Solve (what players do) and the answer or key.
• Gate: how it stops answer sharing.
• Unlocks: what solving it opens up.

Gates

A gate is the rule that keeps a puzzle fair when answers get posted online. The kinds are:

• Per-player key: each player gets their own key, so a screenshot is useless to anyone else.
• Visited first: only players who reached an earlier page can submit.
• Role or clearance: only players with a role (in a server, on a site) can see it.
• Playerbase milestone: opens for everyone once enough players get there.
• Time release: opens at a set time.
• Other: describe it in the gate note.

Saving and conflicts

If someone saved the same card while you were editing, StorySpine tells you instead of overwriting their work. Reload, merge, and save again. Every saved version of a card is kept in its history.

TBDs, mentions and links

Write “TBD” anywhere in a card to mark a gap; TBDs are listed so someone can be put on them. Type @ to mention a teammate. Link related cards and decisions so they’re a click apart.