The three act structure is a common way that plot points are structured in media. This method is ideal for use in tabletop RPGs. As the name implies, it divides stories into three parts.
Act 1 is the Introduction, and it’s when you introduce the relevant characters and upcoming events. For the start of a session, this would be introducing the player characters, where they currently are, and what they’ve recently done.
Act 2 is Conflict, this is where things happen, and all the characters react to what’s going on. It’s where the most time is spent telling stories. In a session, this is also where most of the players actions will be taking place.
Act 3, the final act, is Resolution; this is where loose ends are tied off, and things are brought to a close. This could be where you end a session, either by bringing the players to a lull in the action, or by ending on a cliff-hanger.
The thing to remember about the three act structure is that it can apply to entire stories, as well as sub-plots in a story. Meaning you can create somewhat complex stories by layering plots.
To layer plots, the trick is to only have a few running during a session. Even if you’re comfortable with the idea of running multiple plot lines at once, stick to two or three during any given session.
The idea is you start the session off with one plot line, then introduce your sub-plots later on in the session. This is a way to give the players choice for what they want to do during the session. Your initial plot point may not be interesting to the players, so if a sub-plot is more interesting to them, you can pivot to that for the session.
This advanced technique makes the game world seem more “alive,” since more than one thing happens at a time.
