Ok. The long promised Bardic Algorithm for a Lit Game. (I know, I've also been promising a before/after post, but that's getting a little difficult due to scheduling conflicts and technical difficulties) So. The first thing we need to do is to look at a finished game. Or, at least the first part of a finished game.
Now, we take a look at Propp's functions, which make up a bardic algorithm.
We identify the functions that this finished game possess, and can then create a bardic algorithm. As follows:
V = villain (the hunchback)
H = hero (in this instance, Jrali, Riff, Moriph, Mirnae, and Radell)
After the situation is introduced (ie: buying a shirt and dancing at the festival), the story follows this pattern:
V 8a,8b->H9, 10-> H11
The villain steals (villainy, 8a) the food which the whole town has been saving for the festival (lack, 8b). The hero(es) are asked to retrieve the food (9) and agree to do so (10). The hero(es) leave (11).
While this is only the first part of the finished game, it's an adequate start to the entire bardic algorithm for this situation. What's interesting about ongoing games is that the algorithms are repeated over and over again in different situations.
Posted by RachelCrump at April 16, 2004 2:50 PM