Category: Self-contained · Audience: Intermediate (uses story state)

What this shows

Story delivered as discrete, mostly self-contained modules (vignettes, case files, logs) that the player can encounter in almost any order. There is little or no forced sequence; meaning is assembled by the player from the collection rather than handed to them in a fixed order.

How it works

• Four evidence passages can be read in any order. Each marks itself read with a flag like <% s.read.letter = true; %> and returns to Start.
• Each module stands alone — no module assumes you have seen another, so they “degrade gracefully” out of order.
• The solution unlocks only once every module has been seen, tested with <% if (_.size(s.read) >= 4) { %>. The player assembles the meaning; the story never dictates the sequence.

This resembles Gate / Quest mechanically, but the intent differs: here the modules are the narrative, and reading order is the player’s authorship.

Using this in your own story

1. Write each module so it makes sense on its own.
2. Track which modules have been seen in window.story.state.
3. If you need a payoff, gate it behind having encountered enough modules — but let the order stay free.

Full source

:: StoryData
{
	"ifid":"7F4845FA-ECFC-4D3C-A9D2-5931850E5033"
}

:: StoryTitle
Modular / Threaded Structure

:: UserScript[script]
window.story.state.read = window.story.state.read || {};

:: Start
**The Cold Case.** Four pieces of evidence sit on the desk. Read them in any order — the story is yours to assemble.

Evidence examined: <%= _.size(s.read) %> / 4

[[The half-burned letter->Letter]]
[[The bank ledger->Ledger]]
[[The witness statement->Witness]]
[[The photograph->Photo]]

<% if (_.size(s.read) >= 4) { %>
[[Name the culprit->Solve]]
<% } %>

:: Letter
<% s.read.letter = true; %>
A letter, half-burned: *"Meet me at the pier at midnight. Bring the money."*

[[Back to the desk->Start]]

:: Ledger
<% s.read.ledger = true; %>
The ledger shows a large, secret withdrawal on the night of the crime.

[[Back to the desk->Start]]

:: Witness
<% s.read.witness = true; %>
A witness recalls a tall figure limping away from the pier, leaning on a cane.

[[Back to the desk->Start]]

:: Photo
<% s.read.photo = true; %>
A photograph from the gala: the banker — tall, and carrying a silver-topped cane.

[[Back to the desk->Start]]

:: Solve
No single file told the story. Read together — in any order — they point to the banker. You assembled the meaning yourself.

**The End**

[[Open a new case->Restart]]

:: Restart
<% s.read = {}; %>
[[Open the case file->Start]]

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