Play in Netghosts is divided into Scenes, which are continuous units of action in a single location or situation. Understanding scenes and the overall flow of a session is key to structuring your story.
Scenes and Timing
A new scene begins whenever the location changes significantly, time jumps forward, or the situation fundamentally shifts. Scene boundaries are important for several reasons:
- You can freely rearrange which of your cards are in play between scenes.
- Many temporary Meters expire at the end of a scene.
- Some powerful abilities are limited to "once per scene."
The Five Phases of a Session
A typical session of Netghosts follows a five-phase structure. While not every session will hit all five phases, they provide a useful framework for thinking about the narrative arc of your game.
1. Setup
This is a neutral situation where characters are living their daily lives. It's a time for roleplaying, pursuing personal goals, and engaging in Downtime Activities. The Facilitator uses this phase to introduce story hooks and complications.
2. Adventure
The characters have followed the hooks and are now in the thick of it—exploring dangerous places, uncovering secrets, and solving problems. This is the heart of the session's action and can span multiple scenes and locations.
3. Showdown
The adventure culminates in a climactic event—a boss fight, a final chase, a desperate escape. This is the moment where everything comes to a head and the stakes are highest.
4. Cleanup
The immediate aftermath of the Showdown. Characters deal with the consequences, tend to their wounds, and process what just happened. It's a chance to breathe and transition back toward a semblance of normalcy.
5. Social
A final moment of downtime focused on relationships with friends, family, and allies. This phase is for closing loose ends, bonding with NPCs, and planting the seeds for the next session's Setup phase.