How this might work

It has come to my attention that there is some confusion in how to use the Scooby-Doo! analysis. Although the source material was a detective based TV show, the design analysis can be used in any Role-Playing genre, even in quite complicated campaigns.

The key is to identify the goal of the team, and how each of the characters work towards or against that goal. In the course of a campaign there may be several goals, and team members will fill different functions as the game matures. To illustrate this point, I have written the following analysis for the Pirates! campaign I was in in 1997 - 1998.

The campaign was complex, with characters often working at cross purposes on several goals:

1. Find the treasure: GM supplied goal, campaign 'script' assumes this will be the priority.
2. Hunt pirates: Captain Waylan has a letter of marque, and considers it the focus of his career.
3. Regain the throne of Holland: Prince Erik is in the Carribbean to build a fortune, and an army, to reclaim his birthright.
4. Disrupt the marriage: Lady Fiona has no intention of marrying Governor Waylan (the Captain's uncle).

Breakdown by Character and Plotline

	Find Treasure	Hunt Pirates	Regain Throne	Stop Marriage
Ben
	He knows about the existance of the treasure, and isn't about to take any action.	He was specially charged by Brutus's father to see to it that he is safe and successful. It's his priority, but he follows Brutus's lead.	His interest in Erik's problem only extends to considering how it effects Brutus's career.	Actually, he'd rather see Fiona safely married to the Governor.
Brutus
	He knows about the treasure's existance, could not find the map, and is not pursuing the matter.	It's his mission, all the rest are involved on his behalf.	Not his goal, but he's sympathetic to it. Definately a 'back burner' item for him.	Although he does not want Lady Fiona to be his aunt, he doesn't want to let the affair affect his career either.
Claudette
	She never heard about the treasure, therefore has no concept of this 'goal'.	She likes Captain Waylan, and will help his career, so long as it doesn't interefere with the best interests of Lady Fiona or of France.	She'd like to see Fiona married to Prince Erik, and him on the throne, but only as it does not interfere with the best interests fo France.	She's devoted to Fiona, and relentless in finding ways for her to escape the marriage.
Derrick
	He joined the Rose after the treasure had been discussed, and hasn't heard of it	He has made the English navy his career, and is a good and loyal sailor on the Rose	He doesn't know about Erik's true identity	He has gathered that Fiona isn't happy with her impending marriage, but hasn't been made a part of any plans to disrupt the wedding.
Eli(zabeth)
	Elizabeth knows about the treasure, and would almost certainly be interested in finding it, but is in no position to do so.	She likes Waylan, and wants to be a valued addition to the ship.	She would like to see Erik and Fiona married and ruling Holland.	Fiona is a valued friend, and she doesn't want her to be married against her will.
Erik
	He knows about the treasure, but is not taking action on it.	He supports Brutus, and is building his career. He feels the Captain will eventually become a valuable ally in regaining his throne.	Reclaiming the throne is his own goal, but he is not yet at a point where he can recruit and lead others towards that end.	Rescuing Fiona from her arranged marriage is his immediate consuming passion. Once that is completed, he will (presumably) concentrate on regaining the throne once again.
Finn
	He wasn't told about the treasure (if he had been, it would certainly become a personal goal).	He would not be adverse to hunting pirates, especially if it meant he got access to their treasure. He has no particular interest in furthering Brutus's career.	He has not been told of Erik's true identity.	He is very willing to help Fiona escape her marriage, especially when he sees potential profit in it.
Fiona
	She never heard about the treasure.	She is willing to destroy pirates, especially to ensure her own safety, but has absolutely no interest in furthering Waylan's career, to the point where it can be assumed not to cross her mind.	She really does want Erik to regain his crown, but is not in position to make plans about it. When the marriage is disrupted, this is expected to turn into 'Velma' status.	She is drawing allies about her to stop the wedding, at (almost) any cost.

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Summary by Plotline

Finding the Treasure: [1 , 3 , 4 ]

As it stands now (just after the sack of Martinique) this is not a viable plotline. A clear case of too many Scoobys. If this were all the campaign had to go on, it would have died long ago. Of cource, since they're all four Scoobys by dint of ignorance, changing it to a viable plotline may be as simple as dropping a large clue or two...

Hunting Pirates: [1 , 3 , 1 , 2 , 1 ]

A good, strong balance. This is successful as the primary goal of the campaign.

Regaining the Throne of Holland: [3 , 1 , 2 , 2 ]

On the surface this one is hopeless -- it has two Scoobys and no Freds. However, saving it would be a simple matter. Letting the knowledge of it spread to either Derrick (who would probably become a Daphne) or Finn (who would probably become a Shaggy) would take care of the biggest problem, and resolving Fiona's plotline will almost certainly turn her from a Daphne to a Velma or a Fred. Prince Erik can be expected to transform himslef from a Velma to a Fred as soon as he sees an opportunity.

Preventing the Marriage: [1 , 2 , 2 , 2 , 1 ]

Another strong and solid plotline, one which comes across as the secondary plot. It competes with and compliments the Pirate hunting plotline very nicely.

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Character Analysis

As tempting as it may be to reverse-engineer the process, especially in this multi-plotline analysis, it does not necessarily give you a good view into the personality of the PC. For example: Derrick (1 , 3 ) is not a 'wacky' character. He's simply not in on the plotlines, due mostly to the fact that he's a relatively new character in an established campaign.

Other People's Analysis

I've seen the Scooby design 'paradigm' referred to in one Amber game, House of Cards.

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back to "Designing your Team the Scooby Way!"

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Version revised December 29, 1999