創造劇折由尋找給玩家角色們處理的困境開始。一個好的困境要跟玩家角色有關聯，沒有他們的參與就無法解決，並且忽略會帶來嚴重後果。
這似乎是一個艱鉅的任務。幸運的是，你有個很棒的敘事工具來幫助你找出適合你遊戲的困境：形象。
你的玩家角色的形象有著很多的故事去建構它們，它們象徵著某些對於每個角色最重要的事物，它們象徵著玩家角色在遊戲世界中相關聯的事物，它們也描述出每個角色的身份的獨特之處。
你還有連接到你的遊戲上的形象，所有當前與即將出現的議題、地點形象以及任何你放在你的戰役活動中的人物上的形象。 運用那些有助於加強世界一致與動態的感覺，並讓你的遊戲的核心前提在遊玩中展露出來。
因為這些形象，你已經有大量的潛在故事在你前面，現在你只需要解放它。
你可以把一個與形象相關的困境看作一個非常大規模類型的事件強迫。設定起來是要更多一點的工作，但結構類似，都具有暗示的形象或隱含對單一或多個玩家角色會造成困境的東西，但與強迫不同的是這件事情他們絕不可能輕易地解決或應對。
你不必每次都毀滅世界
正如你會在例子裡看到的，並不是所有緊急、重大的困境都涉及到世界的命運或是設定中的重大部分。人際問題對給玩家們的衝擊可與阻止本週壞人一樣多，無論你的壞人在做什麼盛大計劃，贏得某人的尊重或解決兩個角色之間的持續爭議可以輕鬆地為劇折取得焦點。
如果你想要一個經典的動作冒險故事設置，看看你是否可以為你的劇折提出兩個主要困境：一個專注於角色外部的東西（如惡棍的計劃），而另一個則是處理人際問題。後者將會在你的劇折中充當一個支線插曲，並在他們處理其他困境的過程中給予角色發展時間。
困境和角色形象
當你試圖從一個角色形象獲取困境，試試為下面這句話填空：
第二空格就是使它比事件強迫再難一點的原因，你必須考慮一個形象所有的不同潛在影響。這裡有一些問題能幫助你去作到這一點。
只要你放在本小節一開始的第三空格中可以符合準則，就可以順利完成。
Put a Face on It
儘管並不是所有的劇折困境都必須直接由擔任大壞蛋的非玩家角色引起來讓玩家們解決，但如果是這樣的話，這往往會更容易。至少，你應該能夠直接指向一個從劇折困境中獲益很多的非玩家角色，而不是順著玩家想要的方向。
Cynere has Infamous Girl With Sword, which implies that her reputation precedes her across the countryside. Because of that, a copycat committing crimes in her name and getting the inhabitants of the next city she visits angry and murderous would probably be a big problem for her.
Landon has an aspect of I Owe Old Finn Everything, which implies that he’d feel obligated to help Finn out with any personal problems. Because of that, having to bail Finn’s son out of a gambling debt he owes to some very nasty people would probably be a big problem for him.
Zird has Rivals in the Collegia Arcana, which implies that some or many of them are scheming against him constantly. Because of that, a series of concentrated assassination attempts from someone or several people who know how to get past all his magical defenses would probably be a big problem for him.
困境與遊戲形象
你從遊戲當前和即將出現的議題中所得的困境在範圍上會比驅使角色的困境要來得寬些，影響你所有的玩家角色以及顯著數量的非玩家角色。他們很少是個人的事，但這並不意味著他們很少用來強迫（請原諒這個雙關語）。
問問你自己：
Because The Scar Triad is an issue, it implies that the Triad is making a serious power play across the land. Therefore, a complete government takeover by Triad members in the city they’re sent to on their next job would probably create a big problem for the PCs.
Because The Doom that Is to Come is an issue, it implies that agents of the Cult of Tranquility are constantly trying to fulfill parts of the ancient prophecies that foretell the doom. Therefore, a series of ritual murders in the next town meant to awaken an ancient demon that sleeps under the town would probably create a big problem for the PCs.
Because the Cult of Tranquility’s Two Conflicting Prophecies is an issue, it implies that there’s an internal Cult struggle to validate one prophecy as being definitive. Therefore, an all-out war between rival factions in the next town that brings innocents into the crossfire would probably create a big problem for the PCs.
成對的困境與形象
這裡才是你真正開始料理的地方。你還可以從兩個形象之間的關係來創造困境，而不只是依賴單一個。這可以讓你保持事情的私人性，又能拓寬你的困境的範圍以影響多個角色，或將特定玩家角色的故事編入遊戲的故事中。
成對的形象有兩種主要形式：連接兩個角色的形象，以及連接角色形象到一個議題。
兩個角色形象
問問你自己：
Because Landon is a Disciple of the Ivory Shroud, and Zird has Rivals in the Collegia Arcana, it implies that both factions could occasionally cross paths and have incompatible agendas. Therefore, a mandate from the monks of a local Shroud monastery to capture or kill the members of a local Collegia chapterhouse for an unknown slight would probably be a big problem for them.
Because Cynere is Tempted by Shiny Things, and Landon has The Manners of a Goat, it implies that they’re probably the worst partners for any kind of undercover heist. Therefore, a contract to infiltrate the Royal Ball of Ictherya with no backup and walk out with the Crown Jewels on behalf of a neighboring kingdom would probably be a big problem for them.
Because Zird has If I Haven’t Been There, I’ve Read About It, and Cynere is the Secret Sister of Barathar, it implies that proof of Cynere’s true heritage could one day fall into Zird’s hands. Therefore, the unexpected arrival of a genealogical document in code that Barathar and her henchies seek to recover at all costs would probably be a big problem for them.
角色形象和議題
問問你自己：
我需要多少個困境？
對於一個劇折來說有一或兩個就足夠了，相信我們。
你在下面會看到，即使只有一個困境也能為兩或三次聚會創造足夠的材料。你不必覺得每個劇折都需要迎合到每個玩家，轉動聚光燈讓每個人都能獲得聚光燈時間，然後當你想專注於遊戲的較大的「情節」時，拋出與議題相關的劇折。
Because Cynere is the Secret Sister of Barathar and The Scar Triad is an issue, it implies that the Triad could have leverage over Cynere for blackmail. Therefore, the Triad hiring her for an extremely dangerous and morally reprehensible job on the threat of revealing her secret to the world and making her a public enemy across the land would probably be a big problem for her.Because Zird has If I Haven’t Been There, I’ve Read About It, and the Cult of Tranquility’s Two Conflicting Prophecies are an issue, it implies that Zird could be the key to figuring out which of the prophecies is legitimate. Therefore, getting approached by the Primarch to learn the Rites of Tranquility and figure out the truth of the prophecy, and thus becoming a target for manipulation from both major factions, would probably be a big problem for him.Because Landon has An Eye for an Eye, and The Doom that Is to Come is an issue, it implies that anything the Cult does to Landon’s loved ones would be met with a desire for vengeance. Therefore, an attack on his hometown by Cult agents on the prowl for more indoctrinated servants as preparation for the End Times would probably be a big problem for him.