FUNDAMENTALS OF CONFLICT: THE SIX AXES
Whether we’re talking Conflicts or any other element of storytelling, broad categories work best when combined with finer instruments that help us tease apart the intricacies of our mechanics. A Conflict, after all, is a many-faceted thing and it’s not always helpful or accurate to say that Conflict A isn’t working when in fact only one facet of Conflict A is misfiring and not the whole damn shebang.
Besides, the incredible importance of Conflicts to exoteric storytelling means that the more tools you can bring to its healthy function the better. (Plus: some of us are mechanically crunchy types and are helped immensely by high-resolution approaches.)
For all who are interested: I like to break Conflicts down to seven interrelated axes. These seven axes do not encompass everything that matters about Conflict but they can help keep a Conflict working its best.