Simple Tracking Systems
Note: This is the fourth article in the series, but can be read separately. Reading the foundation articles is advised, but not necessary (part 1, part 2, part 3)—but we’ll be building on those concepts.
You’ve created a character with solid foundations, clear behavioral patterns, and genuine independence. But after a few exchanges, something breaks down. Your meticulous librarian suddenly can’t remember what day it is. Your gruff mechanic forgets he was supposed to close early on Friday. Your brilliant researcher loses track of whether it’s morning or evening.
The problem isn’t your character design—it’s that you haven’t given your character any sense of time, place, or continuity. Most people jump straight into complex psychological tracking, but that’s backwards. Start with the basics: when, where, and simple state changes.
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