Launched the central conflict? If not, here’s a post on types of conflict to help you out.

Pause and re-assess your bearings before you continue into unfamiliar territory. Like our Hero, you should think of this stage as a checkpoint for your story. As Vogler writes: “This is the moment that the balloon goes up, the ship sails, the romance begins, the wagon gets rolling.”įrom this point on, there’s no turning back. This marks the end of the Departure stage and is when the adventure really kicks into the next gear. Now the Hero is ready - and committed - to the journey. In which the Hero enters the other world in earnest.

In all cases, they prepare the Hero for the next step. Or perhaps the mentor is an object, such as a map. They might literally give weapons to prepare for the trials ahead, like Q in the James Bond series. But mentors take many forms, from witches to hermits and suburban karate instructors. Wise old wizards seem to like being mentors. The mentor provides practical training, profound wisdom, a kick up the posterior, or something abstract like grit and self-confidence. They're much too inexperienced at this point and we don't want them to do a fabulous belly-flop off the cliff.Įnter the mentor: someone who helps the Hero, so that they don't make a total fool of themselves (or get themselves killed). The Hero's decided to go on the adventure - but they’re not ready to spread their wings yet. In which the Hero acquires a personal trainer. It’s only when he discovers that his aunt and uncle have been killed by stormtroopers that he changes his mind. In Star Wars, for instance, Luke Skywalker initially refuses to join Obi-Wan on his mission to rescue the princess. It’s risky and there are perils - like spiders, trolls, or perhaps a creepy uncle waiting back at Pride Rock. The Hero might first refuse the call to action. Now they’re all set to be whisked off to defeat evil, right? Great, so the Hero’s received their summons.

The only question: will he rise to the challenge? 'Hello, Neo.' | Image: Warner Bros. The stakes of the adventure and the Hero's goals become clear. upon discovering a lost alien in the tool shed. Be casually strolling when some passing phenomenon catches the wandering eye and lures one away from the frequented paths of man.Dorothy when she’s swept up in a tornado in The Wizard of Oz.Stumble upon the adventure as a result of a mere blunder.Odysseus setting off on his ship in The Odyssey.Be sent abroad by a benign or malignant agent.Decide to go forth of their own volition.This catalyst can take many forms, as Campbell points out in Hero with a Thousand Faces. In this stage, they are generally confronted with a problem or challenge they can't ignore. The call to adventure is all about booting the Hero out of their comfort zone. Importantly, it lets readers identify with the Hero as a “normal” person in a “normal” setting, before the journey begins. It’s up to this opening leg to set the stage, introducing the Hero to readers. Before our Hero discovers a strange new world, we must first understand the status quo: their ordinary, mundane reality. The hero heads home, triumphant.īelieve it or not, this story structure also applies across mediums and genres (and also works when your protagonist is an anti-hero!). Approach to the Inmost Cave.Getting closer to our goal.Tests, Allies, Enemies.Making friends and facing roadblocks.

Crossing the First Threshold.The hero leaves their comfort zone.Refusal of the Call.They resist the adventure.Call to Adventure.Will they meet the challenge?.The Hero's Journey is a model for both plot points and character development: as the Hero traverses the world, they'll undergo inner and outer transformation at each stage of the journey. A wanderer searches for answers.Click to tweet! The 12 Steps of the Hero’s Journey A child uncovers the past of an eerie house. A knight adventures into the depths of a deteriorating castle.

3 main characters, each with their own unique gameplay styles.

Venture through a hauntingly atmospheric pixel art world.

**INMOST is an intimate story of loss and hope that some may find upsetting. Uncover the story of an adventurous young girl, a stoic knight and a man in search of answers.Įxplore a crumbling, nightmarish landscape, slice through enemies, and spring deadly traps in order to escape the evil that awaits… INMOST, by Lithuania-based indie studio Hidden Layer Games, is an emotional and deeply atmospheric narrative-driven puzzle platformer. About This Game Something is lurking in the shadows.

Inmost game story