4dF Scene Writing with Flunky Dice

Roll Your Way to Better Scenes with a Dash of Chaos

Writing should be FUN!

But sometimes it isn't. Some days you're just making a word cout/page count because that's the only way to finish the draft.

Being a writer can be a lonely occupation when the Muse takes the day off. Those are the days that writing actually feels like work.

If only there were a method of injecting an element of PLAY into the process... 🤔

(Can you guess where I'm headed with this yet?) 😉

🎉 Let’s whip out the Flunky Dice! 🥳

If you’re not familiar with them, Fudge dice (also known as Fate dice), which I am rebranding now as Flunky dice, generate a range of results (-4 to +4, centered around 0), which naturally lends itself to a spectrum of outcomes rather than a simple yes/no.

Scenes only have a finite number of outcomes — Yes, No, Yes But, No But, and No And Furthermore.

So these scene outcomes can be mapped onto the range of Flunky dice outcomes to introduce subtle gradations and surprises. The dice roll can represent the interplay between the protagonist’s efforts and the chaotic forces (internal, external, or thematic) working against them, reflecting how much control they have over the scene’s resolution.

Here’s how:

• +4 to +3: Yes – The protagonist achieves their goal cleanly, with a bonus flourish (rare and triumphant, so use sparingly).

• +2 to +1: Yes, But – They get what they want, but a complication arises, tied to their fear or a new obstacle.

• 0: No, But – They don’t achieve their goal, but they gain an advantage, insight, or step closer to it.

• -1 to -2: No – They fail to get what they want, with no immediate progress, but the story doesn’t collapse.

• -3 to -4: No, And Furthermore – Not only do they fail, but their fear manifests or they’re set back significantly (save this for pivotal moments like the midpoint or “all is lost”).

The bell curve of 4dF ensures most results cluster around 0 (-1 to +1), making No, But and Yes, But the most common outcomes—perfect for keeping scenes productive and engaging without letting the protagonist win or lose too decisively too often.

Adding Nuance with Interpretation

To make this more than just a mechanical roll, tie the numerical result to the protagonist’s goal and fear in a way that gets your creativity flowing. For example:

• The positive/negative value reflects how much the protagonist’s actions sway the outcome in their favor (or against it).

• The magnitude (how far from 0) indicates the intensity of the twist—small numbers mean subtle shifts, large numbers mean dramatic turns.

After rolling, interpret the result by asking:

1. How does this reflect the protagonist’s goal?

2. How does their fear influence or complicate the outcome?

3. What unexpected detail emerges to deepen the scene?

The Step-by-Step:

1. Define the Scene Setup: State the protagonist’s Goal and Fear for this scene.

2. Roll 4dF: Add up the +’s, -’s, and 0’s to get a result between -4 and +4.

3. Map the Result: Use the outcome framework (Yes, Yes But, etc.) based on the roll.

4. Interpret with Context: Weave in the goal and fear, adding a twist or detail inspired by the roll’s vibe (e.g., a high positive feels triumphant, a low negative feels crushing).

5. Write the Scene: Use the outcome as a guide, letting the dice spark ideas the author might not have considered.

A Practical Example

Let’s use one of my scene prompts from last week:

Jimmy goes to see Dr. Gadhavi about the results of his cholesterol tests last week.

Jimmy's Goal is to hear that he's well enough to compete in a 5k marathon in 14 days. His wife won't let him if Dr. Gadhavi doesn't give him the all-clear. His Fear, naturally, is that something is wrong with his heart.

So let's roll... 🎲🎲🎲🎲

I got 0, -, -, +.

That’s a -1 or “No”.

So Jimmy’s doctor tells him his cholesterol is fine, but after she leaves her receptionist suggests that Jimmy might want to schedule an appointment for a liver function test in the very near future. Next week, if possible.

Why This Works

• Unpredictability: The dice prevent us from falling into predictable patterns.

• Balanced Progression: The bell curve keeps scenes moving forward (via Yes, But and No, But) while reserving big wins or losses for rare, impactful moments.

• Creative Prompt: The roll isn’t just a verdict—it’s a springboard for improvisation, encouraging nuanced storytelling.

• It’s just freakin’ FUN! 😆

Tweaks to Experiment With

• Adjust the Scale: If you want more frequent extremes, roll fewer dice (e.g., 3dF for -3 to +3) or add a modifier based on the protagonist’s skills or stakes.

• Fear as a Modifier: If the fear is especially relevant to the scene, subtract 1 from the roll to tilt it toward complications.

Collaborative Rolls: In a group storytelling context, let one player roll for the goal and another for the fear, combining results for layered outcomes.

More To Come…

I’m not ready to announce it yet, but I’m working on a system to game your ENTIRE FEATURE-LENGTH STORY!

I’ll post about it when I’m ready to put it up for sale.

But this is something I’ve been wishing I could buy for DECADES! So I finally got tired of waiting for someone else to create one.

In the meantime, THIS is FREE!

Stop WAITING for inspiration to write!

Pick up some Flunky dice and WRITE NOW! 😁

No Flunky dice? Grab a regular d6:

• 1-2 is –

• 3-4 is 0

• 5-6 is +

Roll all four, add ‘em up, and you get a range from -4 to +4. That’s your story fuel.

I want to hear what you think, in the Comments or DM!

And share this with anyone you think might enjoy it!

May your week be filled with FUN!!!

And WRITING!!!