characterdetermined

Characterdetermined is a term used in narrative theory and game design to describe a storytelling approach in which the plot's progression and outcomes are primarily shaped by a character’s internal traits and choices, rather than by external constraints or random chance.

The term is a portmanteau of character-driven narrative and deterministic systems. It does not denote a strict rule but a tendency in which character agency is the central mechanism driving causal sequences.

In literature, film, and interactive media, characterdetermined plots present consequences as the direct result of a protagonist’s decisions, virtues, flaws, and relationships. External factors may exist but are reframed as consequences of character action.

In interactive fiction and role-playing games, designers use character attributes and dialogue options to funnel outcomes. In non-interactive media, writers emphasize character motivation and moral choices to create the sense that fate follows from character.

Critics warn that overemphasis on character can neglect structural constraints, ensemble dynamics, or thematic subtext. Proponents argue it deepens engagement by aligning narrative causality with psychological realism.

See also: character-driven development; determinism in narrative; interactive fiction; branching narrative.