The Value of Nothing

Where we're up to

In the previous posts I've looked in detail at three of the four major character dimensions presented by Dramatica.  First there was the Motivations set, where we looked at the dispositions of the characters.  Then the Purpose set, where we looked a what sorts of things the character is seeking.  In the last couple of posts, I've been looking at the Methodology set, which looks at how each character will approach attaining the goals.  This seems a bit technical and un-creative at the moment, but there's only one more, so let's get it done.


Evaluation

So what is this fourth dimension?  The first three give us the attitude, goals and methods that a character uses to move through the narrative.  There is one final dimension which Dramatica proposes to completely explain a character.  This is concerned with how the character judges their progress, and realises that they have arrived at the goal.  This is called Evaluation.  Again it falls into sixteen elements.

Proven	Theory	Effect	Trust
Hunch	Unproven	Test	Cause
Accurate	Expectation	Result	Ending
Determination	Non-accurate	Unending	Process

These are again arranged in pairs of opposing Evaluations.  Dramatica says that each of your characters need to have at least one of these Evaluations, but can have combinations. 

Let's have a look at what each of these sixteen Evaluations mean.

Proven	The evaluation of looking for corroborating evidence to support a view.  Basing a belief about a situation on evidence.  Once proven, this sort of character can sometimes stop looking or ignore evidence which goes against it.
Theory	The finding of a chain of causes and effects to allow the character to develop a model of the situation.  Allows this character to predict based on previous experience, but sometimes stops them from seeing obvious links because of this.
Effect	Concentrating on the apparent outcomes of a mechanism as a measure of success.  This can sometimes mean that coincidental outcomes can be misunderstood, and other effects which are not good can be ignored or treated as cost of success.
Trust	The character believes the success of the outcome without verifying it.  This sometimes allows them to carry on without excessive nitpicking, but also makes them vulnerable to deception by those they trust.
Hunch	Acting on circumstantial evidence of badly understood patterns.  Characters who act on hunches behave as if the fact is proven, and this leaves them vulnerable to self-deception and making mistakes based on personal experience.
Unproven	Using knowledge with the understanding that it is not complete and may be overthrown by subsequent facts.  This character is unwilling to trust a theory, or jump to any conclusions based on it until it is a proven fact.
Test	A character who evaluates with Test always wants to check something actually works before using it.  This can eliminate faulty paths early on, but is also potentially a waste of time, especially in time-dependent situations.
Cause	Wanting to find out the specific circumstances that lead to an outcome.  This can sometimes lead straight to the source of the problem, but by ignoring effects which can have multiple causes, it can mean things are missed, or effects ignored.
Accurate	A character is happy to run with the path which is not completely proven, but which has proved mostly useful in the past.  This character may take calculated risks, but sometimes this means they can fall victim to exceptions proving them wrong.
Expectation	Where a character has extrapolated a theory into the future and evaluates the possible outcomes.  This character can anticipate problems in advance, and plans for them.  If the facts change under him, this character sometimes struggles.
Result	This character considers all of the eventual ramifications of a course of action in advance.  This means they can anticipate unexpected outcomes and avoid side-effects, but it can also lead to decision freeze as all details are considered.
Ending	This character assumes all things must stop at some point, and plans accordingly for that moment.  This can make them predict and plan for things ending, but at the same time make mistakes on things which do not end as expected.
Determination	A conclusion on the causes behind an effect.  A character with this trait can work out from an effect what forces caused it and predict into the future.  Mistakes can be made, however, but the determined has a plan and is sticking with it.
Non-accurate	When a course of action is perceived as broken, or will not work.  Even if the plan has some immediate benefit, the non-accuracy character will discard it.  This character finds flaws in plans and is unable to accept even minor drawbacks.
Unending	This character thinks nothing will ever come to an end, and makes provisions based on this assumption.  This character stays motivated in the face of adversity but also sometimes takes things for granted through not understanding they may end.
Process	The understanding of the series of actions and causes and effects which lead to an outcome.  This character will keep things running smoothly, but sometimes forgets to see where they are going.

Again this is a bit much to take in

I'll leave it there for now and we can see how this applies to Fiend in the next post.