Can I make the readers choose who character they will be playing as?

Hello, I’m new in the writing area. And I had an idea for a story. But it includes having the reader choosing who character they will be playing as, and I can’t seem to make it work when I actually write it, like, it gives me errors and I don’t know how to fix them. I have also watched all the possible tutorials on youtube but none of them are actually focused on the trouble I’m having. If any of you have tips or a way to make it work, I would be really thankful. Or at least confirm if it is actually possible to do it or not. Thanks. :pray:

Also, sorry if there are any grammatical mistakes. English is not my first language.

You can use if choices and/or gains!

I have tried that, I’ve followed the Joseph Evans tutorials on youtube but it gives me errors. I don’t know if maybe it’s just me or what.

If you want to show me the script, I might be able to help you!

Example using 2 characters:

label player

NARR
Who do you want to play as?

choice
“Jem” {

NARR
Are you sure you want to play as Jem?

choice
“Yes!” {
gain GEM
goto girl_story
} “No” {
goto player
}
} “Tony” {

NARR
Are you sure you want to play as Tony?

choice
“Yes!” {
gain DUDE
goto dude_story
} “No” {
goto player
}
}

label girl_story
#Jem’s whole story line would go here
goto end

label dude_story
#Tony’s whole story line would go here
goto end

label end
#ending credits go here

#And then for episodes 2 and up, to remember it:

if (GEM) {
goto girl_story
} else {
goto dude_story
}

label girl_story
#Jem’s whole story line would go here
goto end

label dude_story
#Tony’s whole story line would go here
goto end

label end
#ending credits go here

Anyways:

You can read more here on remembering past choices:

You can use this as reference:

Script templates to check out:

If you check out Dara’s website and nagivate on it, you’ll find tons of cool helpful tutorials.

Also, labels and gotos: HOW TO: Labels and Gotos 🖤

A fancy template you can use and add things in as you get a higher grip of coding:

EXT. HUNTED_BY_OPPOSITES_BACK - DAY

@transition fade in black 3

    NARRATOR
Before we start... I need to know one thing.
Are you |color:skyblue, italic, animation:shuffle-sideways| good?
Or |color:red, animation:shake| bad?

choice
“Good”{
NARRATOR
A |bold, color:lightpink| good girl |reset| who play by the rules huh? You go girl!

@ALANNA enters from right to screen right
@ALANNA faces left
@ALANNA is flirt_wink_atcamera

readerMessage Cute, Cute, Cute

    NARRATOR
You will be playing as my girl |color:lightpink, animation:shuffle-sideways| Alanna!
Don't be fooled by her angelic looks, she knows how to have fun ;)

gain chose_Good
}“Bad”{
NARRATOR
|bold| Bad Girl|reset| huh? You like adrenalin, I like that.

@MARLEY enters from right to screen right
@MARLEY faces left
@MARLEY is idle_armscrossed_neutral_loop

readerMessage Hot, Hot, Hot

    NARRATOR
You will be playing as my favorite bad girl. |color:teal, animation:shuffle-sideways| Marley!
She is a total bad girl, and hotter than fire. But is it just a cover? You'll have to find out ;)

gain chose_Bad
}

    NARRATOR
I'll give you the chance to customize her. So make her pretty!

That´s all I have, because I want to let the readers customize them but it won’t let me.

#everything you have before
gain chose_Bad
}

if (chose_Good) {
NARRATOR
I’ll give you the chance to customize her. So make her pretty!
#ALANNA customization and story here

goto end_episode
}
if (chose_Bad) {
NARRATOR
I’ll give you the chance to customize her. So make her pretty!
#MARLEY customization and story here

goto end_episode
}

label end_episode
INT. BLACK - DAY
NARRATOR
To be continued…

Add goto good_path & goto bad_path in your story here:

&

label good_path
#customization for Alanna goes here
#Alanna’s whole story line would go here
goto end

label bad_path
#customization for Marley goes here
#Marley’s whole story line would go here
goto end

label end
#ending credits go here

And then to remember it for future episodes (episodes 2 and up):

if (chose_Good) {
goto good_path
} else {
goto bad_path
}

label good_path
#Alanna’s whole story line would go here
goto end

label bad_path
#Marley’s whole story line would go here
goto end

label end
#ending credits go here

thank you so much! I will be checking them out :blush:

It says “You cannot have a label inside if/then statements or { }” when I try to put the Script Templates? Maybe I’m doing something wrong…:thinking:

thanks, this was really helpful :blob_hearts:

No problem :blob_sun:

My post on labels and gotos linked above explains more on this. I made a mini tutorial as to why:

I figure it out. Thank you soooooo muchh!! :heart_eyes: I couldn’t have done it wIthout your help.

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