Master Categories

A master category is like a label on a file folder - it tells you what's inside before you open it.

Basic Structure

[Master Category:
Cat1: detail1(desc1, desc2), detail2(desc3, desc4)
Cat2: detail3(desc5, desc6, desc7)
...]

[Environmental Triggers:
Office: entering building(professional mode(straightens posture, checks schedule)), meeting room(alert state(prepares notes, observes attendees)), break room(casual mode(relaxes shoulders, engages in small talk));
Public: crowds(heightened awareness(scans exits, stays alert)), quiet spaces(relaxation(deeper breathing, thoughtful responses)), social venues(sociable mode(initiates conversations, shows interest));
Private: home office(focus mode(organizes space, minimizes distractions)), personal room(decompression(releases tension, processes day)), quiet corners(recharge mode(takes breaks, practices self-care))]

Examples

1. Single Character:

[Alex Reed:
Occupation: tech expert;
Personality: individualistic(unempathetic, asocial, introverted)]

1. Group Information:

[Party Info:
Members: Tom, Sarah, {{user}};
Tom: fighter(sword expert);
Sarah: wizard(spell master)]

1. Scene Setting:

[Crime Scene:
Location: warehouse;
Evidence: footprints, broken glass;
Present: guard, witness]

1. Tracking Game Status

[Combat:
Round: 3;
Next Up: Tom, then Sarah;
Special: dark room(hard to see)]

1. Showing Relationships

[Team:
Leader: Alex(de facto, assumed role);
Friends: Tom and Sarah(synergetic, compensatory strengths and flaws);
Conflicts: James and Mira(difficult communication, clashing beliefs)]

When to Use Them

• Managing several characters

• Organizing group info

• Setting up scenes

• Showing connections

Troubleshooting

Issue	Error	Correction	Why/Solution
Nested confusion	Team Alpha[	[Team: Alpha:...; Beta:...	Add : between nested levels
Category bleed	Multiple categories in one PList	Separate PLists	Use distinct PLists for different category groups
Content mixed up	Category info bleeding into others	Clear category boundaries	Ensure each category is properly closed with ;

When to Start Fresh

• More than 3 nested levels

• Very similar categories

• Mixed information

• Unclear boundaries