> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pensiv.so/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 3.3.2 Cards and part cards

> What cards and part cards do, thinking in terms of structure

## The plotboard is built from cards

Everything on the plotboard is organized in **cards**.

A **card** defines a large section of the story.\
The smaller units inside it are **part cards**.

* Card → top-level unit that divides structure
* Part card → scene-sized unit that fills that structure

Understanding this is the core of the plotboard.

***

## ① Card: top-level structure for sections

The largest unit on the plotboard is the card.

Examples:

* Act 1: "Down the rabbit hole"
* Act 2: "The maze of change and confusion"

Cards:

* Define major phases of the story
* State the main theme of that section
* Clarify where it sits in the overall flow

A card is not just a title;

> it’s a **structural unit that defines what this section does.**

Cards form a horizontal flow\
and set the story’s overall direction.

***

## ② Part card: scene units inside a card

Inside each card you place **part cards**.

Example:

Act 1: "Down the rabbit hole" (card)\
├─ Ch. 1. The start of curiosity (part card)\
└─ Ch. 2. The pool of tears (part card)

Part cards hold:

* Scene title
* Scene summary
* Tags
* Linked documents
* Related characters

Part cards are the **execution units** that move the story.

Cards set direction;\
part cards develop it inside that direction.

***

## Card vs. part card

They sit on the same screen but do different jobs.

| Card              | Part card       |
| ----------------- | --------------- |
| Defines structure | Executes scenes |
| Divides sections  | Fills sections  |
| Sets direction    | Develops events |

A part card is not standalone text.\
Which card it’s in changes its meaning.\
The same scene can be:

* "Opening" inside an intro card
* "Turning point" inside a transition card
* "Resolution" inside an ending card

> **Position changes meaning.**

***

## Thinking in terms of structure

On the plotboard, the number of cards isn’t what matters.\
What matters is:

* What section does this card define?
* What role does this part card play?
* Is the structure balanced?

The plotboard asks:

> Not "is this scene well written?"\
> but **"which card should this scene live in?"**

***

## Summary

The plotboard uses one kind of card,\
but **cards and part cards have distinct roles.**

* Cards create structure.
* Part cards fill it.

Once you see that,\
the story starts to look structure-first, not sentence-first.

Placing cards is\
not writing;\
it’s **designing the story.**