Mastering the Art of Ambition: Avoiding the Gambit Pileup
The Gambit Pileup trope refers to the tendency for characters in a story to engage in overly complex and convoluted schemes This can result in a chaotic and confusing narrative, and requires careful writing to ensure that the plot remains coherent and engaging
Characters with ambition are an essential component of most stories. While some protagonists may be able to improvise their way through life, most heroes are striving to achieve something. Many stories feature heroes and villains with intricate plans, consisting of multiple contingencies, moving parts, and calculated risks. However, when every character is attempting to engineer a complex scheme, the author may risk creating a chaotic Gambit Pileup.
In the typical action movie, the hero must overcome the villain's plan. In Die Hard, for example, Hans Gruber and his team arrive at the Nakatomi Plaza with a well-orchestrated scheme. Initially, John McClane can only work around their plan, but he eventually develops his own strategy and manages to outsmart his enemies. However, imagine if each character in the movie had their own unique plot to steal the building's treasure. It would undoubtedly create even more chaos and complexity.
The Gambit Pileup is a chaotic situation that arises when multiple players converge with their intricate schemes at the same event. It goes beyond a single character's long-term plan as several people have their own motives to achieve a common goal. Assassins may find themselves in competition while attempting to take down the same target, or multiple parties may attempt to steal the same item. These schemes cannot coexist, resulting in a confusing situation for both characters and audiences alike. It's difficult to determine who's winning or losing when everyone's plans are still evolving. The plot tends to unravel, leading to character deaths, and a questionable victory for the most likable members of the cast. The Gambit Pileup is thrilling because of its constant surprises, but it can be challenging to comprehend without a flow chart by the end.
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In literature, Fyodor Dostoevsky is considered as the most notable early champion of the Gambit Pileup. His final work, The Brothers Karamazov, is widely praised for its literary genius. Despite its lengthy philosophical treatise, readers may be surprised by its intricate structure. The story revolves around the titular brothers, Dimitri, Ivan, and Alyosha, who are three different sons of the same abusive father, Fyodor. When their father is found dead, Dimitri becomes the prime suspect. The novel consists of 12 books, released over a period of 22 months. Fyodor's death only occurs in the third act of Book Eight. Once the inciting incident is out of the way, the family members, their romantic interests, and several other individuals from the community start their intricate plan. Dimitri wants to run away with his lover, Ivan wants to prove his brother's innocence, and the killer wants to escape. There are multiple love triangles, a deep inner narrative about the nature of God, and an endless supply of mind games between neighbors. At the center of it all is Alyosha, the only pure man. The story is brilliantly constructed, and although the schemes are not the primary storyline, they are impressive nonetheless.
The heist movie is the home of the Gambit Pileup on the big screen. A classic example is Ocean's Eleven which usually features one person or crew's grand plan, but more complex movies involve multiple parties. Guy Ritchie's first two films, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, are perfect examples. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels follows a network of escalating capers that often arbitrarily intersect. It starts when three petty thieves led by a skilled card sharp get ripped off by a wealthier criminal. As they try to steal their cash back, they encounter a pair of priceless antique shotguns, a van full of drugs, and a dozen other London gangs. Ritchie's follow-up, Snatch, pulls a similar trick with diamond heists, boxing matches, and a mess of international criminals. He continues to play with the concept in his 2019 film, The Gentlemen, which is seen as a return to his comically complicated prime.
Video games are not immune to convoluted narratives, and Metal Gear Solid is a prime example of this. The story is riddled with a Gambit Pileup, where numerous characters devise intricate schemes, causing the writers to sometimes forget the original intentions of the antagonists. Countless video essays have been created in an attempt to decipher the franchise's plot. It seems that there is always another secret organization manipulating events, a new grand ideal for the villains to strive towards, and multiple targets for Ocelot to betray. While there are many captivating concepts explored throughout the games, the overarching storyline is undeniably messy.
