Element Types and Properties

Every element in a StoryCAD outline is a StoryElement subclass identified by its StoryItemType. This page documents all 11 types, their properties, and the rules for creating and linking them.

Base Properties (All Elements)

Every StoryElement has these properties (inherited from the base class):

Property	Type	JSON Key	Description
`Uuid`	`Guid`	`GUID`	Unique identifier
`Name`	`string`	`Name`	Display name
`Description`	`string`	`ElementDescription`	Main text content
`ElementType`	`StoryItemType`	`Type`	Discriminator (read-only via API)

Use the Name and Description property names with UpdateElementProperty.

StoryItemType Enum

public enum StoryItemType
{
    StoryOverview,  // Singleton: story metadata
    Problem,        // Story problem / conflict
    Character,      // Character profile
    Setting,        // Location / environment
    Scene,          // A scene in the story
    Folder,         // Explorer View organizer
    Section,        // Narrator View organizer (chapter, act)
    Web,            // Web bookmark
    Notes,          // Notes element (uses base properties only)
    TrashCan,       // Singleton: deleted elements container
    StoryWorld,     // Singleton (optional): worldbuilding
    Unknown         // Sentinel: not a usable element type
}

# The StoryItemType enum is exposed as sc.item_type (C#-type concept):
sc.item_type.StoryOverview  # Singleton: story metadata
sc.item_type.Problem        # Story problem / conflict
sc.item_type.Character      # Character profile
sc.item_type.Setting        # Location / environment
sc.item_type.Scene          # A scene in the story
sc.item_type.Folder         # Explorer View organizer
sc.item_type.Section        # Narrator View organizer (chapter, act)
sc.item_type.Web            # Web bookmark
sc.item_type.Notes          # Notes element (uses base properties only)
sc.item_type.TrashCan       # Singleton: deleted elements container
sc.item_type.StoryWorld     # Singleton (optional): worldbuilding

Creatable via AddElement: Problem, Character, Setting, Scene, Folder, Section, Web, Notes

Not creatable via AddElement: StoryOverview, TrashCan (auto-created), StoryWorld (auto-created)

Element Type Reference

StoryOverview (`OverviewModel`)

The story’s root element. One per outline, always the first node in ExplorerView.

Property	Type	Value Source	Description
`DateCreated`	`string`	Free text	Creation date
`Author`	`string`	Free text	Author name
`DateModified`	`string`	Free text	Last modified date
`Concept`	`string`	Free text	Story concept / idea
`StoryProblem`	`Guid`	GUID ref → Problem	The main story problem
`Premise`	`string`	Free text	Story premise (synced with StoryProblem)
`StoryType`	`string`	Free text	Type of story
`StoryGenre`	`string`	Free text	Genre
`Viewpoint`	`string`	Free text	Narrative viewpoint
`ViewpointCharacter`	`Guid`	GUID ref → Character	First-person POV character
`Voice`	`string`	Free text	Narrative voice
`LiteraryDevice`	`string`	Free text	Literary devices used
`Tense`	`string`	Free text	Past/present tense
`Style`	`string`	Free text	Writing style
`Tone`	`string`	`GetExamples("Tone")`	Story tone
`StructureNotes`	`string`	Free text	Notes on structure
`Notes`	`string`	Free text	General notes

Problem (`ProblemModel`)

A story conflict with protagonist, antagonist, and optional beat sheet structure.

Property	Type	Value Source	Description
`ProblemType`	`string`	Free text	Type of problem
`ConflictType`	`string`	Free text	Conflict classification
`ProblemCategory`	`string`	Free text	Category
`Subject`	`string`	Free text	What the problem is about
`ProblemSource`	`string`	Free text	Source of the problem
`Protagonist`	`Guid`	GUID ref → Character	The protagonist
`ProtGoal`	`string`	Free text	Protagonist’s goal
`ProtMotive`	`string`	Free text	Protagonist’s motivation
`ProtConflict`	`string`	Free text / Conflict Builder	Protagonist’s conflict
`Antagonist`	`Guid`	GUID ref → Character	The antagonist
`AntagGoal`	`string`	Free text	Antagonist’s goal
`AntagMotive`	`string`	Free text	Antagonist’s motivation
`AntagConflict`	`string`	Free text / Conflict Builder	Antagonist’s conflict
`Outcome`	`string`	Free text	How the problem resolves
`Method`	`string`	Free text	Method of resolution
`Theme`	`string`	Free text	Thematic statement
`Premise`	`string`	Free text	Problem premise
`Notes`	`string`	Free text	General notes
`StructureTitle`	`string`	Beat sheet name	Applied beat sheet template
`StructureDescription`	`string`	Beat sheet description	Description of structure
`StructureBeats`	Collection	Beat Sheet API	Beat definitions (managed via beat sheet methods)

Note: StructureBeats is managed through the Beat Sheet API, not through UpdateElementProperty.

Character (`CharacterModel`)

A character profile with physical, social, psychological, and trait data.

Role Data:

Property	Type	Value Source
`Role`	`string`	`GetExamples("Role")`
`StoryRole`	`string`	Free text
`Archetype`	`string`	`GetExamples("Archetype")`

Physical Data:

Property	Type	Value Source
`Age`	`string`	`GetExamples("Age")`
`Sex`	`string`	`GetExamples("Sex")`
`Eyes`	`string`	`GetExamples("EyeColor")`
`Hair`	`string`	`GetExamples("HairColor")`
`Weight`	`string`	Free text
`CharHeight`	`string`	Free text
`Build`	`string`	`GetExamples("Build")`
`Complexion`	`string`	`GetExamples("Complexion")`
`Race`	`string`	Free text
`Nationality`	`string`	Free text
`Health`	`string`	Free text
`PhysNotes`	`string`	Free text
`Appearance`	`string`	Free text

Social Data:

Property	Type	Value Source
`Economic`	`string`	Free text
`Education`	`string`	Free text
`Ethnic`	`string`	Free text
`Religion`	`string`	Free text

Psychological Data:

Property	Type	Value Source
`Enneagram`	`string`	`GetExamples("Enneagram")`
`Intelligence`	`string`	`GetExamples("Intelligence")`
`Values`	`string`	`GetExamples("Values")`
`Abnormality`	`string`	`GetExamples("Abnormality")`
`Focus`	`string`	`GetExamples("Focus")`
`PsychNotes`	`string`	Free text

Personality Traits (all use GetExamples with matching property name):

Property	Type
`Adventureousness`	`string`
`Aggression`	`string`
`Confidence`	`string`
`Conscientiousness`	`string`
`Creativity`	`string`
`Dominance`	`string`
`Enthusiasm`	`string`
`Assurance`	`string`
`Sensitivity`	`string`
`Shrewdness`	`string`
`Sociability`	`string`
`Stability`	`string`

Other:

Property	Type	Description
`TraitList`	`List<string>`	Character traits (list)
`Flaw`	`string`	Character flaw
`BackStory`	`string`	Character backstory
`Notes`	`string`	General notes
`RelationshipList`	`List<RelationshipModel>`	Managed via `AddRelationship`

Note: Use AddRelationship and AddCastMember instead of UpdateElementProperty for relationship and cast member fields.

Scene (`SceneModel`)

A scene with conflict structure, cast, setting, and development data.

Core Data:

Property	Type	Value Source	Description
`ViewpointCharacter`	`Guid`	GUID ref → Character	POV character
`Date`	`string`	Free text	When the scene occurs
`Time`	`string`	Free text	Time of day
`Setting`	`Guid`	GUID ref → Setting	Where the scene occurs
`SceneType`	`string`	`GetExamples("SceneType")`	Type of scene
`CastMembers`	`List<Guid>`	GUID refs → Characters	Use `AddCastMember`

Conflict Data:

Property	Type	Value Source
`Protagonist`	`Guid`	GUID ref → Character
`ProtagEmotion`	`string`	Free text
`ProtagGoal`	`string`	Free text
`Antagonist`	`Guid`	GUID ref → Character
`AntagEmotion`	`string`	Free text
`AntagGoal`	`string`	Free text
`Opposition`	`string`	Free text
`Outcome`	`string`	Free text

Development Data (Story Genius method):

Property	Type	Value Source
`ScenePurpose`	`List<string>`	`GetExamples("ScenePurpose")`
`ValueExchange`	`string`	`GetExamples("SceneValueExchange")`
`Events`	`string`	Free text
`Consequences`	`string`	Free text
`Significance`	`string`	Free text
`Realization`	`string`	Free text
`Emotion`	`string`	Free text
`NewGoal`	`string`	Free text
`Review`	`string`	Free text
`Notes`	`string`	Free text

Setting (`SettingModel`)

A location with sensory and environmental details.

Property	Type	Value Source
`Locale`	`string`	`GetExamples("Locale")`
`Season`	`string`	`GetExamples("Season")`
`Period`	`string`	Free text
`Lighting`	`string`	Free text
`Weather`	`string`	Free text
`Temperature`	`string`	Free text
`Props`	`string`	Free text
`Sights`	`string`	Free text
`Sounds`	`string`	Free text
`Touch`	`string`	Free text
`SmellTaste`	`string`	Free text
`Notes`	`string`	Free text

StoryWorld (`StoryWorldModel`)

Optional singleton for worldbuilding. Access via GetStoryWorld().

World Type Classification:

Property	Type	Description
`WorldType`	`string`	High-level classification (8 types)
`Ontology`	`string`	What exists (Mundane, Supernatural, etc.)
`WorldRelation`	`string`	Relation to our reality
`RuleTransparency`	`string`	How rules behave
`ScaleOfDifference`	`string`	How different from reality
`AgencySource`	`string`	What drives change
`ToneLogic`	`string`	Emotional/logical feel

World Lists (each is a list of structured entries):

Property	Entry Type
`PhysicalWorlds`	`PhysicalWorldEntry`
`Species`	`SpeciesEntry`
`Cultures`	`CultureEntry`
`Governments`	`GovernmentEntry`
`Religions`	`ReligionEntry`

History: FoundingEvents, MajorConflicts, Eras, TechnologicalShifts, LostKnowledge

Economy: EconomicSystem, Currency, TradeRoutes, Professions, WealthDistribution

Magic/Technology: SystemType, Source, Rules, Limitations, Cost, Practitioners, SocialImpact

Folder (`FolderModel`)

A container for organizing elements in the Explorer View. Uses only the base Name and Description properties.

Section (`FolderModel`)

A container for organizing the Narrator View (chapters, acts, parts). Same model class as Folder but with StoryItemType.Section.

Web (`WebModel`)

A web bookmark.

Property	Type	Description
`Timestamp`	`DateTime`	When the bookmark was created
`URL`	`Uri`	The bookmarked URL

Notes

Uses the base StoryElement class directly. Only Name and Description properties.

TrashCan (`TrashCanModel`)

Singleton container for soft-deleted elements. No additional properties beyond the base class. Always named “Deleted Story Elements”.

Containment Rules

Parent	Allowed Children
StoryOverview	Problem, Character, Setting, Scene, Folder, Web, Notes, StoryWorld
Folder	Problem, Character, Setting, Scene, Folder, Web, Notes
Section	Section, Scene
TrashCan	Any deleted element

Key constraints:

Don’t add Folders to the Narrator View; use Sections instead
Don’t add Sections to the Explorer View; use Folders instead
Don’t add elements directly to the TrashCan; use DeleteElement
Don’t add elements to the Narrator View unless explicitly needed; default to the Overview

Property Value Types

Properties fall into three categories:

Plain Strings

Free text, pass any string value:

api.UpdateElementProperty(guid, "ProtGoal", "Find the treasure");

sc.update_element_property(problem, "ProtGoal", "Find the treasure")

GUID References

Link to another element, pass the target element’s GUID as a string:

api.UpdateElementProperty(problemGuid, "Protagonist", characterGuid.ToString());

sc.update_element_property(problem, "Protagonist", str(character))

The API auto-converts the string to a Guid. Use Guid.Empty (all zeros) to clear a reference.

Enum-Sourced Values

Use GetExamples to discover valid values:

var roles = api.GetExamples("Role").Payload;
// Returns: ["Protagonist", "Antagonist", "Confidant", ...]
api.UpdateElementProperty(charGuid, "Role", "Protagonist");

roles = sc.get_examples("Role")
# Returns: ["Protagonist", "Antagonist", "Confidant", ...]
sc.update_element_property(character, "Role", "Protagonist")

You can also pass free text for these properties. The examples are suggestions, not constraints.

Element Types and Properties

Base Properties (All Elements)

StoryItemType Enum

Element Type Reference

StoryOverview (OverviewModel)

Problem (ProblemModel)

Character (CharacterModel)

Scene (SceneModel)

Setting (SettingModel)

StoryWorld (StoryWorldModel)

Folder (FolderModel)

Section (FolderModel)

Web (WebModel)