Arcs

Strategy patterns that shape how beats unfold over time

An arc determines how beats are paced, ordered, and escalated within a scene. One arc per scene, set at creation, immutable after declaration.

Types

Approach

Low-commitment touches escalating in warmth, urgency, and directness.

// Beat 1: casual intro
tone: { warmth: "warm", urgency: "none", ask: "implicit" }
// Beat 2: follow-up
tone: { warmth: "warm", urgency: "gentle", ask: "soft" }
// Beat 3: direct proposal
tone: { warmth: "familiar", urgency: "present", ask: "direct" }

Surround

Multiple channels in rapid succession for narrow availability windows.

beat 1: SMS at T+0
beat 2: Email at T+40m
beat 3: Referral at T+44m
beat 4: Phone at T+50m

Crescendo

Builds slowly. Early beats establish presence without asking. Final beat carries the full ask.

Slow burn

Long intervals between beats over days or weeks. For audiences that need time.

Single strike

One beat, timed perfectly. No follow-up. Requires strong intelligence about the right moment.

Gift

Opens with genuine value before any ask. First beat's ask is always none.

Siege

Sustained presence across all channels. High volume, long duration. For hard-to-reach audiences or competitive situations.

Selection

• Busy target? surround or single_strike
• Long-term relationship? slow_burn or gift
• Competitive? siege or crescendo
• Standard outreach? approach