The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

When you respond to an offer by adding details, that’s a build. The additional information builds out the context of the story. You can build using verbal or physical offers.

While visiting Sam at his cabin. Elmer mentions that he likes hunting rabbits. Sam builds on Elmer’s offer by handing him a shotgun and saying, “You an’ me both, pardner.”

The new details from Sam’s build are the existence of the shotgun and the fact that Sam likes hunting rabbits too. The more details that players know, the easier it is for them to play within the context of the fiction.

When doing builds, remember to think actionally. Verbal builds establish details, while physical builds lead to action.

Builds are one half of the dyad of build and amplify.