Does the Threefold Model only apply to in-game GM decisions? What about player decisions, or design decisions?
The Threefold Model is a taxonomy rather than a strictly defined model. Thus, wherever the definitions make sense, they can be applied. It is possible for players to make decisions on the basis of either in-game cause, story effect, or meeting challenge. Thus, the model can apply to players. The definitions can also be applied to many cases of preparation. For example, you can generate the details of a town based on either needs of the story you are telling there, or extrapolation based on it’s geographic location, local history, and so forth. Now, broad early choices about the world cannot be extrapolated. For example, the choice of whether to play fantasy or science fiction, for example, isn’t classifiable under the Threefold. The same is true of other classifications, though. Now, the Threefold Model was developed to apply to actual play — not to rules on their own or to campaign preparation on its own. However, the principle is to look at of what sort of actual play the rules and/
