Domino is a term for the sort of chain reaction that happens when one thing knocks over another. It is usually used in reference to the sort of thing that can happen with dominoes, which are typically twice as long as they are wide and have a line down the middle that divides them visually into two squares that contain the values, or spots, that indicate what kind of domino they are. These values range from six to blank, and the total value of the domino is called its rank. The higher the rank of a domino, the more powerful it is.
Depending on the game being played, a domino can have straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, 3D structures like towers and pyramids, or even walls of bricks or stones. The pieces can also be arranged in patterns that have specific meanings, such as the number of legs on a dog or how many hearts are on a piece of paper.
The domino game is generally played by two or more players, with each player attempting to make a line of dominoes that will reach the opponent’s base before the other player can do so. The first person to do so wins the game. The game is played with a standard 28-piece double-six set. The shuffled tiles are called the stock, and each player draws seven of them to start the sequence. Unlike playing cards, which are divided into suit groups, dominoes have no suits. They are numbered in numerical order on both sides, but only the lower number is displayed, and some sides have a blank design or none at all.
In a story, the domino effect can be used as a metaphor for how things can be cascaded from one event to another that causes major changes in the plot. This is particularly useful in stories that include characters who are not quite as logical as most people, or even most readers. In such a story, the author must give readers enough reason or motivation to accept the immoral behavior of the protagonist and keep liking them.
For example, if a character shoots someone, then proceeds to kill several other people, this will likely cause the reader to lose interest in the character, and may lead to them no longer wanting to read the book or watch the movie. The author can use the domino effect to help explain how the character’s actions are causing events that will impact the story. The writer can also use it to point out logical flaws in the plot. This is especially useful for writers who don’t work with outlines or plotting software such as Scrivener.