Below this lines lies an adventure outline for Oliver Twist I created to play with the Mythic Role-playing Game but it’s generic enough to be used with any game. The notes below assume that the game master has a good grasp of the novel and / or the films — there are 15 of them –. I am sharing it here to demonstrate an easy way to create an adventure by taking inspiration on a work of fiction you know well.
This skeleton does need a few things to flesh it out: npc stats, both stock (cops, average guy, a pickpocket…) and main characters (such as Fagin. Bill Sikes or the Artful Dodger); then perhaps a map or two; some descriptions (you could take these from the novel itself); and to expand some loose ends.
Obviously, there is little chance you can surprise most people with Oliver Twist — except your son or younger brother — but:
- There’s nothing can stop you from tinkering with that skeleton.
- There’s a host of novels and films out there you could adapt. Choose one you know well but which is relatively obscure, change some details and that’s that. As long as you don’t intend to publish, you have nothing to worry about copyrights.
So, without further delay: The Oliver Twist Adventure skeleton
A word about structure:
This adventure skeleton is divided into numbered “scenes”. Each of these is divided in two: Intended and Exits. Intended is a short line telling what is supposed to happen — you know players will ruin those 
— and exits tell the scenes that could continue the game.
Note that the game is intended for one player, but it shouldn’t be a chore to adapt it to a small group of up to three players.
Scene 1: Workhouse Bullies Intended: Two of the bigger boys will get some younger one’s “TREASURE”. Oliver will go to the rescue. (Ouch). Exits: 2 Hospital (if defeated), 3 More?
Scene 2: Hospital Intended: While Oliver recovers from the beating a PLAGUE erupts. Oliver helps the patients. Exits: 4 With Mom (if he gets infected), 5 Doctor Boy
Scene 3: More? Intended: The famous May I have some more scene. Exits 6 Who will buy.
Scene 4: With Mom Intended: Oliver dies and is buried, by “chance” with his mom. The end.
Scene 5: Doctor Boy. Intended: One of the Doctors decides to take Oliver under his wing and together live further adventures. Exits ?
Scene 6: Who will buy.
Intended: The Beadle tries to sell Oliver at a high price while Oliver tries to get a kind master 
.
Exits: 7 Sweep, 8 Undertaker, 9 Kind Cook, 10 Navy
Scene 7: Sweep Intended: Oliver learns the business of sweeping, trying to avoid an accident and the boot of his master. Exits: 11 Accident (if he is unlucky), 12 Road
Scene 8: Undertaker Intended: Oliver adjusts to his new life, eating dog scraps and all. Gets into the famous fight. Exits: 12 Road
Scene 9: Kind cook. Intended: Oliver has got a very kind master and he just loves cooking. He lives in the restaurant. Exits: ?
Scene 10: Navy Intended: Oliver becomes a powder monky in HM Navy. Exits: ?
Scene 11: Accident Intended: Oliver has got an accident. Exits: 2 Hospital, 4 With Mom (if he buys the farm)
Scene 12: Road Intended: Oliver travels to London. Exits: 13 Kind Granny.
Scene 13: Kind Granny. Intended: Oliver is welcomed in an old lady’s house. Exits: 14 Dodger, 15 Stay
Scene 14 Dodger Intended: Doger invites Oliver to be “one of us”. Exits: 16 Getting a Life, 17 Fagin
Scene 15 Stay Intended: Oliver stays with the kind old Lady. Exits: ?
Scene 16 Getting a Life. Intended: Oliver survives by himself in London (poor kid) Exits: ?
Scene 17 Fagin Intended: Fagin recruits Oliver sends him to “work”. Exits: 18 Nimble Fingers & Quicker Feet
Scene 18 Nimble Fingers & Quicker Feet. Intended: After Dodger steals Mr Brownlow’s wallet, Oliver has to run for it. Exits: 19 To Mr Brownlow’s home, 20 Caught.
Scene 19 To Mr Brownlow’s home. Intended: Oliver escapes from the crowd, gets back to Fagin. In the night, now without a doubt of the mean miser intentions, he escapes to return the wallet. Exits: 21 Murdered, 22 Wonderful Morning
Scene 20 Caught Intended: Oliver stands trial but he is later acquitted and comes under Mr Brownlow’s care. Exits: 22 Wonderful Morning.
Scene 21 Murdered Intended: While trying to return the wallet (or when escaping) Oliver is killed. His body is later discovered by Mr Brownlows Exits ?
Scene 22 Wonderful Morning Intended: Oliver enjoys his new life at Mr Brownlow’s. Exits: 23 Kidnapped
Scene 23 Kidnapped.
Intended: Oliver is kidnapped by Nancy, poor kid. 
Exits: 24 Escape
Scene 24 Escape Intended: Oliver escapes from Mr Fagin. Exits: 21 Murdered, 25 Home at last, 26 In Bill’s care.
Scene 25 Home at Last. Oliver returns to home at Mr Brownlows, but what about his mother and…? Exits: ?
Scene 26: In Bill Sikes’ care Intended: Bill Sikes gets Oliver for a job, just guess where Exits: ?