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RETIRED PLOTTING & ENGAGEMENT
RETIRED PLOTTING & ENGAGEMENT
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This plotting post exists to serve as a hub for players to confer with the mods about running a plot for their characters, be it personal or game-wide. The goal of this post is to facilitate player creativity, and the best way to approach these requests is for players to convey to the mods what the intended outcome/result of the idea is so that the mods can collaborate with players on a way to make it happen within the context of the setting.
There are three primary ways for players to bring plots to this post: to brainstorm, to seek approval for wide-reaching player plots, or for players to report their own character's IC actions to discuss consequences.
There are three primary ways for players to bring plots to this post: to brainstorm, to seek approval for wide-reaching player plots, or for players to report their own character's IC actions to discuss consequences.
BRAINSTORMING
Players who have an idea of something they want their character to do but don't know the best way to go about it or who don't have enough information about the setting to act upon it may make submissions here seeking mod guidance and support in the brainstorming process. Often, this takes the form of a player sharing a goal or plot point of interest and asking how to make it happen.
These requests are less formal and more freeform, acting as the start of a collaborative discussion about engaging an element of the setting. Submitting a brainstorming request does not mean committing to the IC actions being discussed, so this is a good way to explore possibilities.
Examples of brainstorming requests:
- If my character robs a bank, how much money can they get away with?
- What would the happen if my character tried to hack the Guardian Alliance's databases?
- I'd like my character to get employment in a Guild-run organization or a job that would give them substantial influence in the form of power or money. Is that allowed?
- I want my character to run for mayor of Sunset Falls. How do I make that happen?
- I really want my character to forge a telepathic bond with someone, but I don't know how to do it.
- What would happen if my hero stole every hero's left shoe?
PLOT APPROVALS
Plots affecting only a few characters, or those which cause minimal damage and no casualties, do not require mod approval. These plots only require information that players already have about the setting and do not involve and mod NPCs. Players may invent throwaway NPC villains for characters to fight or have characters use their powers in fun and interesting ways. When in doubt, players should reference the FAQ regarding what breaks the setting.
Plots that need approval by the mods involve any of the following:
- Affect 8+ player characters;
- Alter, threaten, or damage the setting in a large-scale or notable way;
- Result in multiple casualties;
- Change the setting in some way;
- Or involve mod-established NPCs or NPC organizations.
Essentially, no submission is required for fighting Dr. Doofenschmertz, but the mods need to know when someone would notice a character fighting him, such as if said fight causes significant property damage. Likewise, the mods don't need to know if villains are running around causing trouble, only if it's noticeable trouble or would lead to a potential reaction or fallout from an element of the setting, such as an organization or mod NPC.
These plots cannot be implemented until approved. If a player wants their plot to be a surprise to the rest of the game, they can feel free to bring it over to the MOD CONTACT post.
| DO NOT REQUIRE MOD APPROVAL: | REQUIRE MOD APPROVAL: |
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REPORTING CONSEQUENCES
This post is also for reporting character actions that might result in IC consequences within the setting, such as characters destroying property, committing crimes, causing casualties or taking actions that might affect more than 4 characters. These plots do not need to be approved; however, the mods ask players to wait for mod acknowledgement before making wide reference to these events, as we may request additional information and clarification. Please report these events as soon as possible so that the mods are aware of what's going on, and bear in mind the FAQ guidelines on death.
HOW TO SUBMIT
After reviewing the information above carefully, label your request type in the subject line with "BRAINSTORMING," "PLOT APPROVAL," or "REPORTING CONSEQUENCES," and post your response using the following form:
Name(s) of Character(s) Involved: (and usernames)
Summary of Plot: (if reporting, please include links to relevant threads)
OOC Goals: (what do you want out of this idea, plot, or consequence?)
Intended Personal Outcome/Consequences for Characters: (how do you want this to affect the characters involved?)
Impact on the Setting or Mod NPCs: (how will this affect the game at large? how do you see people — including mod-run NPCs — reacting?)
Summary of Plot: (if reporting, please include links to relevant threads)
OOC Goals: (what do you want out of this idea, plot, or consequence?)
Intended Personal Outcome/Consequences for Characters: (how do you want this to affect the characters involved?)
Impact on the Setting or Mod NPCs: (how will this affect the game at large? how do you see people — including mod-run NPCs — reacting?)
Examples of plots to report:
- A character opens their own business.
- A character destroys a building in a fight.
- A villainous plot leads to the death of civilians.
no subject
This is what I’m thinking so far (apologies for a Big Hulking Post):
The Lead Up
-Balthier’s mentor dies. There’s something shady about it, and there are rumors it was a hit because of giving the business over to a newbie, or some unresolved past grudge.
-A mysterious object (either a chalice, cauldron, or box) shows up. There’s no log of it. It’s suspicious. But it’s worth /a lot/ of money. It’s a real early medieval antique in great condition.
-Balthier pulls in support [PC opportunity to interact] for it. They either don’t turn anything up, or can tell it’s magic but not quite what
-In investigating it, it gets activated
-All PC and NPCs in the shop or involved in the investigation when it’s tripped will be hit with a day 1 fear spell (see below). They can be hit by additional spells during the event.
The Fear Manifestations
-The object had three sprites/pixies sealed on it. They have been released and now are competing to see who can wreak the most havoc via their themed conflict spells.
-They grow in power depending on how much fear they collect, which is stored in the object itself.
-They begin weak and must stay relatively close to the object. As they get stronger, they have a larger range. This keeps the event in Excelsior, originally near the shop and reaching the suburbs by the end of the weak. Hypothetically it could keep growing.
-They must actually hit you with a spell for you to be affected. You can be affected multiple times by the same pixie, or multiple pixies. You can technically be in Excelsior and never be hit with a spell yourself. They’re pixies so they aren’t super methodical.
-They begin as specks of light, become regular pixies by midweek, and by the full height of the spell are full on horror creatures (hag, troll, banshee, etc.)
-A fear will manifest in the real world until confronted or defeated, or the overall spell is turned off again (examples below)
-Spells cast later in the week are larger in magnitude than early in the week (more details below)
-Because fear manifestations are real, other characters may interact with them
-NPCs will also have fear manifestations happening
Pixie 1 – Person versus Self
-This pixie specializes in internal fears and conflicts. This could be anything from thinking you are stupid and suddenly finding yourself cognitively impaired to feeling guilt over failing to save your loved one and now they are here dying again while you can’t do anything.
-Below are examples of the same fear manifested on Day 1 versus Day 3 versus Day 6
-EX 1: Anxiety that you come off as stupid increases -> It seems like you have done every possible stupid thing you could have -> Your IQ has literally dropped?? You feel compelled to make bad decisions and say dumb shit
-Ex 2: You’re feeling really sensitive that you have a “face like a horse” -> You keep seeing yourself with a horse’s head in mirrors and there’s a weird smell and you seem like you keep finding horse hair on your bed and you neighed instead of laughed -> Oh my god you have a horse head. You are Bojack Horseman. Except like you also want to eat alfalfa and run naked through the night.
-Ex 3: You just feel like no one is hearing you seeing you -> Are people seriously ignoring you this much? Why is no one texting back? Why can’t I get my order at the coffee shop? And I keep dropping things. -> Congrats you’re a ghost! No one can see or hear you and you can no longer interact with the physical world! You probably never could – you can’t remember.
Pixie 2 – Person versus Person
-This pixie specializes in causing problems between you and others – whether they exist on this plane or not. These spells can conjure people you don’t want to see, like exes, or even villains (or heroes) from other planes. These spells can potentially impact both the character hit and real people (NPCs, PCs) around them. For PC it would be opt in from both parites.
-Ex 1: You find yourself sensitive and picking fights with your SO -> Okay you’re having blown out arguments with your SO, especially on shit you thought was okay -> You or your SO does The Thing that will ruin the relationship – and then keeps going. And it’s all your fault.
-Ex 2: You can’t shake the memory of a nemesis from your past; bad dreams, memories, and a preoccupation they’re going to reappear -> You see your nemesis. Here. They know something about you that you don’t want anyone to, and they’re threatening to use it if you don’t comply. They’re going to ruin everything -> God fucking damn it your supervillain nemesis is HERE and has their worst weapons and powers and is DEFINITELY GOING TO DESTROY THE WORLD
Pixie 3 – Person Versus Nature
-This pixie specializes in the natural world. So like. Packs of dogs. The weather. The sidewalk opening up to swallow your ankles. Awakening dormant magical creatures.
-Ex 1: You feel chilly, like, all the time -> Okay there’s literally a 20 degree drop in the area around you. -> You are a walking blizzard. It’s ruining electronics and killing plants.
-Ex 2: Are there always this many…bugs this time of year? -> Ew ew ew there are bugs in your house, clothes, and/or food. -> I am sorry friend somehow you literally ended up in a room full of bugs.
Resolution
-Individually, characters may resolve their fear spells by facing the fear, defeating the fear, or otherwise confronting the fear. If resolved, a manifestation may become powerless, turn into something silly and harmless, or disappear entirely.
-If a character entirely succumbs to the fear, they will be transported inside the cursed object to a “fear” plane, which is a nightmarish hellscape where multiple fears may manifest. They cannot die, but the pixies are essentially mining their terror. They may interact with other characters stuck in the fear plane, but very much may not be themselves. They cannot die here, and cannot get out themselves. A magically tethered character can rescue them by convincing them to confront a fear, or they will be released when the spell is defeated.
-To stop the spell, PCs need to daze and trap the three pixies, depower them, and seal them on the object again. They also need to release people from the object.
-I’m a little fuzzier on the defeat mechanics, but I’m thinking this would allow different groups to tackle the three pixies and the nightmare plane.
-The object needs to be resealed and/or destroyed
-Upon destruction/sealing, all fear manifestations will disappear. However, any effects caused by those fears are real and still here.
no subject
Thanks for your patience. This looks amazing! We have a few suggestions to help things move smoothly:
- It may be good to make a network post for the lead-up to gather PC support, giving people an easy way to volunteer and hop onto the plot.
- Do we understand correctly that when the pixies are defeated, the fears will disappear even if the characters involved failed to overcome their fears?
- Regarding Pixie 1, we suggest clearer suggestions on how a PC might overcome these fears. For example, could they break the spell by physically beating up a shade of themselves? Would it be a Friendship is Magic situation where someone needs to help you accept your flaws? And/or might characters overcome their negative trait by demonstrating its opposite?
Let us know if you need anything else from us as you develop. We're happy to help with log organization and formatting as needed, and have a code prepared for posting it.
no subject
-Yes I have it set up that when the spell is contained anything created by the fear manifestations disappears, but damage remains. I'm open to failed ones or other remnants staying, but was trying to avoid like...The Green Goblin came through and now just Exists here. Another option though would be severely weakened b/c the pixies are contained, so they become easier to round up and defeat and we could do a "clean-up crew." That would also give players the option to keep around frustrating objects/etc if they want to.
-I had all three of those "defeat" scenarios in mind for pixies and can include possible solutions to each category.
-I would love help with log organization and code. What's the best way forward? Drafting the log itself?
no subject
Sorry for the delay in response on this. This all sounds good! You're good to go ahead and draft the log. Once it's done, we'll handle the code.
no subject
I am going to get you a link to a draft sometime this week/weekend.
For my own planning purposes, do we have a general date range we are looking at?
no subject
Would the 18th - 20th date range work for you?
no subject
Document is on my computer and will link you for sure this weekend.
no subject
The biggest format issue I had was trying to include thorough examples for each fear category without being overwhelming. If you have a better idea for this, let me know.
All critique/edits welcome. I need to grab some images but I think everything else is more or less drafted.