Set plots?

[Bellayana]

Why don't we have a designated time during the week, or bi-weekly where a special plot happens? This could be one for the early players and one for the later players and alter off and on? I think this will get people to log on and roleplay together, and log on in the downtime to roleplay about the plots that are happening and such.

Ideas?

[Dovan]

Ehh... the problem I see here is people will log on *only* for these things. As soon as they are over, it'll be hop off to xyz to do something else. I'm not like, totally opposed the idea of getting things going, I just don't like the idea of things having set times or schedules. I had enough of that raiding in everquest, personally.

[Bellayana]

But where it differs is there is downtime playing, and if people don't roleplay during the downtime then you aren't really involved with the intelligence to travel further with the group. If people know this before anything happens then they will roleplay if they see their character needing to roleplay about the event. Or if its in their character's best interest.

[Kallias]

The biggest problem is, without continuous DM intervention to give reasonable plot progression (and to hear input on what the PC's are planning) the plots are stale and feel forced. Muds just aren't the medium for metaplots without an incredibly dedicated (to the point of never expecting anyone to do it) staff or group of staff. The plots muds do excel at are small personal roleplays that can be 100% complete in a half hour or less. I don't know of a mud I've ever played in that successfully did metaplots that involved people, you almost have to just say "this giant thing happened, your paradigm has changed, now work within this new paradigm". That was Gemstone's take on metaplots and I think it worked out well, or at least as well can it could.

I'd suggest that be a position: "unimportant personal plot DM" or something more sexy

A staffer who enjoys little stories that don't affect anyone else and don't cause a ruckus in the player base. Little stupid things like running into drow bandits on the road. The goal should never be to kill the pc or to embarrass them, but to just show players that staff does exist and can show up at any time with fun little meaningless roleplays. Far too often when staff does a roleplay something big shows up and just kills people until a giant group is formed.

I feel something like that, almost like BF Skinner's theory on variable ratio reinforcement, is the best way to keep players interested. The biggest problem is finding a staffer who is willing to do it consistently so players don't notice huge gaps of time where they see nothing. Anyway, random reinforcement trumps auto reinforcement and regimental reinforcement. So speaks Vegas.

[Briek]

I agree with Tyson, these little roleplays, aren't they the reason the story council exists?

[Jaenoic]

I definitely see the merit in your idea, Bellayana, but I think random times for roleplays is the most engaging and interesting. Having "random"(scattered) times makes the plots seem more real, and less like a job or an obligation.

Another concern is that a set time would obligate those who run the plot to be available at X time. Again, I don't like the idea of obligating any player or staff member to be available at a set time. Life (unfortunately) takes precedence over the game. I know, it sucks, right? =P But if something comes up, and the plot runner has to cancel, leaving people disappointed...

So in my opinion, this is a good idea in theory, but I think in practice scattered times work best.

[Bellayana]

Then we should have at least something once a month- to give characters a interaction besides "Oh Mistress Thann was captured again. Man she is just at the wrong time wrong place every day."

[Kallias]

If an active staff member was given the blessing I could see small roleplays being way more often than once a month. But the big stuff just doesn't fit the medium, it's too hard to coordinate and people feel obligated to put aside things they could be doing in real life to play FK...and that's not an atmosphere we want to foster.

If you have anything better to do, you should do it.

[Bellayana]

It could be a bunch of smaller plots that lead up to a bigger plot on a saturday or sunday with like a Lich, or a mad wizard behind something. What do you think about that? After a month or two of smaller things happening and people gossiping and spreading news IC something happens that only would last a hour or two. I understand about the life comes first, I know I've had to choose life over playing on the computer. I am just thinking of new things, trying to put my two cents in.

[Mele]

I know for a fact there's at least two "What the heck is going on" plots happening right now. Plus the action of immortals behaving in mobs bodies recently.


Planning weekly timed events tends to get the favoritism word screamed - no thank you for that.

[Gwain]

Random set plots that slowly come together seem to be the most enjoyable ones in my opinion. I'd like to leave how the plot is managed to the Dm's managing it.

[Nysan]

"What the heck is going on"

No fair, that is my normal state of awareness. I can't be expected to not notice even more stuff! If this keeps up, I might actually notice something. We can't have that!