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PLOT ENGAGEMENT
What is Plot Engagement and how does it work within Meadowlark? This is the page where players can come discuss with us how to facilitate plots within the setting. However, there will be occasions where a plot doesn't work within Meadowlark's world, and we'll suggest alternative routes. For small worldbuilding or gameplay details, please direct your question to the FAQ. If you're ever not sure if you're at the right page, don't worry—we'll help you get it sorted out. We know we have a load of info!
In addition, you do not need to have a complete plot in mind when you come to us. We aim for plot engagement to be more of a conversation between us and our players. If we propose a plot angle and it's not to your liking, we're more than happy to work with you to come up with something more to your tastes.
WHEN WILL YOU HEAR BACK?
◉ All Plot Engagement answers go out on Sunday, except during events.
◉ The deadline to submit a question and ensure you'll hear back from us on Sunday is 11:59 PM UTC on Saturday.
PLOT ENGAGEMENT INCLUDES
◉ Player plots! If you'd like your character to become a mafia boss, this is your place to start. Typically, this involves anything that could impact the setting or other player characters.
◉ Character career advancement that gives the character additional power or status within the setting.
◉ Metaplot exploration and information! We plan all events to give characters something to explore after the event ends. This is the place to do it!
SUBMISSION TIPS
◉ Specify what your character is looking for when they're investigating. What questions are they asking and what angle are they trying to explore?
◉ If you have a specific goal in mind but don't know how to reach it, please let us know.
◉ If you link a thread to us, please summarize it! That helps us process the plot in question.
◉ Don't worry about not knowing the setting like the back of your hand before you submit the plot—that's up to us! We're here to help you with any adjustments to get you on the right track.
◉ Plot engagement is meant to help with IC play so that characters can continue to interact. If you're not sure how to loop in others, let us know so that we can work with you on it! While this page is meant to be a conversation between players and mods, we know that the fun part of a plot is how it can change character arcs, spice up CR, and more.
NOTES & THINGS THAT YOU CAN HANDWAVE
◉ Characters always start out in entry level positions. Characters can update their skill sets to the 2512 standard through paid apprenticeships or internships.
◈ If a character is advancing within a major corporation (as noted on the Setting or Locations page) or one of its subsidiaries, we will need to approve this advancement.
◈ If a character becomes a supervisor at a local bar or other small business, we do not need to approve this advancement.
◉ Joining the police force within a city requires three months of IC training (six months OOC). There will be instances where this changes, and we'll keep you looped in on that.
◉ We'll approve whether someone has social media fame, but we will not be providing social media follower counts. Once you have a plot for how to use those followers, that's where we step in!
◉ All Morningstar business goes on our Morningstar page. Please feel free to discuss specific plots here (including joining), and go there for signups and anything else.
◉ Characters getting jobs, finding apartments, participating in the fighting rings, getting married, making workplace friends, the creation of minor NPCs, etc. do not need to be run by us. Please let us know if these expand into player plots or other plot bits!
QUICK LINKS
◉ Archived Plot Engagement: Previous Plot Engagement.
◉ FAQ: For small worldbuilding or gameplay details.
◉ Setting: Our setting page! We'll update as needed.
◉ Jobs: A reference for who's working where!
◉ Locations: Both major and minor locations within New Amsterdam, as well as outlines for other megacities.
◉ Mod Contact: For wider game concerns.
◉ The Story So Far: Gamewide plot events up to current (your CTRL+F best friend!).
◉ NPC page: Includes NPC blurbs and inboxes.
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no subject
For Gene:
That sounds fine! Gene can utilize his organized efforts between the hospital, the Displaced and PRESERVE contacts that are available to him. While Gene wouldn't be privy to private hospital or patient records, he'd come out of this with a good understanding of how these medical professionals and administrators organize themselves. He'd also probably get in a little cozy with them as he stepped away! Make those connections, Gene.
We'd suggest working with Tona if you both want to make this a little larger for the future in terms of Displaced-to-hospital networks. Feel free to make a larger OOC post to organize if needed!
For Jai:
A few things!
1. Any community service that Jai is looking to do is also being done by the Displaced via Red Wings and through other ventures started throughout the city, Morningstar, PRESERVE, and the cultists. We're not certain of the cause of the resentment for the older members of the Displaced, but Jai will be running up against their multiple outlets to assist the New Amsterdam community at every turn as he looks for avenues to help. They are rather accomplished in the city and have garnered a great deal of respect, making it one of the most well-supported cities in Meadowlark's world.
In New Amsterdam, the disenfranchised affected by inequality would be the homeless, low-income workers, and the poor that are exploited by the silent class system. With the world getting on its feet, there aren't many children that are in need of help anymore. Parents have returned post-Aerie and they'll be desperately searching for their kids. Children are a very cherished portion of the population, and given the hoops that need to be jumped through for parents to even consider conception, there aren't many of them.
As a note, food and other essential supplies are no longer an issue post-aftermath, and Jai would be redistributing something that may be hurting workers in those warehouses, rather than sticking it directly to the man. In case you'd like Jai to have a rude awakening in terms of the consequences you'd mentioned, we're up to facilitate this!
2. Just as a point of clarification for our worldbuilding, the UNA might recruit teenagers before they're 18, but every former UNA soldier in the game right now is over the age of 18. Most of the UNA soldiers are both extremely conditioned and extremely traumatized, acting out almost in a hivemind sort of way because their grasp on reality isn't solid. They're less likely to be acting out teenagers and more likely to be a mish-mash of discharged soldiers ranging from 18 to as old as 40 all trying to figure out how to handle reality after a series of traumatizing events, with the Aerie being the final catalyst in their mental breaks. As such, we're not sure that this group suits your needs at this time.
However, they are in desperate need of help, so it's up to you if this would intrigue Jai enough to work with them. They're unlikely to be seeking out a conventional leader, but their energies can be directed. As soldiers without armor or weapons, they'd be seeking access to those things, as well as money, a place to live (as many of them have abandoned their homes in what's a facet of their tragic break from reality), and someone to give them some direction.
Since they're soldiers, they'll be more inclined toward violence because of their trauma and previous conditioning. If he decides to make them a pet project, it's going to take some time; he may get into some scuffles in the meantime.
3. That said, since this isn't carved in stone yet, would you be interested in having him wrangle a gang of angry teenage Kestrels instead of a group of UNA youths? Aside from the obvious name joke, these kids would be highly volatile and very angry at the current establishment. The perk would be that there would be more opportunity for plot impact at this point, as well as some integration that would make it easier for the mod team to find potential plots for this route that would include other Displaced.
Of course, the above would still stand: Jai would need to find some resources like weapons, money, etc. if he wanted to become the leader, but the overall approach would still have him with the beginnings of trust budding in their ranks. This group would also be more inclined toward violence, fueled by anger over inequality and similarities between the real world and the Aerie. The redistribution of wealth from the upper class would be met with more excitement in this group, as they'd all be eager to help in that regard, but most likely on a larger scale! As in, they wouldn't be looking to redistribute food or essential supplies, but taking directly from the rich. If you'd like a little more information, they're mentioned in the Event 11 Wrap Up. Let us know if you'd be interested in this!
Noodle this and give us a holler on what direction you'd like to go. Thanks!