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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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rey has worked as a pretty well-paid engineer at one of the big corporations for a long while now and i'm wondering if she could effectively set up a hackerspace in new beijing. an open-use workshop full of the essential tools for lots of woodworking, machining, and computing, where people can donate to help with the running of it and the displaced can come work on whatever long-term projects courtesy of free auto-memberships.
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This is absolutely possible. As a note, woodworking wouldn't be an option, because wood isn't really used anymore. However, 3D printing is incredibly advanced and complex, so 3D modelling/scanning/printing would fill in that gap. These printers can use a wide variety of materials—metal, resins, wax, ceramics, etc. Another good idea would be including areas for sewing. Because the world is so focused on sustainability, many fabric goods are made to last and be mended rather than just tossed when damaged. This ranges for everything from clothes to bedding to curtains, and might help some of the Displaced with their interior design dreams.
She might need to start a bit smaller, depending on how much money she has saved up. Certain things will be very accessible price wise, such as some machines (3D printers, power tools, sewing machines, etc.) whereas larger items would be pricier (like CNC routers). Getting a loan for the space and equipment is definitely an option here, which is something El could help her get started with, especially since she's a long-standing member of Morningstar. Feel free to hit up El's inbox to get started! However, getting the actual loan will be similar to how it works today—she'll need a business plan and proof that she'll be able to pay the money back with interest.
And, of course, we'll need to know where she'll be opening the workshop! Will she be renting a space or did you have another idea in mind?
no subject
Rey has ... probably a stupid amount of money saved up. She's been working as a Riverstone engineer for a long while now and doesn't really do hobbies, plus she lived in a straight up hovel most of that time and with multiple rotating roommates. I'm also thinking in setting up a space in New Beijing, she'd be able to seek out formal investors through Riverstone and other companies their engineering department deals with for small grants and donations for a community space in the interest of rebuilding. This is often done through donating old/out of use machinery that's going to auction as much as in cutting checks. This is also in line with the fact that it's a nonprofit, not a business.
which answers the last question: she'll be putting it in New Beijing rather than New Amsterdam in hopes of helping the Displaced spread out beyond that one little city that always seems to therefore get excessively targeted for badness on account of their presence. She'll probably have to use a rental space, but I'm interested in the idea of her salvaging something historic for it so that the preservation and upkeep of the historic space can be part of their rent.
(I'm basing this off of a real nonprofit hackerspace/makerspace that I'm involved with, for the record, including how their financials work.)
no subject
As a quick point of clarification: the overgrowth of plants is only present in New Amsterdam. Animals are returning all around the world, but they've ~evolved~ (it's god business) to be able to withstand the environment as it stands. That said, for what improvement has happened in Meadowlark's world (which is mostly animal-related outside of New Amsterdam), sustainability will always be a focus so that the world doesn't backslide. That's why we're trying to set up new animal protections agencies with the new changes. We hope that clears that up!
no subject
That all sounds good! Salvaging something historic would work, although it would take more effort to spruce up, and there would be rules about how they could restore the space (as in, no destroying any original fixtures, that sort of thing). Just to keep that in mind! Either way, let us know what you have in mind and feel free to drop some information under a New Beijing heading at the Locations post once you're ready.