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PLOT ENGAGEMENT (ARCHIVED)
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!
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.
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).
◉ 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
◉ 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
Going through questions in order:
In turn, some of the more ruthless of them would ask what Lance would do in their situation, given the hopelessness of it all. What would he expect them to do?
He'd tell them honestly that forming an organization to try to make a difference, exactly as they're doing, is what he'd expect them to do. It's the only real option for trying to make things better that's available to them, and so it makes sense for them to take it. He doesn't know what he'd do in their position because he isn't exactly in it (and he'd give some more info if it were known that the Displaced are from totally different worlds, but alas) but that he definitely can't say he wouldn't join Morningstar. It seems to be the only current option for people who want to do something to help others outside of the system that the UN controls and perpetuates.
They'd also ask what Lance thinks Morningstar is out to do and what they hope to accomplish, basically to get a reading on what he thinks and feels. Does he trust them? Does he think they're dangerous?
He'd consider lying here and presenting an answer they might want to hear, but then decide to just risk honesty again especially since he imagines a lot of the agents would be able to tell he wasn't telling the truth. So he'll say that he hasn't quite decided; he was definitely suspicious at first, but some of that has lessened after talking to the agents.
He'll also be clear that while he's inclined to trust individual agents and he believes most if not all of them genuinely have good motives and mean the best, he's undecided on whether the organization as a whole is trustworthy or not, because these sorts of things have a way of spiraling out of control (especially in desperate situations like they're in.) So he doesn't necessarily think Morningstar is inherently dangerous, but there's the potential to become dangerous, especially if 'ends justify the means' thinking goes too far.
As for what he thinks they're out to do and hope to accomplish, he'd tell them (again truthfully) that what he'd thought was exactly what agents told him; that they wanted to change the system to be more fair to people and help them have better lives, by lessening if not outright undoing the control that the UN has over them. He has no reason to believe the real answer is anything other than exactly what the agents have said.
no subject
The more ruthless are also the more realistic. They agree that it's impossible to trust the organization as a whole because they're allowed to operate independently, making it so that each city takes care of its own. The ones who moved to New Amsterdam did so because they knew they'd have to work with the Displaced, but it's uncommon for people to move to join another chapter. Sometimes they're called in for contracting jobs in another city, but it's mostly to help fortify or build things. Otherwise, they operate in different pockets to protect themselves.
That said, it won't sound like Morningstar has any goals that are beyond their pay grade. Since they work independently and may have different goals in each city, they can't launch a major assault. Their focuses are narrower.
Let us know if he'd like to talk to them again in the future, or backtrack and speak to Gaby. Thanks for doing this line of investigation with Lance! It was really fun for us to write.
no subject
Will do! On that note, he might actually message Gaby soon about something, though it's somewhat unrelated. And of course! I loved this; thank you too! <3