![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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.
.
no subject
1a. All photography is done through digital means, with the majority done through people's neural implants - literally using their eyes. Some cameras are available, but they are very expensive and their use really depends on what's being photographed.
1b. Given that everyone is accustomed to taking photos and sharing them on social media, freelancing is a rather cutthroat industry. That said, if someone has a good eye or is speedy in getting to the scene of a noteworthy event, it can land a fair bit of money. Otherwise, this would be an unlikely route for feeling fiscally secure.
2. As long as that someone shows some competence, they can approach various mechanics with the hope to become their apprentice. Just to note that this differs from previous questions here because there is a broad range of above board mechanics throughout the city, whereas a lot of previous interest was with criminal enterprises.
3. Some paper technically does exist, but it's kept in museums or private collections. Characters would be unable to find (or afford) any for personal use.
no subject
1a+b. i'm thinking i'll be asking for his camera on the item requests soon, but it's cool to know that they still exist! if/when he gets his camera: will this freelancing be in conjunction with the news/press industry in new amsterdam? what... is that like, actually, if paper isn't a commodity: like a news blog kind of deal?
2a. of course! i'm interested in getting prompto to become an apprentice for an electrical engineer for the train station(s?) actually, (DIFFERENT FROM MECHANIC, I KNOW..) for minimum wage. would this be a viable source of income? his apprenticeship would focus solely on the electrical aspect of transportation. these are some of the tasks i'm thinking line up with what he would be doing (adjusted to the setting where needed, of course).
2b. if that (^) gets the okay, would an electrician's job in new amsterdam be similar to what we know of it now? such as working with cables, computer parts, working in cramped spaced, indoors and outdoors, etc? or would there be any key features that are different?
3. kind of unrelated to paper (but kind of related?), what about board games? playing cards? or is it a "we can play online" type of scenario? would it be easy to find sheets of metal or some other material in order to 'create' his own physical board game?
4. what are the cops like in new amsterdam? are they friendly and approachable under the right circumstances, or are they very difficult to approach?
no subject
1. Freelancing could be for news/press, or it could be for other publications, or even research projects. For news/press, it would be like how CNN.com or BBC.com works these days! However, we do want to be clear on two points: 1) freelancing would be a very, very difficult line of work due to saturation of the market, and 2) news/press publications will not accept camera photographs, and would consider it incredibly strange if Prompto attempted to sell any to them.
2a&b. All of this sounds like a viable path for employment, and if Prompto proves more than capable, he would be able to make more than minimum wage as an apprentice. A lot of the things you described are similar, but more advanced, given the nature of the world! There are also only two train lines in New Amsterdam, so he would definitely need to prove his worth to gain and keep a job there.
3. Yes, all board games would be digital as well! Prompto would be able to find materials to construct a physical game, but if he attempted to play this with any New Amsterdam natives, they would consider it incredibly strange.
4. Like in most cities, the cops vary. Some are good and some are bad, especially depending on the person who's choosing to approach them and the reason why! They aren't militant, however; that kind of mindset is typically attributed to the UNA, who are unreachable by the populace and rather intimidating on sight.
no subject
1. alright, that's cool! he'll keep it for his own use and recreation.
3. noted! they'll most likely be kept for the safehouse and the like.
NEW QUESTION ALTOGETHER: what is the fishing situation in new amsterdam? i know there was a river party last month, is it possible to also fish on it? also: fishing equipment, is it similar to what we're used to nowadays?/how available is it?
no subject
We answered a question about fishing in New Amsterdam here. It's possible to get fishing equipment in the world, but it's a highly industrialized activity at this point - most people who fish are doing it for industry rather than as a hobby! It's possible to get recreational equipment online, but there wouldn't be an immediate place to use it.
For any future questions about the general game setting, please use the FAQ - this helps other players also find that information, rather than it being tucked away on this page!