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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
situation #1. there's been a pattern of data being wiped/erased in new amsterdam. things like the monster attack (which was technically prior to daisy's arrival, but she's been briefed on it since), the various PC dropoffs, and the nurse's identity are all coming to mind as fresh examples.
situation #2. it's been queried (thanks, noctis!) as to whether or not the erased data might be archived or stored somewhere — cloud storage, for example, or an ancillary drive. daisy knows that data doesn't necessarily have to be physically backed up via a cable or thumb drive, but that in order for large amounts of information to be synced up, there generally speaking has to be some kind of material set-up to facilitate it.
she theorized that satellites may be in play, possibly on roof-level or higher than average citizenry would have reason to access. fitz & connor will be heading to lunar for a space holiday, and fitz has offered to keep an eye out if possible to see what kind of setup he can spot.
situation #3. daisy would like to find an organization in new amsterdam that can be of assistance in discovering information. while she appreciates what morningstar is working for and is willing to assist them with odd jobs as requested, she's not quite as devoted to them as her colleague fitz. she gets why they have to be secretive and under-the-radar, but that doesn't mean she likes it. so! she's been briefed about the new amsterdam associated press and how they hosted video of the monster attack (even if it was later scrubbed), and she thinks this organization might be a good place to align with in looking for the light seeping through the cracks.
no subject
Situation #1
1. It would largely depend on what got removed, and why it got removed. For instance, the NAPD monitors a lot of social media so that they can keep people from feeling inspired by vigilante movements, so they'll delete accounts for releasing this information. They may keep a record of this for themselves, but no one is flagged or given any further information from the NAPD, and this is actually a commonplace occurrence in Meadowlark's world.
Other information would vary.
As it is, we should note that the information on the nurse was absolutely scrubbed and erased. Someone with that level of skill and access would be extremely powerful.
2. As a result, it would depend! The nurse being scrubbed did freak out the people behind AJJ Holdings because one of their tenants was gone. Someone disappearing like that definitely isn't a nonoccurrence, but social media accounts being deleted would be, as people sometimes leak spoilers, say something too bold, try to be edgy, or more. It's not too different from actionable offenses online these days, only the NAPD has more ability to do something about it. Once these are reported, they're just wiped with a warning as to why it happened.
Asking into the erasure of social media accounts would raise eyebrows, as it's a relatively well known occurrence, but the erasure of data like the nurse would raise eyebrows in a different way - potentially with a lot of dubiousness that it even happened.
Situation #2
1. Yes, though Fitz and Connor wouldn't need to go up into space to see that there is a huge satellite network around Earth which supports all the world's data demands - this is public knowledge, and a simple search would provide this information to everyone interested in it!
2. The specificity would depend on what they're looking for, as many of these satellites are involved with different corporations, and of course the UN have their own. Was there a specific outlet that Daisy wanted to learn more about?
3. No, none of the PCs have the credentials! This would be very, very high level.
4. What would Daisy and her friends be looking for? Our initial answer is "no," but we might be missing what they're looking for on these. Data itself is inherently not physical, and there are no physical satellite dishes on any buildings, so we would need more precise questions.
Situation #3
We're covering this in one fell swoop for you. Hiring takes place online like it does today, with her first submitting her application, resume, and cover letter. She wouldn't be able to walk into the office of the associated press without permissions or an invite. Since El did not set her up with credentials to begin a path in journalism - neither courses nor training - she wouldn't be able to abruptly change career paths, as that would be extremely suspicious - and more importantly, impossible. Without a blog or similar portfolio, experience in freelancing, or anything similar, this would not be an outlet that would be available to her.
Daisy would need to begin to build a portfolio and take courses to establish herself and network before she could consider getting a job in that field.
If Daisy wishes to pursue any outlet for information with Morningstar's assistance, you can feel free to ask us! She may need to prove herself to the organization, and we're currently unclear as to whether or not she's signed up with them (she made it seem as if she hadn't in a post with NPC presence). Morningstar isn't that unlike SHIELD; they have to work off the radar because the world has a great deal of surveillance, but that doesn't mean they lack paths to follow. Please feel free to come to us with any plot ideas you have for her, and if we can do anything to facilitate them!
no subject
as far as journalism goes, she doesn't exactly have canon credentials either — more along the lines of quasi-ethical leaks on social media, back-alley hacking, that sort of thing, so she would not be surprised to find that gaining official employment would require actual credentials here too.
so far, i haven't had her officially "join the ranks" of morningstar beyond simply taking their assistance in the initial, because she is skeptical of their methods -- even if they're logically devised. that said, it might be a nice wake up call for her to realize she does need to partner more closely with morningstar if she wants to get anything accomplished beyond the basics of "get a job, get an apartment, and survive"
would it be possible to have daisy come to the safehouse sometime before the current arrival log to discuss her failed experiment with the journalism outlet, and to go over options with gaby and/or el about how to maybe pursue that OR something similar where her desire to find out the truth could be put to good use? if there's an exchange of "we'll help you if you'll agree to help us" and a task they'll put for her to test her, that's fine too!
alternatively, if you have suggestions, please don't hesitate to let me know! i admit i've been spinning my wheels a bit trying to really find my place in game, and i'm really open to anything that gives daisy a bit more motivation to explore the setting.
no subject
re: common knowledge, we meant more that it would be information that's more easily obtained! They wouldn't have to go to any extreme lengths to obtain it because Meadowlark's version of Google would provide the answer. We're happy to clear anything up on this front!
We would be happy to do a thread with either Gaby or El! This can be a log, or she can make a private post and ping them in - either is suitable! Gaby would likely be of more help, since she's on the ground every day working for Morningstar. She's likely doing what Daisy would be more interested in!
So, we advise you to have Daisy talk to Gaby about her previous experiences, go over what she's done, what she's interested in doing, and even talk about why Gaby is working with Morningstar. If nothing else, Daisy might get a better feel of the world as a former rebel hacker and it may help drive her toward some direction! After that, we'd be happy to help you out with getting Daisy established on whatever route she decides upon.