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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
1. Sniper has been working at their brothel going on four months now, and they've also been doing some self-marketing. namely:
1. Working with Loki to make people think they're the proprietor of the Insomniac's Ball
2. Cosplaying at NAEXPO. I meant to have them enter the compotetion, but I never got around to submitting a plot engagement for it, so I don't know if this counts.
3. Doing a dramatic public fencing match with Alucard where they declared they were a sex worker and mentioned where they worked. This was at the Beer festival, and was preceded by Sniper winning several matches consecutively.
They've also been active on the VR fencing scene, doing all the necessary social media, and have kept up their volunteering at the kids and STEM charity.
At this juncture, they want to start looking for private clients. They'll aim for athletes, since they tend to come from well-to-do families and have a lot of money. Particularly, they will be looking for athletes with political connections. If it matters, I've been playing it that their current place of employment specializes in roleplay.
How successful would they be in gaining clients at this stage? Will they need to do some in-person marketing? If so, are there known places where athletes tend to congregate, or would they be likely to visit a brothel on their own?
2. Are there any particular consequences for the fencing match? The thread is here.
It's incomplete, but basically Alucard and Sniper are playing up hinting at an old rivalry to get some interest going.
no subject
1. We feel that Sniper's done the necessary work to go private, so we've set up a list of the types of athletes they can court for their services. There are a few types of athletes that Sniper can look into for their clientele:
Type One: The first type of athlete is the well-off type who's not as politically savvy, but donates a lot of money to a politician that seems like a "safe bet." These are the ones who were raised to be athletes, given the proper facilities, and generally allowed to excel in the world from day one. They're well trained to look a certain way to the public eye, though they don't tend to get married. After all, they're dedicated to their job, and they're a little boring. This means that some of them will have a kinkier side, one that they'd be keen to play out in private - though they haven't had many opportunities to do that just yet. None of them would risk going to a brothel, but they would be interested in working with someone like Sniper in private. They're not bad when it comes to the bedroom, but a little boring and paranoid. What kinks they're into would be something they mostly know in theory, rather than practice. Overall, these are the "good" types - careful about their image, and likely embodying that a little too much. They're not as easy to influence because of how boring they are, and they were shaped into who they are already.
Getting in touch with them would be a matter of networking. Sniper letting their current clientele know that they're starting out a private venture would lead to their information being passed on to those who need it. In this case, it would be a matter of them coming to Sniper because they're known for their discretion regarding these matters.
Type Two: The second type of athlete would be raised in a similar manner, but would have begun to "lash out" once fame got to their head. Known for being brusque in the public eye, they would have a series of sexual partners throughout their lives. These are the types who would have been found in the celebrity tents at Oktoberfest, living it up and trying out the dangerous drugs. They would be frequent guests at Sniper's brothel, albeit while making jokes about sex roleplay and why it's ridiculous. Yet they'd keep coming back. These celebrities are known for being free advertisement for the brothel, so they're always welcomed back.
These athletes have a lot of money to throw around and no cause to throw it at. They would be harder to manipulate, but not impossible. If convinced that going against the public opinion would make them more badass, they could do it. But there's an obvious risk involved there.
Sniper likely already has a few of these as their clientele at the brothel, but they would know to be wary about offering services in private. While Sniper knows discretion, they don't, so that would always be a factor. Getting them to be discrete would be a talent in and of itself, and Sniper's charm power may be able to pull it off. That said, Sniper's showy attitude means that they could add to their reckless image, and that may be more free advertisement for their private services.
Type Three: On the surface, Type Three and Type One are very similar, with one exception: Type Three is outspoken, politically active, and seems to be preparing themselves for their next steps in life. They're often known as the captains of their teams, and many people talk behind closed doors about how they'll likely have a majority stake in one of the teams in the future. They're intensely private about their own affairs, but they frequent social media to talk about their world views. Some of them are more conservative, but most are progressive, often donating money to causes like PRESERVE to help the world as a whole. How sincere they are is up for debate.
These are the types to typically get married and apply for a child. They're the picture of stability, so they would get approval.
To get these types, Sniper would have to build up a clientele with the upper echelon from the major businesses in town. Once they prove their discretion to them, they'd find their "card" handed over.
Type Four: These are the types of athletes preyed upon and offered a better life. The other side of the coin from the UNA, these stars ended up having to leave their families for the opportunity of a better life. They lived in poor conditions, and never had access to the same training facilities. But they persevered regardless, and for some of the lower class, they're both a walking advertisement for why this predatory behavior is fine and a point of inspiration that their lives can be better. Knowing full well that it's never as simple as that, these athletes would use their fame and power to try to better the world.
Within reason, they would be cautious about who they support politically, throw their money behind lesser known organization and they'd used their resources to help fund food banks and shelter for the homeless. They wouldn't be keen to brush elbows with the rich, and would know that any wrong move could end their career. Being blacklisted as an athlete isn't fun, and the people they could piss off could permanently ruin their lives.
They would also be the hardest to reach for a number of reasons. These athletes are the smallest in number. They don't tend to take advice or look for help from the people that would frequent Sniper's brothel. They would also think less of Sniper's career choice, in part because Sniper is athletic and could have been self-made, and this is the direction they've taken? It would show that they aren't entirely self aware, regardless of how hard they try to be otherwise.
To reach them, Sniper would likely need to partake in similar charitable activities. Their current work would be a good start, but they would need to expand that. Getting Type Four athletes as their clients would feel less like a business arrangement and more like them trying to court a suitor.
2. Among the VR fencing community, there would be some curiosity. Where did this mysterious rival come from for Sniper? They would also be puzzled about the showmanship of it all, since fencing is still a sport. For the fans who like a good soap opera and story, there would be requests sent to Sniper for more information about Alucard. Who is he? Why don't they know his fencing history? Did they fence in real life, away from the public eye?
And … there will be shippers, too.