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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
He wouldn't be able to find anything at this stage! He'll need to try to work out what that symbol describes - and there are a few clues littered throughout the game to point toward it! For anyone who had the dream, it was a blur, but we suggest that Johnny and the other characters brainstorm what it could be before searching further.
no subject
I actually did some looking based on the OOC info and I'm guessing it's a Meadowlark bird (gaSP). Let me know if that's on point, but I'll see if I can wrangle that as an IC conclusion somehow or find other connections to it. So far I don't think anybody's ICly mentioned that it might've been an animal.
no subject
Nailed it!
Let us know when it's figured out ICly! There are a few clues pointing to it, but not directly. We will say that his searches won't come up with much, but we get the feeling that once the ball is rolling, you'll have more questions.
no subject
And just to make sure - when you say he won't find anything, do you specifically mean anything obviously important? i.e. can he easily google the same flimsy bird connection I did, then toss it out there so we can do some IC detective work to pull other clues out of the woodwork? Since they don't know the game is called Meadowlark, I understand they'd have to do more stumbling to attach meaning to it like I have, but it might help characters draw some parallels to stuff they hadn't initially considered important and get some good conspiracy theories going.
Thanks so much for the quick replies and info!
no subject
no subject
Hi again!
We were specifically referring to the name itself - Project Meadowlark - as that would not come up with any hits! Sorry for the lack of clarity.
As it is, there are a number of bird-related hints lying around - so one way they can work it out is throw together big motifs from the dreams with that description until they get it right! If they don't get it yet, we're certain that there will be more hints down the line. 🕊🕊🕊
no subject
Also sorry for further confusion and clarification - do you mean that's one option, or that they outright won't be able to find the Meadowlark bird via searches for 'yellow + dark V' unless they first realize birds are significant? My big concern is that I just don't think anybody does think they're significant ICly, esp not related to this search, so this will remain a big dead end IC for now.
Mostly asking if they can vague search > maybe birds > introduce birds to the convo > get people talking about other random connections, realizing maybe birds are a Thing and watching out for more clues in the future
or does it have to be vague search gets nothing > someone suggests birds are important > search plus birds > results
no subject
If you think he would, he can always go, "Well, the only thing that matches that is a bird?"
Hopefully this clears it up! As we said before, there are a few bird-related hints lying around, but they're very spread out.
no subject
Yes, that helps a bunch and clears it up! I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going rogue if I went that way, haha. I'll check back in if further questions come up after it gets rolling IC.
EDIT: no questions, just wanted to let you know they've landed on birds and meadowlarks/project meadowlark specifically in this thread!
no subject
Just a very silly follow-up question - is info on meadowlarks basically what you'd get in real life, or are there any notable differences? Are they still around, extinct, etc?
Thank you!
no subject
Yes, they are still around! They haven't evolved past the point of being recognizable, and several species still exist. Due to climate change, they're now primarily European and Russian birds, their migratory patterns leading into Africa. Not much is out there about them, aside from a rare image from outside the wall.