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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
a lot of questions revolving around dreams before we can start this ball really rolling. so:
1. Can they cultivate in their dreams? In MDZS, cores permit the individual the ability to modify and manipulate their qi. Their qi can be used for purposes from the mundane (such as regulating their body temperature) to the mystifying (such controlling their own weaponry remotely). The latter would require the formation of a golden core, which in turn permits them to build a “base” toward their terminal goal of immortality. If you want to think of it another way, think of it as an internal philosopher’s stone; a golden core permits the use of magic (spiritual energy) and arcane methods, but also extends life (if done properly) indefinitely. This is not to say, of course, they are invulnerable! Conditional immortality until ascension is a good way to put it.
a. As this will only be within the dream (and not outside the dream), what exterior impact could it potentially have with enough training? Could they achieve better control of their own given powers, focus their empathy, or “charge” other individuals? These are just possible examples or suggestions!
b. What will this training allow them to do within dreams? Is there a potential energy (literal or figurative) that they could harness? Is there a deeper unconsciousness that they can reach? Is there recurrent imagery that occurs that is separated from the Displaced’s individual dreaming that they can dig up with enough time and effort? Can we do a sort of Inception with permission and focus?
2. Is there something within dreams that they can “commune” with? For example, besides just the individuals they dream walk to, is there something else they can get a glimpse of?
3. Given these dreams, can they manipulate the flow of time within them? For example, is it possible to live an entire life in a dream? Or would this have an impact on the physical body?
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE, we'll follow up with more questions if we come up with them!
no subject
1. We're going to say that unless we state otherwise, no characters will have access to their previous powers or capabilities in dreams. This includes the MDZS bunch. The dreams in our March/April event were extraordinary in nature, and unlikely to be matched on any level.
1a. Characters can use the dreams to discover, develop, and explore their in-game powers! If a character can find enough stability in a dream, they can use it to practice their abilities in a safe space. None of these powers will present as more powerful than how they are in a waking state. However, the dreams can help someone discover their new power if they haven't done so just yet.
1b. This is something you guys can definitely work toward! When it comes to energy, there is nothing in particular to harness. It seems like the capability is there all along, since many of the characters experienced it in the dreamscape event. However, achieving even a fragment of that control and power will take time! So: this is a tentative yes, but we'd need it posed as a player plot for people to aim for!
As for recurrent imagery, there will be a lot of dreams that eventually involve a body of water of some kind. An ocean, a lake, a river. Even manmade versions of these are likely to show up. They may be bodies of water from someone's actual life - and thus, unlikely to stand out - or added or included when they were otherwise not there.
2. Not right now! If this changes, we'll let you know. For example, the closest thing we can think of would be the spear from the dreamscape event that later featured in Zerzura. For likely obvious reasons, the spear is unlikely to feature again.
3. Not to the degree that you're describing. For example, Zerzura was the side effect of actions within the dreamscape, creating a whole other reality for the characters to eventually invade and interact with over time. Multiple characters influenced the creation of Zerzura and how it was meant to be "dealt with." What you're describing comes close to being a lot like it - creating a liminal space for the characters to live out their lives away from reality. While we like the idea - obviously, as we used a version of it in an event! - we can't monitor it on the scale you're describing, and it would become difficult to moderate on our end.
That said, characters can do this on a micro level. They can keep a dream from skipping ahead, ensuring that they can take time to train while resting their physical bodies. But they won't be able to live out their lives beyond that.