What plots would you like to see?

[SP Goddess Eos]

In order to better create plots and events that players are actually interested in and would like to play, I'm throwing out the question:

What plots would you like to see?

What things interest you as a player?
What type of roleplay are you interested in?
What type of plots would you like to see?
Do you miss more political driven stuff?
More guild driven stuff?
More trade stuff?
More attacks from 'supernatural' beings?
Do you need quests?
If so, what type of quests have your interest?
What would you like to see more of In Game?
What would you like to see less of?
What would you like to do to have a fun time as a player?
Is there anything we as staff can do to help you have more fun?
Do you want more power as a player to do stuff?
Do you want less power and more staff driven things?

Lots of questions, feel free to add your own as well.

I'm inviting you all to express your thoughts and opinions, your wishes and desires. I'm opening up for a discussion to talk about plots and the lack of thereof.

So, please let us as staff know what it is you're missing in the game and what it'll take to make it more fun for you!

Cheers!

[Brumble]

Funny you should ask this. I was thinking about plots and stories last night and this morning. One of the things I was considering is that Brumble lacks conflict. By conflict I don't mean random problems. I mean that in general, whether it is due to the size of the game or otherwise, there aren't groups with significantly different agendas to vie against, or even intrigue with to accomplish things.

The guilds don't have competitionw within themselves (there aren't multiple blacksmiths, or florists competing for primacy), the Houses aren't at a state where they can vie with one another, nor do they have objectives currently where they'd need to.

One thing I was considering is that in a live role playing game, you have your character and part of that are objectives your character has, and resources. And generally the objectives of different characters will overlap in part and conflict in part. Thus you can both be working together and against one another in different ways.

Now I've been thinking of various plots that can be done, criminal plots, political and intrigue plots, trading plots, and some that include various elements. (I haven't really worried about outright violence themed plots as that can pop up in any of the others as a bit of tension.) I'm a bit unsure though of whether to make alts to begin them, how to recruit others into them, and so forth. Very little staff support is needed, except to poke and say 'I'm going to set up this, is it okay?' That is one of the good things about ICO, that VP are not critical. If folk do want to play around with some possible stories, let me know

Another problem for me w/ lack of plots is a lack of folk taking initiative. When I came to the game the Bisclavret were huge. Half the game was wolves. Then Leah started recruiting for the Rinaldi, and pulled Brumble in and I recruited too, and boom a House, and with almost no noble or VP action needed. When I needed confirmation, I'd just @assist and ask staff and get an okay and continue onward. Now we have 2 big houses. The Doloreaux and Avoirdupois similarly don't need to have active nobles. Commoners can take the lead in those houses and simply work with staff to bluebook anything needed by nobles. It just takes wanting to do it. I'd love to see folk doing that with the other Houses, because then I'd have peers to intrigue with and against

Even in the Rinaldi it can be an issue. I created the Trade Union for two reasons. First, I wanted to give traders and translators, classes with very little to do in the game a bit more of a role. Secondly, a lot of folk had problems finding crafter instructors. So create a place with lots of craft instructors where new folk can start up, get a bit of context and then get recruited out of by guilds or leave to start their own guilds once they have money and contacts.

I arranged with staff a neat opportunity. Our traders could write to other cities, get a translator to write the scroll in the appropriate language and then send it to one of the staff members via courier. Then based on how well written the letter was and what was said/asked, they'd get an IC reply and they'd be able to use that to start putting together an outgoing caravan. Thus traders and linguists could actually have real RP, and use that as hooks to engage crafters, guards, etc. I met with our traders, I questioned them over the weeks. I'd rather not name names, but the results were underwhelming. I'd still have traders coming to me asking if I had discrete, non-story tasks to do like buying lumber, but they wouldn't take hooks to go out do something more involved.

In summary, for me it is less an issue of wanting a specific type of plot than any plots that grow long term, and to see more players taking the initiative to just do things (and just confirming with staff 'I'm doing this, ok?') rather than waiting for staff to do it.

PS - To get back to the ideas I currently have, again anyone who does want to get involved in creating a bit of competition/unrest let me know and we'll see what we can do as players

[Valentin]

Originally Posted by Brumble

mean that in general, whether it is due to the size of the game or otherwise, there aren't groups with significantly different agendas to vie against, or even intrigue with to accomplish things.

Underlined. I'm trying my hardest to make Val a conflicting character, but there are only so many "I don't like how you worded that" fights he can pick. There's really no meaning to the game aside from day to day errands/chit chat. I thought the game was going to be a power struggle between Houses, but I don't actually feel/see/sense any of it?

My suggestion is to get that ball rolling.

[Baroness_Kenina]

The guilds don't have competition within themselves (there aren't multiple blacksmiths, or florists competing for primacy)

To begin with, I want to commend the Stormbreaker characters on attempting to add this element. It's why I made the decision to throw aside our agreement with the Sailor's Guild -- to promote competition that is usually done away with as soon as it is getting off the ground.

I think the main problem here is that there is no -true- conflict. Petty conflict occurs on a daily basis, and while it leads to much infighting within the Houses, it rarely causes conflict between the Houses. I know in our House, all three Nobles are vieing for personal power and it's been that way since each one of us individually arrived. I agree with Brumble that there are no clear objectives presently for any necessary conflicts between the Houses, and I would encourage that getting worked out.

Basically, we need more competition involved in the game. Conflicting characters are great, but, as Valentin says, the opportunity for them to cause conflict is limited to having people misinterpret words. Being a member of a House is almost pointless when you aren't aiding in a cause. I know some of the players ooc tell me all the time that they feel like they have nothing to do. To them I say: get involved with the SG's and SH's -- figure out a way to create a plot that will involve yourself and as many other people as you want. Ask for volunteers! (like Brumble did in his posting).

The idea of political conflict and vieing for power is what lured me to this game, and ultimately is why I paid so many storypoints for my character. I wanted to be a part of the story (no matter how long my character lasts). If we can make people feel like they are each individually important to the game and give them that sense that there is indeed a constant struggle going on with the objective of supremacy for each House, they might be more inclined to see this as something other than just another chat window.

Added after some thought: More plots of a less violent nature. Plots that actually initiate -change-.

[Pyjamas]

Originally Posted by Baroness_Kenina

To begin with, I want to commend the Stormbreaker characters on attempting to add this element. It's why I made the decision to throw aside our agreement with the Sailor's Guild -- to promote competition that is usually done away with as soon as it is getting off the ground.

Thanks! Too bad the sailors guild backed down so quick. *makes chicken noises*

I agree that conflict between the houses should be a possibility, but at the moment there is too much fighting in between house members to even consider fighting with other houses, and with two of the houses mostly inactive, it's kinda hard to make secret alliances.

Lyam : Hey Brumble, let's totally diss the Avoirdupois and steal their something or other
Brumble : All right, how about we make one of their nobles totally dishonoured and then take advantage
*both of them wait for a while, a few weeks maybe*
Lyam : I don't think they're coming out of the manor... How about we just get drive through?
Brumble : *nods ponderously* Sounds good.

In that interest... People. If you want to make a noble, Pleeeeeease stop making Bisclavrets. We've got heaps! The other houses need nobles! Our manors getting full up!

Um... I got a little sidetracked... ok.

Plots plots plots... I was talking to Meerclar last night about how I wanted to make some interesting stories, and couldn't come up with anything... Brumble, if you want a hand for any sorta plots, I've got a noble, a guard, a slave and a pi... a pie eating sailor And I'm sure once given an idea I could help muddle something out.

[Bubbabz]

Okay... what sort of plots do I want to see?
Oh! Here's an idea, and it's crazy so bare with me:
A plot that doesn't involve violence or (much) political maneuvering!
Yeah! I could sure go for one of those! How about one of those?

Seriously though, the "murder/assault/death-in-general with a healthy dose of politics mixed in" plots are getting OLD! We've done that already, can we please move on? I mean, we can whip up some conflict without killing/injuring/maiming/soul-selling someone, right?.....Right?

[SP Goddess Eos]

Originally Posted by Bubbabz

Seriously though, the "murder/assault/death-in-general with a healthy dose of politics mixed in" plots are getting OLD! We've done that already, can we please move on? I mean, we can whip up some conflict without killing/injuring/maiming/soul-selling someone, right?.....Right?

Tell me what sort of plots you'd like to see instead. It's so easy to only focus on the things we don't like that we forget to think creatively and constructively.

Please, let me know what type of plots you would LIKE to see.

It's also interesting to see that we have three answers wanting more political stuff, saying there's not really enough of it, and one saying there's too much.

So, please let me know what you would like to see.

[SHAzrael]

Originally Posted by Bubbabz

Okay... what sort of plots do I want to see?
Oh! Here's an idea, and it's crazy so bare with me:
A plot that doesn't involve violence or (much) political maneuvering!
Yeah! I could sure go for one of those! How about one of those?

Seriously though, the "murder/assault/death-in-general with a healthy dose of politics mixed in" plots are getting OLD! We've done that already, can we please move on? I mean, we can whip up some conflict without killing/injuring/maiming/soul-selling someone, right?.....Right?

Good comments, but can you give some examples of non-violent non-political plots you'd like to see.

If you ask for a plot *about* something then the plotters have some ideas to start with. If you ask for a plot *without* something then the plotters still have to come up with everything from scratch (but now with some limitations)

Edit: uhhhh, I post slow. Eos already said this. Ignore me

[Rowf]

1. Sewer monster hunt. Crocodiles! Enter at your own peril. You can be eaten if you go alone.

2. Sailing voyage. Have a ship, like the one in the dock, but have it go to sea. The crew will be aboard the ship for 3 days out, 1 day in a 'distant port' and 3 days back. Each day, something different occurs. A storm? A sea monster attack? Some sort of rare fish that can be caught over the side? A magical sea creature? Finding an island? A pirate boarding? Come back with a tale of adventure.

3. Items lost in the city. Someone lost something they will pay a reward for.

4. More nobles with political desires and agendas.

5. More stuff to do in Newtown and Oldtown. Allow PCs to open their own tents, like in the Docktown market, or even their own shops.

6. More magic.

[Pyjamas]

Rowf, those plots all sound like fun, but I think the problem with most of them is that they require coding, and the staffers have enough coding to do already at the moment.

Sewer monsters and sewers in general would be a great one once they get combat areas working... And I imagine it'd be very difficult to retrieve the corpse if an alligator eats it. (That's a good thing though, not a critisism Imagine if someone else had to kill the alligator for you to be rezzed)

Sailing voyage: oh please! Please please please! I would love if there was actually something for the sailors to do that involved sailing, instead of arguing with guards Failing a fully coded sailing based plot, even just opportunities for people to have things happen to them. For example, even though there's no code for it:
- Kenina wants the Stormbreaker to go get her some stuff, so the people on the stormbreaker crew get together and just write out what happens, and send it along to a storyplotter.
- The storyplotter, to make things interesting, sends back a couple of dilemmas that the crew goes through, like a storm, or a sea monster attack, and the crew writing the story have to integrate what happened into their telling of events
- Based on how well they're able to cope with everything, and how detailed and well written it is, they are rewarded in game with the items that they went sailing for.

Magic could be really cool, but it's another coding issue. But I do feel like magic should exist in the world, and it's sorely underrepresented. Perhaps an interesting plot could be a druid coming to Triskellan, claiming to try and convert people to the "true" faith, performing miracles and such, trying to get druidism recognised as an acceptable religion, all the while performing skink sacrifices and subtly trying to cause unrest, like transmogrifying skinks into crocodiles to rampage through the sewers, or... um... tainting the Cathedral.
If it's run by a VP/Staffer, then they can freemote the magic all they want, and this brings a bit more magic into the game, and makes some plots around it, without needing to spend time on code when there are other priorities.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Baroness_Kenina

The idea of political conflict and vieing for power is what lured me to this game, and ultimately is why I paid so many storypoints for my character. I wanted to be a part of the story (no matter how long my character lasts). If we can make people feel like they are each individually important to the game and give them that sense that there is indeed a constant struggle going on with the objective of supremacy for each House, they might be more inclined to see this as something other than just another chat window.

Added after some thought: More plots of a less violent nature. Plots that actually initiate -change-.

So if I toss my cane across the commons and tell you to go fetch it, will you change your clothes before or after you crawl after it, wolf?

(good thing this in an OOC thread, huh? )


Anyway, I'm hoping to find some political adversaries. See you IG.

-Baronet Eberhard's player

[Bubbabz]

I have a few non-violent plot ideas, but I'm sure they won't be acceptable for one reason or another.
But I'm really getting tired of all the deaths. It's getting to be like the daily news; "let's see who got hurt/died today!" Sorry if this seems bitter, but I'm just losing patience. I see advertisements for non-violent plots, and it seems that little ones pop up every-so often, but we need a lot less Pain and Suffering. I don't want to play a game where the only thing people can come up with is for someone to get hurt. So please, start coming up with some non-violent plots?

Please?

[Aptaliesin]

Some things i would like to see.


Holidays, celebrated in the city. NPC vendors pop up everywhere hawking unusual novelties, or hustler type items to trick the stupid from their money (magic soap! Washes away ANY Smell, leaving only your own natural scent!) and unique foods. The parks get competition activities for people to take sport in. Archery, jousting, melee spars, .. Gambling on the winners for those that dont like to fight.

Artisan contests, a plotter npc runs an artisan contest during certain holidays that let people think up and "create" an item of their choosing to put on display. players are given tokens, and they can drop tokens in a box to vote for that item to see which wins. Winner gets a monetary prize, bragging rights, and gets to keep their fashioned item. Everyone else loses the item as an entry fee.

decorations everywhere! constant emits of parading musicians, fireworks, and other celbrating type stuff.

And heres the kicker. A quest, that everyone can do, get a choice of reward if you are able to complete it.. that matches the theme of that particular holiday.

[SP Sirazad]

Originally Posted by Bubbabz

I have a few non-violent plot ideas, but I'm sure they won't be acceptable for one reason or another.

There are non-violent plots currently running, some of them are inspired by players. Please do file ideas, we more then welcome them. There are times we won't use the whole, but it will still inspire us. We might even take the idea as a whole and implement it. You can not know what we would do with them without sending them in. I again encourage you to take part in shaping events. We are glad to support any idea which is fitting to the game and entertains you.

By the by, we currently have the wandering traders too. I hope you enjoy them.

[Dirt]

I really~really wish we had 'dungeons' or other questing areas, >.<

The sewer for me has allways seemed like the place with the most potential in the game, and it's never really been finished...
Right now it's pretty damn trashed, Multiple exits up into zeiss' warehouse and you can run into on the map what are 'walls' and get to the sewer entrance! Not Good!
It'ld just be amazing if you could give us some underground vaults so we can gather a brigade of trusty allies (or Untrusty allies for added amusement) and go off to trash (or be trashed by).

Also while it's good to have plots and such that keep running in the long run yeah, It'ld be nice just for some random 'events', such as a special monster showing up somewhere near (or in) town, that has a special 'reward' on it for whoever defeats it, such as a rare item, unusual class level or Storypoint bounty.
An example for the 'peaceful' characters might be that a NPC shows up in town with a dire need for 'something unusual' which can be found or bought in town, first person (or x many persons) who bring him the item get a reward.

I'ld also appreciate more 'stuff' in newtown and docktown, e.g. finish and open the imports shop, the weavers shop, the dockfront supplies store, oh and having the 'Home Delights' store sell 'something' would be good.